A Fun Fall Weekend

This past weekend my partner and I got out for a triple dose of fall fun activity — two outdoor festivals and a live country-music concert!

Autumn Farm Days

On Saturday, our first event was Autumn Farm Days at Ozaukee County Pioneer Village. This weekend’s event featured Hay Wagon Rides, Tractors & Small Engines, “My First Tractor Ride,” Historic Demonstrations, Farm Trivia and Rural Farm History Exhibits, Pumpkin Toss, Rope Making, Kids Crafts, Music and more. The Pioneer Village brochure described this historic location as follows:

Experience a rural village of the past with over twenty unique buildings nestled in a rolling hillside setting. 

Alive with the past… To visit Ozaukee County Pioneer Village is to step back in time, to experience life as it was. Over twenty beautifully-restored buildings have been painstakingly moved to a lovely pastoral setting, allowing you to literally walk amongst history.

Each structure represents a style or method of construction used and developed by various immigrant groups who settled Southeastern Wisconsin. You will see the interior furnishings and walk in and out of homes and work places of the pioneers.

A Country Music Concert

Saturday night took us to the historic West Bend Theater in downtown West Bend for a live country music concert. Flat River Band was the main attraction. An upcoming female singer, Jessie Haines, opened.

The Bend website provided this promotional explanation of tonight’s acts:

Flat River Band is a trio of brothers who seamlessly blend elements of bluegrass, country, and folk to create their unique, harmonious sound.

The band consists of three brothers Andy, Chad and Dennijo Sitze, who grew up in a multi-generational family band. Performing alongside their parents and grandparents, they held residencies at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri and at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Throughout their tenure in music, the Missouri natives have charted #1 hits on the bluegrass gospel charts and have opened for The Chicks’ Natalie Maines, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, TG Sheppard and more.

The trio’s songs can be found in the 2018 movie The Least of These, A Christmas Story, featuring Duane Allen (The Oak Ridge Boys), Deborah Allen and Tayla Lynn (Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter). The band recently released a new five-song EP, Sights and Sounds, which has given the trio exposure in the spotlight of the Americana and Country formats.

Jessie Haines effortlessly blends the heart and soul of country music with the catchy and vibrant essence of pop.

Jessie Haines is a country/pop artist whose infectious songwriting is quickly gaining momentum worldwide. Her songs and performances are authentic, heartfelt, and sincere, drawing influence from her songwriting heros including Fleetwood Mac, The Allman Brothers, Alicia keys and John Mayer to name a few. Her debut album The Phoenix is a concept album, which follows the arc of addiction to a toxic relationship, and will be released through 2023. Jessie takes the listener through her healing journey as she overcomes a life altering traumatic event, digs deep to heal through it all, and emerges on the other side with a new understanding of life, to pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional songwriter, performer and artist. Take the journey with Jessie through her music and by connecting with her on social media.

Thiensville Applefest 2023

Thiensville Applefest 2023 is a community event sponsored by the Thiensville-Mequon Lions Club. It celebrated all things autumn. This year a gorgeous summer-like Sunday afforded picture-perfect weather.

The online event promotion told the story: 

APPLEFEST 2023… BRING THE KIDS! FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Celebrating all things apple… Pies, Turnovers, and Brats are just some of the food offerings.
Also, Live Music, Hay Wagon Rides, Barrel Train Rides, Face Painting, Coloring Contest, Polka Contest, Pie Baking Contest, Arts and Crafts Vendors, plus more!