CREATING HISTORY IN DOWNTOWN

Don't you just love a gorgeous fall day and time to be with your community? 

Saturday was one such day in downtown La Crosse as hundreds of folks enjoyed our downtown through a myriad of wonderfully planned activities.

Button story in from of the Pearl no less

HISTORICAL TOURS : Heritage walk through Franciscan neighborhood, Hear, Here self guided tours or guided tours of Mary of the Angels Chapel /130 year old Methodist Sanctuary, architectural and even historic bike shops.

REENACTMENTS: STEPPING UP TO THE PAST- Fishing for Mussels:button making, Leona Linker, creator of the Leona, woman's undergarment, Mr. Doerflinger, Department store owner, Mr. Funke and his candy company,M/M Anderson, businessman & his wife.

1860's shoe shine stand with free shoe shines

SPECIAL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Run/Walk, Pie contest, Live Radio interviews, Shoe Shine, Cooking demo, Pet Therapy dogs, Love Stories, American Queen shore stop, Skate demo,  freebies with some merchant purchases.    


OPEN HOUSES AND DISPLAYS:
Historical window displays, with some onVision and the Humane Society and there was the La Crosse Van with many brochures for all sorts of local activities...

RIDES AND CRUISES:
Discounted La Crosse Segway tour, La Crosse Queen cruises, Free trolley rides and even horse drawn carriage rides...

CHILDREN'S FUN AND ACTIVITIES:
included Kids dash, painting pumpkins, K9 unit, Temp tattoos,scavenger hunt, Japanese crafts, bingo and traveling exhibit

Special Export Quartet

ARTS & CRAFTS: artist demos,free caricatures, selfie station, paper craft and woodblock carving demo

ENTERTAINMENT: Show choirs, dance teams, clogging, demos of martial arts, yoga, skateboarding, music from Da Capo Band, Cheezland Uke Band,Bluff Mt Ramblers, Tom Burr, Pearl St Banjo Band, Time Travelers Band, Special Export band, etc.. Hurricane Ruth
Romeo and Juliet performance
There were also wandering historical figures...

and another very special couple... Mr. & Mrs. Claus since they admitted they usually don't get to see the children awake. I also saw Mrs. Claus hand out her personal card with an email address as she confided "Santa doesn't do the computer but she will give him those  Dear Santa letters and requests."

My personal favorite activity was the sing-a-long with the old player piano in the Antique Store. Now that's community participation.

Kudos to our area businesses for their involvement and for providing such wonderful activities. We are indeed fortunate to live in such a lovely community.