Onalaska Celebration Born Out of Disappointment

For many years, Onalaska has gotten a jump on the 4th of July, by having some festivities a few days before the holiday.  This weekend, the pre-4th activities have been expanded into a full-blown three-day event called ‘Celebrate Onalaska.’  One organizer of the festival, Erik Sjolander, says Celebrate Onalaska was inspired partly by last year’s bad weather which cancelled the Festival Foods fireworks two nights in a row.  An unfortunate circumstance that turned into “Celebrate Onalaska” through a bunch of meetings and brainstorming.  

The celebration is based at Van Riper Park.  It begins on Friday with a fish fry and concerts.  The fireworks on Saturday night will follow shows by Pat McCurdy and Last Call.