Crawford County is one of Wisconsin’s least populated counties, and for that reason, one of its most tranquil. The people of Crawford County live here in part for that reason, a place you can work the fields or spend an evening fishing on the river and not worry about plugging the parking meter. And when they gather for community events, they celebrate that rural character and quality of life in Driftless Wisconsin.
On Saturdays from May through October, crafters and gardeners gather at Sugar Creek Park in Ferryville for Market in the Park. The market boasts gardening plants, home-made preserves, flea market items, and Amish Crafts, all a short distance from a spectacular view of the Mississippi River.
County fairs can capture the rural experience in the space of an afternoon. You can pet a goat, tour a dairy barn, ride a Ferris wheel, and down a hot dog all within a few steps of each other. This weekend, August 11 – 15, the Crawford County Fair swings into full tilt with bake offs, “cake walks,” educational programs and displays, demolition derby, and music on Saturday. Sunday brings a car show and tractor pulls for the mechanically inclined, amid aromas wafting from the barn and popcorn stand.
While Crawford County may be sparsely populated, it’s been a crossroads of history and center of trade for much of its human past. On August 21, the Villa Louis Historic Site in Prairie du Chien will commemorate the Prairie du Chien Treaty of 1825, when settlers attempted to end hostilities with several Native American Tribes.
September begins with a celebration of Labor Day in rural America. Wauzeka, located at the scenic confluence of the Kickapoo and Wisconsin Rivers, offers the place and reason to party at its Labor Day Celebration from September 2 – 5. Activities include a parade, ball tournaments, food, music, and a car rally, featuring classic cars from various eras.
You won’t find Disney World or bumper-to-bumper traffic in Crawford County, but you will find casual conversation and reason enough to celebrate the rural experience.
