** This article was originally written by Samantha Haas while a member of our team. You can learn more about Samantha and her work here.
After being cooped up inside with all of the rain, this weekend is shaping up to be a great time to go outdoors and celebrate the start of summer. In Dane County, two free events will offer lots of family fun, music, and even fireworks: Festival Foods' Shake the Lake and Oregon's Summer Fest.
Summer Fest
When: June 21-24
Fireworks: Around 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Kiser Firemen's Park, 245 Brook St., Oregon
Info: www.oregonwisummerfest.com
Activities: Carnival rides and games, food vendors, and softball, volleyball, and cornhole tournaments; nightly live music featuring Cherry Pie on Friday and Angels & Outlaws on Saturday; Saturday arts and crafts market, run/walk, pork dinner, and fireworks; Sunday car show, parade, bbq rib or chicken dinner with music and raffle, ending with the Parade of Bands at the high school football stadium at 7 p.m.
Shake the Lake
When: 5-11 p.m. June 23
Fireworks: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Drive, Madison
Info: www.shakethelake.org
Activities: Listen to national musical acts featuring The Jayhawks and LOCASH, watch the Human Cannonball launch into water and the Underground Aerialists superhero themed-show and stilt walkers, stop by the petting zoo, check out the food cart vendors and grab a drink, and watch Wisconsin's largest fireworks display over Lake Monona. For $20 you can join the iHeartRadio Rooftop Party.
