#gettan

By: Kayla O’Leary, Rachel Erickson, and Nue Xiong

It’s that time of year where you may have Alice Cooper’s song “School’s Out” on repeat. Here in Student Central we are celebrating our accomplished students who have just finished finals and those who graduated yesterday. To make the most of your summer break, we have created a bucket list to help you make the most of your vacay! 

The month of June means the start of summer *insert happy tears here*. Throughout this month, there are many events happening in Eau Claire. Here are just a few of the celebrations you can enjoy this month:

Taste of the Valley

On June 2, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., head down to Phoenix Park to celebrate the culinary arts of the Eau Claire area! There will be live music and a Kids Zone for the little ones.

Blue Ox Music Festival

Are you a fan of Bluegrass, Roots, and Americana music? If so, this festival is for you! Between June 13-15, spend the weekend camping and enjoying great entertainment. You can find more information on their website here.

International Day of Yoga

Attention all yogis! On June 19, Latitude 44 Yoga Studio invites you to a FREE yoga class in Phoenix Park. There will be live music, food, and of course, yoga. All ages are welcome, so be sure to check out their Facebook page for more information.

Want more frequent zen sessions? Check out Yoga in the Park every Saturday from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. until August 25 at the River Prairie Center.

July means we are halfway through with summer *insert sad tears here*. To make the most of the remaining time, we have more fun events to share:

Fourth of July Fireworks

Of course, it’s the day to celebrate America’s Independence, so head down to Carson Park for the Festival Foods fireworks display. There will be entertainment, food, drinks, games, and an Express baseball game before the fireworks at 10 p.m.

Eau Claire County Fair

What’s better than fair food and rides? Pretty much nothing except the free parking and free admission that comes with it! If you’re looking for some fun games, delicious food, and farm animals, check out the Eau Claire County Fair on July 24-28. For more details, visit their website here.

Chalkfest

Head down to the UW-Eau Claire campus on July 27 for the annual Chalkfest, where you can watch artists bring their drawings to life. Want to participate in the event? Be sure to pre-register to reserve a spot! There will be food, music, and chalk-related games throughout the day. For more information and where to register, check out the website here.

August means that we’re just a few weeks away from starting fall classes *insert ugly cry here*. However, to cure that summertime sadness, we have a few last events to wrap up the warm weather:

Half Moon Dragon Boat Festival

On August 3, venture over to Half Moon Beach to watch dragon boat teams race on Half Moon Lake. The event raises money for Chippewa Valley local cancer-related services. If you’d like to participate and get a team together, look at their website here.

Family Night in the Park

Pack up those lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks; this event will be a relaxing one. Take a trip down to Phoenix Park on August 3 at 6pm and enjoy a variety of vendors, sports, and an outdoor movie.

Food Truck Cinema

River Prairie Park will be showing two family friendly movies on August 23 from 6:30 - 10 p.m. Enjoy a meal from one of the food truck options nearby.

Here are more events to keep you busy:

The first Monday of each month (now-October 7), you can meet at SHIFT Cyclery and Coffee Bar with a bike and helmet. You will ride starting at 6pm socializing with other riders. Each month, you will ride a different route and finish at a different destination to refuel with drinks and snacks.

Wanna see a new flick coming out this summer? The Micon Cinemas Downtown Budget Theater offers $3 movies on Tuesdays! The Micon Cinemas Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls offer $5 movies on Tuesdays as well.

Check out The Plus Facebook page for upcoming weekly events and offers.

On Clear Water Comedy Thursday nights, student admission is $3 along with a free drink (make sure to bring your valid student ID)!

Looking for a relaxing Thursday night? Head down to the Sounds like Summer Concert Series in Phoenix Park. Listen to bands and grab a bite to eat from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Grab some grub this summer on Food Truck Fridays! Expand your taste buds by stopping by downtown Eau Claire from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Check out their website for official dates.

Take yourself out to the ballgame by cheering on our own EC Express baseball team. They have numerous games throughout the week from now until August. Check out their schedule here.

Support your local businesses and stop by the Downtown Farmers Market in Phoenix Park. For a detailed schedule and more information, check out their website here!

We hope this bucket list gives you some fun ideas for this summer. Comment and let us know what your favorite activity is! We’ll be back at the end of August with ways to prepare for the beginning of the semester. In the meantime, stay safe this summer and enjoy the warm weather!