Get a taste and a tune in Door County this weekend! June 12-15, 2014 is Steel Bridge Songfest in Sturgeon Bay. This Saturday, June 14th is Sip & Savor with Paddlefest in Sister Bay, as well as Door County Beer Fest and the Ride For Nature in Baileys Harbor, and July 15th is Father’s Day – so bring Dad for all the festivities and toast to his health! Sample local beers, wines, and hard ciders, and treat the taste buds to dishes from a variety of local food vendors while you treat the ear buds to lots of live music. Skip the paisley tie this year and give Dad a six pack or two of a new brew or a few bottles of his favorite wine, and don’t forget that most of the musicians performing throughout the county this weekend sell CDs of their original music – which make great Father’s Day gifts too!
STEEL BRIDGE SONGFEST, STURGEON BAY, WI
The Tambourine Lounge, located next door to the Holiday Music Motel on 1st Ave. Sturgeon Bay, WI
Steel Bridge Songfest in Sturgeon Bay runs Thursday, June 12 through Sunday, June 15, 2014. This is an astonishing festival in that all the musicians who perform volunteer their time, and those who participate in the “Construction Zone” (there are some 70 this year) spend the entire week prior to the festival spinning a whiskey bottle to form groups in which they co-write dozens upon dozens of original songs which they record at the Holiday Music Motel, then perform for audiences at a variety of indoor and outdoor venues.
CLICK HERE for the Steel Bridge Songfest Venue Line-Up of Performers!
Thursday, June 12 is Door County Appreciation Night – all venues are free (starting at 6pm and finishing off with an evening Pub Crawl until 2am). Friday and Saturday, June 13 & 14, passes are required, you can get them at the door of any venue for $25, and they are good all weekend to see over 175 performers at 12 venues including Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP) where Friday’s performance will be the “2014 Steel Bridge All-Star Revue” featuring the entire 2014 Construction Crew and special guests and Saturday’s performances will include a Young Songwriters Showcase and an evening of Construction Zone Songwriters “In The Round.” On Saturday and Sunday, June 14 & 15, “Take it to The Bridge!” Two stages will be set up outside at the Holiday Music Motel with live music from 1-6pm, with Sunday featuring a special selection of songs celebrating Billy Triplett who was the live-in recording engineer at the Holiday Music Motel until he passed away unexpectedly last August. Please join in honoring his memory. Other than TAP, the Holiday, the new Tambourine Lounge (next door to the Holiday) and “Untitled,” a used book store and SBSF venue, the SBSF venues are local restaurants, coffeehouses, and pubs like Glas Coffeehouse, Waterfront Mary’s, Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub, Nautical Inn, Brick Lot Pub, and more!
*136 Restaurant & Wine Bar is offering 10% Off to SBSF pass holders June 12-15, 2014!
Find SBSF restaurant and pub venues easily by downloading the Door County Chefs FREE, GREEN, MOBILE Dining App! Look for the tambourine icon for venues and check out the line up for all the venues in our Food News Blog.
DOOR COUNTY BEER FEST, BAILEYS HARBOR, WI
Evan Murdock of Imperfect Strangers
The 3rd annual Door County Beer Fest brings you up to Baileys Harbor on the scenic side of the peninsula, and will feature 160 craft beers from 48 breweries from throughout the United States and Europe, with a special emphasis (or course) on Wisconsin breweries and including Shipwrecked Brewery, Island Orchard Cider, and the brand new Door County Brewing Company located right in Baileys Harbor.
This festival also showcases Door County’s local food scene with vendors who use local produce whenever possible, raise their own animals on the Door Peninsula, and work with other local suppliers. You’ll get to try out lots of different beers and hard ciders, but don’t drink on an empty stomach – sample from the local food vendors and get a real taste of the county from The Cookery of Fish Creek, Door County Creamery of Sister Bay, Wickman House of Ellison Bay, and more! Stay entertained while you sample with live country roots rock music by Evan Murdock and the Imperfect Strangers, and bluegrass from Highland Road. Festival admission is $40 general and $15 for designated drivers (event is 21+ only).
SIP & SAVOR with PADDLEFEST, SISTER BAY, WI
Door County Creamery, Sister Bay, WI
You might need to burn off some energy with all the eating, drinking, and live music, and while dancing goes a long way, Sip & Savor with Paddlefest in Sister Bay offers the chance to check out the latest kayaks and stand up paddleboards from 11am-4pm at the Sister Bay Beach! Bay Shore Outfitters staff members will be available to give you tips and SUP lessons ($10). Listen to live music with local singer/songwriter Katie Dahl from 1-3pm and David Hatch & Lynn Gudmundsend from 3-5pm, while you sample from six Door County Wineries including Door Peninsula Winery & Island Orchard Cider, and try cheeses from Door County Creamery & Schoolhouse Artisan Cheese. At 7pm, roast marshmallows for s’mores (fixings supplied!) and socialize around the bonfire next to Village Hall.
Find more live music at tasty locations in Sister Bay this weekend and throughout June 2014. Cupcake Heaven hosts live music from 1-3pm on Saturdays June 14, 21 & Friday June 27 with local singer/songwriter Marybeth Mattson of Small Forest: enjoy cake and coffee and watch the people go by in the front windows as you enjoy original music and some fun covers! Just across the street, the new Sister Bay Bowl Alley Bar also has live music from 5-7pm on Saturdays June 14, 21 & 28 and from 4-7pm and on Sundays June 15, 22 & 29 with David Hatch & Lynn Gudmundsend playing everything from Beethoven to the Beatles!
There’s even more to delight the taste buds in Sister Bay all summer. On your way into town, stop by The Patio Motel & Restaurant for a great malt and a Patio Burger or a classic banana split. Stop in Drink Coffee or Base Camp (at Ecology Sports) for your get-up-and-go juice and a bite to eat that will keep you going. Enjoy an outstanding dinner with a view of the water at Waterfront Restaurant and the Inn at Kristofer’s (where you can also catch Katie Dahl or Jess Holland playing – call for times/dates), and spend quality time with friends at Mission Grille for Sangria Sundays, Martini Mondays, Tequila Tuesdays, and Wine Wednesdays! And stay up late and have a Bernie at JJ’s LaPuerta!
ALSO THIS WEEKEND IN DOOR COUNTY:
- The Cookery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Fish Creek has live music Thursday June 12 with Jeanne Kuhns & Small Forest at 7pm, and Thursday June 17 with Highland Road at 7pm.
- Beginning June 18th, Arroyo Bay Grill, across from the Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek, will have a weekly Open Mic on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30pm, hosted by Terry Murphy.
- On Thursday, June 12, Katie Dahl will be playing at Wickman House in Ellison Bay, and Friday, June 13, catch Rat Pit (rock/blues) at the Mink River Basin!
Need MORE MUSIC?!
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