In a normal summer, there is some type of festival or event just about every weekend in the Northwoods.
Streets are blocked off. Music fills the town. Rows of open tents line the streets and sidewalks. You can find everything from handmade soaps to photographs of Wisconsin landscapes to intricately designed wood carvings.
Of course, this summer has been anything but normal and those events were largely canceled.
A lot of artists and makers depend on those events to keep their business running. That’s why the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce came up with its fall pop-up series.
“We were trying to come up with an event that was social distancing friendly where, we’re calling them our local makers, could show off their goods. Things they’ve grown or handcrafted at home and just an additional way to support our local makers,” said Chamber Events and Program Coordinator Rachel Boehlen.
Every Friday starting September 25, up three vendors will set up in the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce parking lot off Sutliff Avenue. There will be two artists and one food vendor.
“Each of the vendors will have their own stations set up sort of across the parking lot,” said Boehlen. “We’re just trying to space everybody out so that not only vendors but also guests or customers of theirs can feel safe.”
The Fall Pop-Up Series will run through October 23. There are still open slots this fall for vendors who are interested, just contact the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce at (715) 365-7464 or email Boehlen at assistant@rhinelanderchamber.com.