It’s fast-moving fun – Australian Football comes to Racine County this weekend. It’s also time for competitive fishing, a new musical comedy and a walk in the garden. Real Racine has some great summertime ideas.
Discover “footy.” It’s faster paced than football, tougher than rugby and fun to watch. The United States Australian Football League (USAFL) Central Region tournament is at the Soccer Complex of Racine, 9505 Dunkelow Road, Franksville, on Saturday. Australian football, nicknamed “footy,” is played by 18-member teams who are allowed to use any parts of their bodies to move the ball. Points are scored by kicking the ball between tall goal posts The USAFL is expecting more than a dozen teams from as far away as Houston, Denver and Minneapolis. The matches start at 9 a.m. The finals are at 5:30 p.m. Come see the Footy action — spectator admission is free. Visit www.usafl.com
Going for The Big One. Sports fishing enthusiasts can hardly wait. The 2015 Salmon-A-Rama fishing tournament opens at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and runs through 11 a.m. Sunday, July 19. This year’s tournament, open throughout Lake Michigan, promises a $20,000 cash grand prize and more than 100 other prizes plus cash raffles and more. Participants must have an entry ticket (available at the Real Racine Visitor Center) to be eligible for the prizes. The ReefPoint Marina parking lot, at 2 Christopher Columbus Causeway, is once again the Salmon-A-Rama headquarters with food, beverages and free entertainment. This weekend, see the Still Country Band at 7 p.m. Friday and Fall Hazard at 7 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.salmonarama.net for all the details.
Curtain going up. Summer entertainment from The Haylofters theater company starts Thursday. “9 to 5 the Musical” is based on the hit 1980s film that starred Dolly Parton (who wrote the music). It’s an hilarious story about three female co-workers who are pushed to the boiling point by a lying, egotistical, sexist boss. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Malt House Theatre, 109 N. Main St., Burlington. Opening night admission (Thursday) is just $12; all other performances are $15. Call 262-763-9873 or visit www.thehaylofters.com for tickets.
Admission sale! The Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main St. has a bargain for families. The summer’s first $5 Day is this Friday. Everyone — adults, seniors and kids — gets into the zoo for just $5. The zoo will also have extended hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you can’t make it this Friday, the next $5 Day is planned for Aug. 24. Visit www.racinezoo.org
Pancakes and much more. Bring the family to see the Life Flight helicopter, fire and EMS demonstrations and plus a great pancake breakfast at Kansasville Fire & Rescue’s Pancake and Safety Day this Sunday. Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to noon at 23730 Durand Ave., Kansasville. Tickets, available at the door, are $6 for adults and $3 for kids ages 5 through 12. Kids age 4 and younger eat free.
Summertime gardens. The summer flowers are putting on a show. You can see them at the Burlington Area Garden Club’s 2015 Garden Walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The tour includes five beautiful, unique gardens in and around the Burlington area. Visitors can also purchase tickets for a raffle with several valuable prizes. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 the day of the show at the Wehmhoff Square gazebo at the corner of Pine and Washington streets in Burlington. For a list of advance ticket outlets, visit www.burlingtonareagardenclub.com
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