You can shop ’til you drop all over the Burlington area this weekend. You’ll also find the area’s largest lakefront festival, summer music, 15th century sailing ships and a last chance at local live theater productions. Come along with Real Racine.
Shop, shop, shop! When it comes to shopping, nobody will be able to beat Burlington’s Maxwell Street Days and Community-Wide Yard Sales this Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Merchants in all Burlington shopping areas, including Downtown, Pinecrest Shopping Center, Fox River Plaza and Burlington Square will have sales on the sidewalks and streets. More than 30 vendors, selling all sorts of crafts and goods, will be set up in Wehmhoff Square Park and along Chestnut Street. If that isn’t enough, yard sales will be taking place at homes throughout the community. The Burlington Ukulele Band performs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the park. The nearby Pioneer Cabin has a Saturday ice cream social. The Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce is coordinating. Visit www.burlingtonchamber.org
Pizza, fireworks and more. Home-made meatball bombers, pizza, live music and hugefireworks shows. Where else but the Roma Lodge Italian Festival! The event opens at 11:30 a.m. Friday for lunch at Festival Park, 5 Fifth St. Festival hours are 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday night, 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 12-10:30 p.m. Sunday. Fireworks by the famed Bartalotta Fireworks Co. are at 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission at the gate is $5.
Summer music. The Racine Symphony Orchestra (RSO) summer music fund-raiser is 5 p.m. Saturday at the grounds of the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, 33 E. Four Mile Road. This year’s theme “Broadway Bash – Then and Now” includes performances by Nancy Maio, Gare Hofstad, Jeanne Scherkenbach and Nick Sulla. The event also features hors d’oeurves, beverages, desserts and auctions. Tickets are $75. Reservations at www.racinesymphony.org
Setting sail. Replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships the Nina and the Pinta have arrived at Racine’s lakefront. Starting Friday, the two sailing vessels will be open for tours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The tours are available daily through next Saturday, Aug. 1. Admission is $8 adults; $7 seniors and $6 students. The ships can be seen at the Rooney Pugh Recreation Area located at the end of Reichert Court – just off Michigan Boulevard. See a preview at www.thenina.com
Cars with muscle. A celebration of late-model muscle cars takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Georgie Porgies, 5502 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant. The All-American Modern Muscle Car Show is open to American-made, muscle cars 2005 and newer. Advance registration is $8; same-day registration is $10. Driver will save $1 by wearing an Hawaiian shirt. Free for spectators. Benefits the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Details at 262-633-1806.
Last chances. This is your last opportunity to catch two local musical productions. “9 to 5 the Musical” is presented by The Haylofters from Thursday through Sunday. Shows are at the Malt House Theater, 109 N Main St., at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets at www.thehaylofters.com. “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” a jukebox musical, continues Friday through Sunday at the Racine Theatre Guild, 2519 Northwestern Ave. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets at 262-633-4218 or www.racinetheatre.org
They’re coming back. Get ready for exciting BMX and skateboard tricks! The Bikes, Boards ‘n Beach Series returns next Friday and Saturday, July 31-Aug. 1 to the North Beach parking lot, 100 Kewaunee St. The top riders from the region will be competing for prizes and bragging rights. Details at www.aganation.com
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