This weekend — take in a local tradition, shop for art, swing to jazz and paddle your canoe. It’s looking like a great spring evening for First Friday, too! Come along with Real Racine.
Flipping those flapjacks. A 60-year tradition continues Saturday at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St. Kiwanis Pancake Day will be serving up pancakes and sausage from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. You’ll love watching the famous pancake flippers serving ’em hot off the huge, circular griddles. There is also live, local entertainment all day long. This all-you-can-eat meal is $6 in advance or $7 at the door. Kids ages 4 and younger eat free. To learn more about the many community activities supported by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Racine, visit www.kiwanisracine.com
Shopping opportunity. Looking for that last-minute Mother’s Day gift? The Lakefront Artist Fair held at Festival Park, 5 Fifth St., might be able to help you out. Works from more than 100 artists will be on display and for sale. There is also a basket raffle, a fine art silent auction and musical entertainment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This annual event benefits the Racine Montessori School.
Catch some jazz. Choral Arts Society presents a very special evening of entertainment this Saturday at an interesting setting — the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 838 building, 3333 N. Green Bay Road, Caledonia. “Broadway and Jazz After Five” features local jazz musicians Jack Grassel and Jill Jensen with the Choral Arts Society. They will be performing show tunes and jazz standards in nightclub setting. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for students. Order online at: www.choralartsoline.org
Paddling time. If the outdoors is calling, the Root River Paddle Challenge might be just the thing! This canoe or kayak event starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at Linwood Park, 7330 Five Mile Road, Caledonia. The course down the Root River to the Horlick Dam is approximately 7.5 miles and can be completed in about 2 or 3 hours. Registration is $25. Canoe and kayak rentals are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. This event supports the Linwood Park Kayak & Canoe Launch Project. Register at www.therootriver.com or call 877-651-2440.
Spring into First Friday. What could be better for a spring evening than First Friday in Downtown Racine? Take a walk through the Downtown area from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday for shopping specials, food and beverage deals and live music. The Huntsmen perform at Monument Square, Acoustic Horizon is at the Paul Harris Plaza at the end of Sixth Street and Jeff Ward plays at Crosswalk Park in the 300 block of Main Street — all starting at 6 p.m. You’ll find free admission all day at the Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St.. Meanwhile, the Racine Arts Council’s ArtSpace Gallery, 316 Sixth St., has an opening reception for “The Prairie School Art Show.” More information at www.firstfridaysracine.com
Get ready for Open House. Mark your calendar for the first-ever Open House Racine County on Saturday, May 21. It’s a free, county-wide celebration of interesting places, fascinating architecture, local history and more. OHRC is organized by Real Racine with assistance from SC Johnson, Travel Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. Watch the Real Racine Facebook page (www.facebook.com/realracine) for previews. Plan your Open House Racine County experience at www.openhouseracinecounty.com
Keep up with what’s happening – download our new Real Racine mobile app on your Apple or Android device. Just type in realracine. For daily updates, “like” us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/realracine), follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/realracine) or watch us on Instagram.