Learn about sweet maple sugar, catch some music, visit craft fairs and learn about 15 minutes of fame, all in Racine County this weekend. Come along with Real Racine.
Sweetness from the trees. Learn first-hand how maple sugar comes from trees starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at River Bend Nature Center, 3600 N Green Bay Road, Caledonia. The Sugar Bush Family Field Trip includes a hike into the wood to tap the maple trees for sap, boiling the sap in the evaporator and tasting the progression from sap to syrup. You’ll also learn some Wisconsin Native American history and how to identify trees. The cost is $5 for River Bend members; $7 for non-members. Reservations at 262-639-1515. The year’s final Sugarin’ Off Pancake Breakfast is served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at River Bend. The menu has pancakes (with real maple syrup), sausage, coffee, orange juice, tea or milk. Admission is $8 adults; $5 children ages 6 through 10. Children age 5 and younger eat free. Visit www.riverbendnaturecenterracine.org
A jazzy evening. The next Jean’s Jazz Series concert features powerful and versatile performances by the Nine Worlds Ensemble and the Ivy Ford Band. Show time is 7 p.m. Saturday at the Racine Theatre Guild stage, 2519 Northwestern Ave. Nine Worlds brings a diverse approach to music from classical, jazz and rock experience. Ivy Brown is a versatile artist who presents blues and roots music in a fresh, energetic way. For tickets, call 262-633-4218 or order at www.racinetheatre.org
Getting crafty. A pair of craft fairs are on tap for this weekend. The Park High School fair runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Park fieldhouse, 1901 12th St., Racine. Proceeds will go toward a student trip to France. All visitors can enter a raffle for gift cards from local businesses. The Spring Craft Fair at Borzynski’s Farm & Floral Market, 11600 Washington Ave. (Hwy. 20), Mount Pleasant, features hand-made items from local crafters and market specials. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Free admission.
A fun talk. Everyone is invited to a special evening of inspiring discussion from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Preservation Hall, 740 Lake Ave., Racine. You’ll hear from internationally acclaimed poet Naomi Shihab Nye, and six other subjects of the “Famous” portraits art project by local artist Deb Marett. The evening is patterned after the TED Talks series and open to all ages. Free admission; a $5 suggested donation is welcomed. To reserve a seat, please contact Marett at dmarett@wi.rr.com Sponsored by the Bonk! Performance Series. http://bonkperformanceseries.wordpress.com/
Make plans now. We’re very pleased to have confirmed the historic Oak Clearing Farm near Union Grove as one of more than 60 sites for Open House Racine County 2017 on Saturday, May 6. Oak Clearing was featured earlier this year on the “American Pickers” cable TV program. OHRC provides free, one-day access to the county’s most interesting places. Mark your calendar now and start planning your itinerary at www.openhouseracinecounty.com
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