Welcome to Labor Day weekend! In Racine County, you’ll find national championship performances, an outdoor party, lots of motorcycles, a fun 5k and an ethnic celebration. Plan your holiday weekend with Real Racine.
See the champs. Racine County has a national champion in its midst — and you can see them in action this weekend! The Browns Lake Aquaducks are winners of the 2017 Division II National Water Ski Championship. This Burlington area-based team earned top scores for the best Swivel Act, Pyramid Team, Doubles Act, Tow Boat driving, Pick-up Boat Crew, Showmanship and Comedy Act. These amazing young people wrap up the season with three shows at Fischer Park, 30326 Durand Ave., just east of Burlington. Show times are at 5 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 31) and at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 2-3). Free admission. The Aquaducks are a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. To learn more, visit www.aquaducks.org
A party this Friday. Get this long holiday weekend off to a fun start at First Fridays in Downtown Racine from 4 to 9 p.m. Grab a beer and great food at Monument Square with music from Identity Crisis. Black Tie Carriage Service will be offering horse-drawn wagon rides through Downtown. Elsewhere, there’s music by Friday Night Lights and Weird Science along Sixth Street and Mark Paffrath at Crosswalk Park on Main. The Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St., has free admission all day. There’s a new art exhibit opening at the Racine Arts Council, 409 Sixth St., and the area’s shops and galleries are open with shopping specials. More at www.firstfridaysracine.com
Motorcycles and music. Labor Day Weekend is a traditional gathering for Harley Owners Group (HOG) members from around the country. Racine County has one of big rally sites at Route 20, 14001 Washington Ave. (Hwy. 20) from Thursday through Sunday. Route 20, House of Harley-Davidson and 95 WIIL Rock present a bike vendor fair and live music. The free event opens at 9 a.m. each day. Scheduled bands include: 9Electric on Thursday, Judas Rising on Friday, Metal Men on Saturday and Master Puppets on Sunday. Details at www.rte20.com
Running for bacon. A fun 5k is back for International Bacon Day on Saturday. Bacont5kegs gets underway at 9 a.m. from the Racine Yacht Club, 1 Barker St. After the run, participants are invited to a smorgasbord of Jones Dairy bacon and five kegs of beer from the Sprecher Beer Ambulance. Registration, including a shirt, finishers medal and the bacon bar, is $50 per person. The bacon bar party is $25. Visit www.Bacon5Kegs.com
Music and dance. Serb Fest is hosted by St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 826 State St., with delicious home-made food, live Serbian music and dancing, themed clothing and accessories, kids activities and a raffle. Festival hours are 12 noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free admission.
Plan ahead! Make plans now to see the classics next weekend (Sept. 8-9). The Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS) International Boat Show brings 120 or more beautifully restored boats to ReefPoint Marina, 2 Christopher Columbus Causeway. The show is free and open to the public – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Visit www.acbs.org/international-boat-show/
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