Name: Chippewa Valley Book Festival: "Writing in Your Own Backyard: Local Columnists On Writing the Chippewa Valley"
Start: 2026-10-21
End: 2026-10-21

Experience the best of Wisconsin’s craft beverage scene at River Bend Winery & Distillery in Chippewa Falls. Focusing on well-balanced wine and spirits made from local grain, River Bend offers their guests an unforgettable tasting experience. Enjoy a glass of wine or a hand-crafted cocktail on the patio overlooking the vineyard or choose from a wide selection to take home by the bottle. Summer brings food trucks and fun outdoor events, and fall brings the experience of the local grape harvest.

Check out [www.riverbendvineyard.com](http://www.riverbendvineyard.com/) for event details, and plan your excursion to Wisconsin wine and spirits country today!

Open Seasonally April through December, check Facebook or the website for business hours.

River Bend Winery and Distillery

This Winter Wonderland has 6 outdoor ponds, skating trails (uphill & downhill), fire pits, and more to come! Check website for status of ice.

Valley Sports Academy Winter Wonderland

Planning a celebration? Event Envy has everything you need to throw an unforgettable party! Whether you need help from our expert team or want to book online yourself, it’s easy. Just browse our rentals, pick your date, and tell us where to deliver—your perfect event starts here!  
  
**Rent, Play, Repeat**

Event Envy

Nestled in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, you’ll find 4 acres of naturally grown lavender—featuring u-picks, seasonal events, and a charming gift shop with locally handcrafted lavender goods to delight all your senses.

Pondview Lavender Farm

Proud to be the WORLD'S FIRST full service Sleep Inn featuring; 72 tastefully decorated guest rooms including family and whirlpool suites. Hotel includes; indoor pool, hot tub, exercise room, game room, free high speed internet, continental breakfast, plus banquet space for up to 300 people designed and built with your function in mind. 29 Pines Restaurant located on-site, is a delightful, delicious reflection of the tastes of the Chippewa Valley. The centerpiece of the restaurant is the CHEF'S TABLE, featuring a huge variety of favorites. Great value and warm friendly service that will remind you of the finest dining experience - at a price that won't! The Lodge Bar is a warm and inviting roadside respite featuring the Valley's most famous beverage - Leinenkugel's. Add to all this a fully stocked convenience store, beauty shop, news stand, and massage therapist, and we think you'll agree that lodging and dining in the Chippewa Valley JUST GOT BETTER! Visit us Online at: http://www.sleepinneauclaire.com.

Sleep Inn & Suites-Conference Ctr

Lake Hallie Peace Memorial Park holds 25 flags in honor of the U.S. military branches and past & present service members.

Peace Memorial Park

Loopy's is open 7 days a week (with the exception of some holidays) from 10am until bar close. We are always working towards giving the best experience possible and making Loopy's truly "A Place for Everyone"! Friday nights at Loopy's - Come on out For Loopy's Friday night Fish Fry and try Loopy's New Fish Tacos, they are amazing! Open Volleyball all year long and enjoy our spacious fire pit on those cool Summer nights! Loopy's Volleyball: Join them for volleyball Leagues all year! Summer time overlooking the beautiful Chippewa River and Winter time in the Dome! Sign up now for the upcoming season. Loopy's has 3 of the best courts in the Chippewa Valley w/ 3 divisions each night for any level of player. Enjoy their full service tiki bar, fire pit (summer time), and new shower facilities. Individual, couples, and partial teams welcome. Call or email Loopy for more details at 715-723-LOOP or loopy@723loop.com. Stop out today for a sign up sheet. Spots are filling up fast! Loopy's Tube Floats and Canoe & Kayak Rentals - Environmentally friendly, fun, relaxing, and very inexpensive! All summer, everyday...weather permitting. Loopy's rents tubes, cooler tubes with ice, canoes, and kayaks. All equipment rentals include shuttle service up river; park at Loopy's, get on the shuttle and float back to Loopy's where your vehicle will be waiting for you. Fully insured and licensed. Canoe rentals include 2 paddles and 2 life jackets. Kayak rentals include 1 life jacket and a paddle. Loopy's also has river safe beverages, food, and ice available for purchase.

Loopy's Grill & Saloon + River Rentals

Little Berry Farm is a place where our customers enjoy picking quality fruit in a country setting, close to town. Owner Gaye welcomes you to her U-pick berry farm where strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are naturally grown. We are located just 4 miles south of Eau Claire, WI. Although we are not certified organic, we strive to be herbicide and pesticide free to grow fruit that tastes delicious and is good for you.

Little Berry Farm

Don Jaquish owns and operates Jaquish Farms, located South of Eau Claire on Hwy 85. Honoring his late wife Babbette, Don has shared the beautiful shades of gold with Sunflower fields and a Sunflower Maze and supporting others in the cancer journey.

Jaquish Farms

Looking to enjoy a beautiful autumn day at a small, family-run orchard? Maple Harvest has everything to make a perfect day of memories. Start with pick-your-own apples then wander into their 10-acre corn maze. Don’t forget to borrow some loppers and a wagon at the store so that you can pick your favorite pumpkin in the one-acre patch. After all of that fun, you’ll want to try some homemade pie or a caramel apple, maybe washed down with some apple ale or fresh-pressed cider! There is something for everyone at Maple Harvest Apple Orchard! And, when we say everyone, they mean it! The orchard’s wheelchair accessible ramp and raised pick-your-own apple deck allows everyone to participate in a wonderful day. Maple Harvest Apple Orchard is open Wednesday – Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm starting the beginning of September. The orchard has extended hours until 10:00pm Friday nights and Saturday nights in October for the night corn maze (weather permitting)! Fun for all ages!

Maple Harvest Apple Orchard

Located in western Wisconsin, Eau Claire offers sports planners a destination that's easy to reach, easy to navigate, and ready to host. Just 90 minutes from the Minneapolis–St. Paul area and within driving distance of Chicago, Eau Claire is well positioned to welcome teams, athletes, and fans from across the Midwest.

A versatile mix of indoor and outdoor venues supports events across a wide range of sports and competition levels, with tournament-ready fields, courts, ice facilities, pools, trails, and large-scale indoor spaces. Hotels, restaurants, venues, and visitor amenities are conveniently located throughout the community, making it easy for teams to get where they need to be throughout the event.

Visit Eau Claire's sports team works alongside event organizers to help bring the details together, connecting planners with venues, accommodations, local resources, and destination support.

And there's plenty waiting beyond the competition. Eau Claire's walkable downtown, local restaurants and breweries, miles of trails, public art, live music, family attractions, and the Chippewa River give athletes and their families more to experience between games and after the final whistle.

Eau Claire has the facilities to host the event and the destination experience to make the trip worth it.**** Bring the competition, bring the crowd, and come as you are — Eau Claire is ready to host.

Visit Eau Claire

Join Leader-Telegram Sawdust Stories columnists of the past and present–Patti See, John Hildebrand, and Nickolas Butler–for a conversation and mini workshop on how to write the stories closest to home. Through conversation, examples, and guided exercises, participants will explore the short essay writing process–from the spark of an idea to the beginnings of a draft.

Whether you’re a longtime writer, simply someone interested in preserving stories from your family, community, or everyday life, or are just interested in learning more about the writing process, this workshop is for you.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: "Writing in Your Own Backyard: Local Columnists On Writing the Chippewa Valley"

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