Kewaskum kicks off 125th Founder's Day Celebration after 2-year delay
KEWASKUM, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The small village of Kewaskum is prepared to celebrate its history in a big way this weekend.
After the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the original plans set to take place in June 2020, the village will be celebrating its 125th Anniversary Founder's Day Celebration on year 127.
"We started pitching this to the residents in the village in 2016 with plans to hold it in 2020," said Aaron Laatsch, organizer of the event and a Kewaskum historical expert. "Eventually, a couple years later, here we are after Covid and a few lapses with that. We're ready to kick it off this weekend."
The weekend kicks off Friday afternoon with a fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Kewaskum Fire Department. Along with many musical and performing acts scheduled throughout the weekend, attendees will also be treated to history displays, a petting zoo, carriage rides, fireworks and a pioneer encampment aimed at giving folks a firsthand look at what it was like living in Wisconsin 125 years ago.
"Give you an idea what it's like to live in 1895 in a small village," said Kristy Vogt, another organizer of the event. "There's all kinds of different events that they can do. There's different types of experiences you can see. Things like cooking, industry stuff; we have a blacksmith here who's putting on performances that show you how that all worked."
After a lot of planning, adjustments and waiting, both Vogt and Laatsch are excited to see the hard work come to fruition and to celebrate the place they call home with family, friends and neighbors.
"Just to get everybody out into the community and having something to do, something to enjoy and celebrate together," Vogt said. "Everybody loves to be able to celebrate together and take part in something that will go down in history."
"We want to see people come out, enjoy themselves, share stories. Residents are coming back who have maybe moved out of the village 10, 20, 30 years ago," said Laatsch. "Everyone have a great time. Experience what Kewaskum's about; a small community where everyone knows each other and just ready to have a great time."
A full list of events for Kewaskum's 125th Anniversary Founder's Day Celebration can be found here: