On first fall-like Friday, festivals and Packers watch parties draw crowds

 

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- On the first Friday with autumn-like temperatures in southeast Wisconsin, there was another reason to feel fall in the air. The Green Bay Packers were kicking off their season in Brazil, and watch parties for the game joined a long list of festivals competing for attention across the area.

Green and gold attire was visible all over Tosa Fest, a two-day celebration in the Village of Wauwatosa. Robert Manriquez, a longtime Tosa resident, said the annual festival typically marked a transition away from summer. But this year, the festival was merely a pregame activity.

"You got your state fair, your Summerfest. The Brewers are playing tonight against Colorado, but the main thing is the Green Bay Packers in Brazil," he exclaimed. "We're stoked. I mean, we're not gonna go to any bars because that's OK, but we have our own thing at our own house. We got patio, we got a fire pit."

While Manriquez didn't mind the October-like conditions, Pattie Klemz said she was enjoying everything about the festival except the weather.

"I wish there was more sun," she said. "But [it's] wonderful. You can feel the excitement for the Packer game."

For those who prefer portraits over pigskin, Art on the Plaza featured a variety of displays outside West Allis City Hall. John Zieloski, an artist who specializes in acrylic paintings, the first think he noticed was the crisp air.

"When I first went outside, it felt kind of cool," Zieloski said. "I'm so used to summer, and fall just came."

Zieloski said he specializes in pet portraits and metaphorical paintings. As the evening went on, he noticed the crowd at the art festival was thinning out. At the same time, places like Ope! Brewing in West Allis were getting more packed as people gathered for the Packers game.

Most people huddled inside as the temperatures dropped even more at sunset, but others moved to snag one of the fire pit tables. Karl Foss said he enjoyed experiencing a bit of everything Friday.

"Because warm over here, cool over there," he said, gesturing toward the fire pit. "Today was rainy, cold and warm all at the same time. The perfect mixture of fall in Wisconsin."

For those not quite ready to embrace chilly nights around the fire, there's no need to worry. Temperatures will rise back into the 80s next week.

"As the saying goes, that's Milwaukee. That's Wisconsin," Manriquez said. "And if you're a true Wisconsinite, you're used to that."

After all, consistent weather in Wisconsin is about as typical as the Packers playing on a Friday night.