Wausau area
Around Wausau area
Photo: Wikideas1 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · Wisconsin · 285k people
Wausau area
Locals say Wausau · “Big Bull Falls”, “City of Parks”
Where the river meets the pines.
Navy BlueForest Green
Welcome to Wausau, where the river meets the mountain and the seasons call you outside. Grab a fish fry, cheer on the Woodchucks, and enjoy the friendly pace of life here.
Clubs for Wausau area
No clubs for Wausau area yet.
The room
Wausau area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Wausau's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Wausau. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Wausau area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum Renowned for its Birds in Art exhibition
- The Grand Theater Historic performing arts venue in downtown Wausau
- Athletic Park Home to the Wisconsin Woodchucks baseball team
- Rib Mountain State Park One of the highest points in Wisconsin, with hiking and views
- Granite Peak Ski Area Major ski resort on Rib Mountain
- Marathon Park Large park hosting fairs and events
- Outdoors Hike Rib Mountain
- Outdoors Ski at Granite Peak
- With kids Visit the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
- With kids Spend a day at Marathon Park
- Evenings Downtown Wausau bars
- Evenings The Grand Theater shows
- Locals love Supper clubs
- Locals love Lakes
Through the year
- Marathon County Fair August August at Marathon Park
- Big Bull Falls Blues Festival July Downtown Wausau riverfront
- Badger State Winter Games January Winter sports across the area
- Wausau Riverfront Jazz Festival July Jazz performances along the river
- Art in the Park June Outdoor art fair at Marathon Park
Wausau has a humid continental climate with long, snowy winters and short, pleasant summers. The best time to be out is from June through September. Best: Summer and early fall are ideal for outdoor activities, with warm days and cool nights.
Talk like a local
- “Bubbler”
- Drinking fountain
- “Up north”
- The Northwoods region
- “Supper club”
- A traditional Wisconsin restaurant with a bar and dining room
- “Cheesehead”
- A Wisconsinite
Getaways
- Stevens Point Riverfront, university vibe, and the Stevens Point Sculpture Park
- Wisconsin Rapids Home of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and the Cranberry Blossom Festival
- Shawano Lake Shawano and the Shawano County Fair
- Appleton Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and the Houdini Museum
Local flavour
Teams
- Wisconsin Woodchucks Northwoods League
- Wisconsin Woodsmen USPHL
- Wausau RiverWolves USL League Two
Also rooting for Green Bay Packers (NFL), Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Cheese curds Fresh, squeaky curds from local dairies
- Bratwurst
- Friday fish fry Traditional cod or perch, a weekly ritual
- Supper club A local dining tradition, with relish trays and old-fashioneds
Where people go
- Supper clubs Iconic Wisconsin dining, often with prime rib and old-fashioneds
- Lakes Hundreds of lakes in the Northwoods for fishing and boating
- Ski hills Rib Mountain and other slopes for winter sports
- State parks Rib Mountain State Park, Council Grounds, and more
- Paper mills Historical industrial landmarks along the river
Heritage and traditions
Wausau is proud of its rich paper-making history, its strong Hmong community, and its outdoor recreational opportunities, from Rib Mountain to the Wisconsin River.
This time of year in Wausau area
- Fall Fall Color tours and hunting season.
Say it like a local: “You betcha” — You're welcome, or yes
Festivals
- Hmong New Year November/December Celebrates Hmong heritage with traditional dress, food, and music.
- Hodag Country Fest July Country music festival in Rhinelander, named after the mythical Hodag.
- Antigo Potato Fest August Celebrates the local potato harvest with food and family activities.
- Wausau Oktoberfest September German heritage celebration with beer, brats, and polka music.
- Big Bull Falls Blues Festival June Blues music along the Wisconsin River.
- Badger State Winter Games January Winter sports competition for athletes of all ages.
Landmarks with a story
- Marathon County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Wausau, built in the early 20th century.
- Yawkey House Historic mansion that houses the Woodson Art Museum.
- Rhinelander Logging Museum Museum dedicated to the region's logging history.
- Antigo Depot Restored train station in Antigo.
- St. Mary's Catholic Church Historic Catholic church in Wausau.
- Rib Mountain State Park One of the highest points in Wisconsin, with hiking trails.
Food traditions
- Friday fish fry A Wisconsin tradition, often at supper clubs, featuring fried cod or perch.
- Cheese curds Fresh, squeaky cheese curds from local dairies.
- Bratwurst German sausage, often grilled and served with sauerkraut.
- Hmong cuisine Spring rolls, pho, and other dishes from the large Hmong community.
- Fish boil A Northwoods tradition, especially in the Rhinelander area, with boiled fish, potatoes, and onions.
Music and arts
- Birds in Art World-renowned exhibition of bird art at the Woodson Art Museum.
- Wausau Symphony Orchestra Local symphony performing classical and pops concerts.
- Hmong arts and dance Traditional Hmong music, dance, and needlework celebrated in the community.
- Northwoods folk music Bluegrass and country music scenes, especially in Rhinelander.
A little history
- 1800s Lumber era
- late 1800s-1900s Paper industry
- 1970s-80s Hmong resettlement
- early 1900s Ski jumping tradition
Rivalries
- Wausau East vs Wausau West Intense high school football and basketball games
- Woodchucks vs Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Northwoods League baseball rivalry
- Packers vs Bears Classic NFL rivalry, strong local passion
- Brewers vs Cubs MLB rivalry with plenty of banter
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Woodchucks baseball
- Outdoors Hike Rib Mountain
- Outdoors Ski at Granite Peak
- With kids Visit the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
- With kids Spend a day at Marathon Park
People in Wausau speak with a typical Wisconsin accent, with a flat 'a' and a tendency to add 'eh' at the end of sentences. They use 'pop' for soda, 'bubbler' for water fountain, and 'ope' as an interjection.
Only here
- The Hodag: a mythical creature from Rhinelander, celebrated with a festival.
- Rib Mountain: one of the highest points in Wisconsin, with a ski area.
- Birds in Art: the only exhibition of its kind dedicated to bird art.
- Hmong New Year: one of the largest Hmong New Year celebrations in the Midwest.
New here? A few tips
- Invest in warm winter gear; it gets very cold.
- Try a Friday fish fry at a local supper club.
- Learn about Hmong culture; there are many Hmong-owned businesses and restaurants.
- Get a state park pass for Rib Mountain.
- Be careful for deer on the roads, especially at dawn and dusk.
Make this page better
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Areas in Wausau area
Nearby
Every areaMerrillWisconsinWhere the pines meet the lakesMedfordWisconsinWhere the pines meet the lakes, and everyone knows your name.Black River FallsWisconsinWhere the river runs through pine and bog.WaupacaWisconsinWhere the lakes meet the cranberry bogsNorthwoodsWisconsinLakes, pines, and the quiet hum of the north.Green LakeWisconsinDeep lakes, deep rootsShawanoWisconsinWhere the river runs through the pines.SpartaWisconsinCranberry country, trail town, and the heart of the Coulee Region.
Wausau-Stevens Point-Wisconsin Rapids, WI CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.