Stevens Point
Around Stevens Point
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Town and around · Wisconsin · 72k people
Stevens Point
“The Point”
Stevens Point · Plover
Where the river runs through a pine‑green heart.
PurpleGold
Welcome to Stevens Point, the heart of Wisconsin's cranberry country! Whether you're here for the river, the trails, or the supper clubs, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors and a good fish fry. We're glad you're here.
Clubs for Stevens Point
No clubs for Stevens Point yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Stevens Point. 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 Stevens Point. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Green Circle Trail 30-mile loop around Stevens Point for hiking, biking, and skiing.
- UW-Stevens Point Public university with a riverside campus and Schmeeckle Reserve.
- Stevens Point Sculpture Park Outdoor gallery with rotating sculptures along the river.
- Iverson Park Large city park with a disc golf course and picnic areas.
- Riverfront Downtown area along the Wisconsin River with parks and trails.
- SentryWorld Public golf course with a famous flower hole.
- Outdoors Hike or bike the Green Circle Trail
- Outdoors Paddle the Wisconsin River
- With kids Central Wisconsin Children's Museum
- With kids UW-Stevens Point Museum of Natural History
- Evenings Brewery tours at Stevens Point Brewery
- Evenings Live music at downtown bars
- Locals love Supper clubs
- Locals love Local breweries
Through the year
- Portage County Fair July Classic county fair with rides, livestock, and local food in Plover.
- Point Bock Run March Annual road race through the city, often paired with a beer tasting.
- Riverfront Jazz Festival August Jazz performances along the Wisconsin River downtown.
- Stevens Point Farmers Market May–October Weekly market with local produce, crafts, and cranberry goods.
- Central Wisconsin Brewfest October Craft beer tasting event featuring regional breweries.
Stevens Point has a continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is from May through September. Best: Late spring to early fall offers the most comfortable weather for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “The Point”
- Nickname for Stevens Point.
- “Fish fry”
- Friday night fish fry tradition.
- “Supper club”
- A traditional Wisconsin restaurant with a bar and dining room.
- “Cranberry country”
- The region around here, known for cranberry farming.
Getaways
- Wausau Granite Peak ski area and the 400 Block entertainment district.
- Wisconsin Rapids Cranberry bogs and the Wisconsin River kayaking.
- Shawano Shawano Lake and the Mielke Arts Center.
- Appleton Fox Cities performing arts and the Houdini Museum.
Local flavour
Teams
- UW–Stevens Point Pointers NCAA Division III
Also rooting for Green Bay Packers (NFL), Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA Division I)
Eat and drink
- Friday fish fry A Wisconsin supper-club staple, often with perch or cod, served with potato pancakes and coleslaw.
- Cheese curds Fresh, squeaky curds, often breaded and fried or served at local taverns.
- Cranberry dishes Central Wisconsin is cranberry country; locals enjoy cranberry sauces, pies, and relishes.
- Bratwurst Grilled brats, often simmered in beer and onions, a Wisconsin cookout classic.
Where people go
- Supper clubs Classic Wisconsin supper clubs with relish trays, old-fashioneds, and prime rib.
- Cranberry bogs Flooded fields of cranberries, especially visible during harvest in early autumn.
- Riverfront parks Green spaces along the Wisconsin River, like Bukolt Park, for picnics and paddleboarding.
- Ice fishing shanties Tiny huts scattered on frozen lakes in winter, a beloved local pastime.
Heritage and traditions
Stevens Point and its neighbors take pride in their deep Polish and German roots, the cranberry bogs that put the region on the map, and a welcoming community centered around the Wisconsin River and the university.
This time of year in Stevens Point
- Cranberry harvest tours September–October In September and October, local bogs flood and farmers harvest the berries; many offer tours.
Say it like a local: “Bubbler” — A drinking fountain.
Festivals
- Iola Old Car Show August One of the largest old car shows in the Midwest, drawing thousands of enthusiasts to Iola every August.
- Waupaca Winterfest February A February celebration with ice sculptures, snowshoe races, and family activities on the Chain of Lakes.
Landmarks with a story
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Church A historic Polish Catholic parish in Stevens Point, known for its ornate interior and annual Polish festivals.
- Stevens Point Brewery Founded in 1857, it's one of the oldest breweries in the United States and a symbol of local industry.
- Waupaca County Courthouse A stately 1906 courthouse in Waupaca, built in the Neoclassical style, anchoring the town square.
- Old Main at UW-Stevens Point The original 1894 building of the university, now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Food traditions
- Pierogi and kielbasa Polish immigrants brought these staples, and they're enjoyed year-round, especially at church suppers and holiday meals.
- Paczki on Fat Tuesday Polish pastry tradition, with bakeries selling out of these filled doughnuts before Lent.
- Cranberry bread and sauces Local bogs supply the berries, and cranberry bread, relish, and pies show up at community gatherings.
Music and arts
- Polka music German and Polish heritage keeps polka alive at festivals, church events, and the annual Point Bock Run.
- Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra Based in Stevens Point, this professional orchestra performs classical and pops concerts.
A little history
- 1853 Founded as a lumber town
- Late 1800s Paper industry boom along the Wisconsin River
- 1894 University founded as a normal school
- 1970s Hmong community settles in the region, bringing new cultural traditions
Rivalries
- UW-Stevens Point vs. UW-Whitewater Fierce NCAA Division III rivalry in basketball and football.
- SPASH vs. Marshfield High School Big central Wisconsin football and basketball matchups.
- Packers vs. Bears Everyone picks a side on game day.
- Game day UWSP Pointers hockey
- Game day Ice fishing tournaments
- Outdoors Golf at SentryWorld
- Outdoors Boat on the Waupaca Chain of Lakes
- With kids Waupaca Chain of Lakes
- With kids Central Wisconsin Children's Museum
Locals speak with a classic Upper Midwestern accent, where 'bag' sounds like 'beg' and vowels are slightly flattened. They use 'pop' for soda, 'bubbler' for drinking fountain, and sprinkle in 'ope' and 'you betcha' as friendly filler.
Only here
- The SentryWorld golf course's 'Flower Hole' – a par 3 surrounded by a giant flower bed, a signature of the course.
- Point Bock – a spring seasonal beer from Stevens Point Brewery, celebrated with a run and festival.
- The Green Circle Trail loops entirely around Stevens Point, a 24-mile urban nature escape.
- Cranberry bogs turn crimson in October, and many farms offer tours during the harvest.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to say 'bubbler' for drinking fountain and 'pop' for soda – you'll fit right in.
- Embrace the cold: invest in a good winter coat and try ice fishing or cross-country skiing.
- Friday fish fry is sacred – find a local supper club and order the perch or walleye.
- Visit a cranberry bog in October during harvest – it's a colorful, unique experience.
- Be ready for 'ope' – it's the polite way to say 'excuse me' when you bump into someone.
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Part of Wausau area
Nearby
Every areaWausauWisconsinWhere the river meets the pines.Wisconsin RapidsWisconsinWhere cranberry bogs meet the Wisconsin RiverWaupacaWisconsinWhere the lakes meet the cranberry bogsMerrillWisconsinWhere the pines meet the lakesGreen LakeWisconsinDeep lakes, deep rootsShawanoWisconsinWhere the river runs through the pines.AppletonWisconsinWhere the Fox River winds through friendly neighbourhoodsOshkosh–NeenahWisconsinWhere the river runs and the skies are alive
Stevens Point-Plover, WI. 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.