Picnic in the Park returns to Petrifying Springs Park Saturday

Betsy Ade & the Well-Known Strangers to headline family-friendly event

By KENOSHA COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS

Kenosha County is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its population in 2019 was estimated to be 169,561, making it the eighth most populous county in Wisconsin. The county is named after the county seat, Kenosha, the fourth largest city in Wisconsin.

Kenosha County Parks will host its annual Picnic in the Park celebration Saturday (Aug. 21) at Petrifying Springs Park.

The day will be filled with family-friendly activities including live music, interactive kids’ activities, food trucks, fireworks, and educational booths aimed at raising awareness and educating the public on the value of parks.

The festivities will run from 4 to 9 p.m. in the area around the Petrifying Springs Biergarten on the south end of the park. Petrifying Springs Park is located at 5555 Seventh St. in Somers.

A scene from the 2018 Picnic in the Park.

“We’re excited to bring back this fun, annual event for the whole community,” Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser said. “It will be a great day to come out and see our beautiful Petrifying Springs Park in full swing.”

Activities for children will include face painting, sack races, soccer, giant bubble demonstrations and much more.

In addition to the activities, Kenosha County Parks will host food truck vendors as part of the Traveling Food Truck Series in conjunction with the Petrifying Springs Biergarten.

A full late afternoon and evening of live music is also scheduled.

Big Spoon will kick off the event at 4 p.m. with a variety of music from funk to top 40 hits and rock. The headliner act at 6:30 p.m. is Betsy Ade & the Well-Known Strangers. Most notably recognized from her 2019 appearance on TV’s “The Voice,” Ade and the band will provide a fun and exciting show for the evening.

The event will then come to a close with a fireworks show starting at dusk.

“It’s going to be a great day of summer fun and activities in Petrifying Springs Park,” Kenosha County Parks Director Matthew Collins said. “We hope people will come out and join us and see all that’s available in our great Kenosha County Parks system.”

Western Kenosha County Transit will provide shuttle services for visitors to the Biergarten and parking areas. Additional parking and shuttle services will be available at UW-Parkside Parking Lots B and C in the Rita Lot.

Schedule

  • 4 to 8 p.m.: Nonprofit educational booths
  • 4 to 8 p.m.: Free kids’ games
  • 4 to 9 p.m.: Concessions — 2021 Food Truck Series
  • 4 to 6 p.m.: Live music by Big Spoon (pop)
  • 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Live music by Betsy Ade and the Well-Known Strangers (rock)
  • Dusk: Fireworks finale

A special thanks to Adams Outdoor Advertising, Blue Sky Inflatables LLC, Gruber Law Offices LLC, Insite Consulting Architects, SC Johnson and Chiappetta Shoes for their generosity and support of Picnic in the Park.

See more details on Picnic in the Park and the entire parks system at parks.kenoshacounty.org or facebook.com/kenoshacountyparks.

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