Copperfest festival in Oconto starts Friday with 'some surprises'

OCONTO - The summer season kicks into high gear this week with the arrival of Copperfest.

The 41st installment of the festival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Copperfest/American Legion Post 74 Park, 709 Madison St.

Four bands who have never played at Copperfest will serve up entertainment this year.

Ten Cases Later will perform Friday night from 7 to 11 p.m. while Saturday will be headlined by Michigan Shivers from 7:30 to 11 p.m., with Warden playing from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Wet Possum from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

"You get comments made like, 'Oh, it's the same old thing every year,'" Copperfest coordinator Gary Zahn said. "Now, we’ve got some surprises for them this year."

Aaron Socha Livewire will perform Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Other things that are new this year include a cornhole tournament and a nonecumenical church service at 9 a.m. Sunday, where different area pastors will minister to attendees.

"We talked about (doing) it last year," Zahn said. "… There's nothing going on 'til 11 o'clock on Sunday morning, and we usually have the place all cleaned up by Saturday night … so we thought let's ask the pastors if they were interested."

While some events are different, plenty of activities will make their return, such as racing pigs and ducks, a trout pond, Casaday's Critters, pony rides, kids' activities, and self-proclaimed "grillologists" Mad Dog and Merrill.

The parade will kick off 10 a.m. Saturday, with a beach theme. Richard and Sue Jacquart are the 2023 grand marshals.

Richard used to be a firefighter and police officer while Sue is active in different volunteer organizations. "They’re very willing to help anybody," Zahn said of the Jacquarts.

The Pulaski High School band will perform during the parade as they prep for their performance in the Rose Bowl Parade on Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, California. Following the parade, they will also perform about a half-hour set in the park.

Additional events during the weekend are the Wisconsin Upper Michigan Pulling Association (WUMPA) truck pulls at 7 p.m. Friday at the City Docks, a car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Holy Trinity Church parking lot, a pie and ice cream social from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Beyer Home & Carriage Museum, 917 Park Ave., and Under The Lights wrestling at 2:15 p.m. Sunday.

Advance wristbands are available for $5 for kids ages 6-17, $10 for adults $10 and a family package of two adults and three kids for $25. They can be purchased at Oconto City Hall, Wagner Shell, Thompson's County Market, Stephenson National Bank, Associated Bank and N.E.W. Credit Union (Oconto Branches) through 3 p.m. Friday.

Daily admission fees are:

6:30 p.m. – Grand marshal banquet, Oconto Elks Club

7 to 8:30 a.m. – Kickoff breakfast

8 a.m. – Crowning of Miss Copperfest 2023

5 p.m. – Grounds open, with food stands, vendors, games area, racing pigs and ducks show, Casaday's Critters & Pony Rides

7-10:45 p.m. – Ten Cases Later (rock)

10:30 a.m. – Grounds open, with food stands, games area, trout pond, racing pigs and ducks shows, Casaday's Critters & Pony Rides resuming throughout the day

11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. – Wet Possum (1990s and 2000s party band)

12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. – Glen Girard Magician

1 p.m. – Horseshow and cornhole tournaments

1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. – Mad Dog & Merrill Grillin’ Show

3:30-6:30 p.m. – Warden (rock)

7:30-11 p.m. – Michigan Shivers (rock/pop)

9 a.m. – Church service

10 a.m. – Grounds open, with vendors, food stands, games area, trout pond, racing pigs and ducks shows, Casaday's Critters & Pony Rides resuming throughout the day

Noon-3 p.m. – Pie and ice cream social, Beyer Home & Carriage House Museum

11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. – Aaron Socha Livewire (polka and more)

Noon, 2 p.m. – Glen Girard Magician

2:15 to 4:30 p.m. – UTL Wrestling

Contact Kevin Dittman at 920-431-8416 or [email protected].

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