Scott Williams swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Contributed Image Sun Drop Soda bottler Twig’s Beverage Inc. has signed on as a major sponsor for the new annual start-of-summer festival that will bear its name.
Shawano has always put an exclamation point on the end of summer with the Shawano County Fair extravaganza held each year around the time kids are heading back to school.
Starting this year, Shawano will try its hand at kicking off the start of summer with another blowout good time.
Sun Drop Dayz, an outdoor music festival, will entice crowds to downtown Shawano for an inaugural two-day event June 2-3, in what organizers hope will become a signature community tradition.
Plans for the festival include three live bands, food and beer, craft vendors, kids activities and more between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. June 2 and between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. June 3. Admission will be free, with wrist bands available for $1 for adults planning to purchase alcoholic beverages.
The grounds will be centered on Elizabeth Street, which will be closed to traffic between Main Street and Lincoln Street. The main stage will be set up to the north and other activities will take place south at Memorial Park and at the nearby Sun Drop Soda museum.
Organizers hope Sun Drop Dayz will become an annual event that will put Shawano on the map of major summer kickoff celebrations throughout the region.
“This could potentially be huge,” said Jeff Ballwahn, leader of the festival planning committee.
The concept grew out of Leadership Shawano County, a group organized annually by the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce to promote civic leadership and problem solving. Members of the group last year determined that the Shawano area would benefit from having a major new event to elevate the community’s profile and create a stronger identity.
Planners decided that Shawano’s distinction as the home of Sun Drop Soda was a good central theme, and Sun Drop bottler Twig’s Beverage Inc. signed on as the marquee sponsor.
“We love our Sun Drop — it’s true,” said Wendy Crawford, program manager for Leadership Shawano County.
Other sponsors so far include the civic group known as Screamin Head Buzz and Wolf River Media, publisher of The Shawano Leader. Organizers are seeking additional sponsors, as well as non-profit groups interested in partnering with specific food or beverage vendors.
Vendors include local favorites Sun Drop Soda, Charlie’s County Market ribs and Bubba’s BBQ Co. pork and chicken sandwiches, with more expected to join later.
Nonprofit partners include Junior Achievement of Wisconsin-Wolf River Region and the Boys & Girls Club of Shawano.
Crawford said although some details are still coming together, much planning over several months has gone into organizing a two-day event that is intended to entertain people from throughout the community and to draw tourists from throughout the region.
“It’s ambitious,” she said, “but it’s exciting, and it’s fun to think of the possibilities.”
The lineup so far includes: a Friday fish fry with live music by “The Cougars” from 6:30-9:30 p.m. June 2, music by the country band “Red Clover” from 1:30-4:30 p.m. June 3, and classic rock favorite “Johnny Wad” from 6:30-9:30 p.m. June 3.
Children’s activities at Memorial Park include a basketball clinic with former NBA player Christian Laettner, a learn-to-fish workshop open to adults, too, and inflatables.
Twig’s Beverage plans to offer special tours and soda tastings at the Sun Drop museum.
Since Leadership Shawano County conceived the idea, a planning committee of about 20 people has worked to establish a theme, pick the dates and recruit sponsors and participants.
“I really think it’s going to be a special event,” Ballwahn said.
Crawford said she encourages people to get the June 2-3 dates on their summer calendars and to watch the festival website for sponsorship opportunities and other new details about the festival plans.
“We have such great momentum going for this,” she said, “and we have great partners.”