Meredith Jumisko from Visit Kenosha joins host Eric Paulsen for a look at Kenosha's Homecoming Car Show, hosting classic cars and showcasing the city's amazing history of automobile manufacturing. AMC - American Motors - cars take center stage but many other classics will be on display. It's part of the larger event that also includes a cruise-in, a parade, a Gremlin event, a Block Party. Swap Meet, and even Sunday's racing over at Great Lakes Dragaway (and yes, Eric mimics the classic commercials they used to run.)
On top of that, the annual Taste of Wisconsin runs Friday, July 27th through Sunday the 29th at HarborPark, so it's an amazing two-fer when you Visit Kenosha!
After, we highlight a few other events in Kenosha and coming up around the state, plus a quick look at Highway 21 from Oshkosh over to Coloma, as an example of the magic you'll find along different highways across the Wisconsin.
More on the Homecoming Car Show: https://statetrunktour.com/event/kenosha-homecoming-car-show/
More on Taste of Wisconsin: https://www.visitkenosha.com/events/annual-events/taste-of-wisconsin/
Link to Visit Kenosha here: https://www.visitkenosha.com/
Link to State Trunk Tour here: https://www.statetrunktour.com/
On top of that, the annual Taste of Wisconsin runs Friday, July 27th through Sunday the 29th at HarborPark, so it's an amazing two-fer when you Visit Kenosha!
After, we highlight a few other events in Kenosha and coming up around the state, plus a quick look at Highway 21 from Oshkosh over to Coloma, as an example of the magic you'll find along different highways across the Wisconsin.
More on the Homecoming Car Show: https://statetrunktour.com/event/kenosha-homecoming-car-show/
More on Taste of Wisconsin: https://www.visitkenosha.com/events/annual-events/taste-of-wisconsin/
Link to Visit Kenosha here: https://www.visitkenosha.com/
Link to State Trunk Tour here: https://www.statetrunktour.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And welcome to another episode of the State Trump Tour Podcast.
I'm Eric Paul sing your head tour guide, if you will.
So here we are in mid July, and so much
is happening across Wisconsin. State turn Tour dot Com keeps
you on top of all of that. Now today we're
focusing on southeastern Wisconsin, hitting Kenosha County again. We talked
with Meredith at Kenosha County about their Whole Restaurant Week
(00:21):
and some other events back in February. Right now, so
much is going on this weekend alone in Kenosha County
Country Thunder and Twin Lakes Dosfest and awesome German Festival
on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds in Wilmot that runs Friday,
Saturday Sunday. Bristol Renaissance Fair that's ongoing on the weekends
along the state line at I ninety four and forty
(00:42):
one in Bristol, even this weekend in Kenosha, Harbor Parks
Celebration Place has its pop up beer Garden that continues
through Saturday, the nineteenth. That's all this weekend. We're talking
next weekend, which is really amazing because not only is
the annual Taste of Wisconsin happening in Kenosha. Harbor Park
are right along the lake with so many great food options.
But this only comes around every few years or so,
(01:05):
the Kenosha Homecoming Car Show. If you're an automotive enthusiast,
or if you just like history, or if you just
like beautiful classic cars, this will be the time to
hit Kenosha and see this amazing series of shows and
events showcasing the history of Kenosha's automotive manufacturing, which really
dates back to the Nashes and Hudson's of the world.
(01:27):
In nineteen fifty four of those two companies in Kenosha
merged to form American Motors, which became the fourth largest
car company in the nation. There was the Big Three
in Detroit. Kenosha is next. Kenosha is where they made
the Rambler, the Javelin, the Matador, the legendary AMC Pacer.
Chrysler was there for a long time. They made Jeeps,
(01:48):
Renault automobiles were made in Kenosha. The history is really
astounding and there's some serious classics that await at the
Homecoming Car Show, with events that start coming up here
on July twenty second, running through the twenty seventh. That
does coincide with the Taste of Wisconsin. It's going to
be a wild weekend of Visit Kenosha. So much happening.
We're going to cover it all with Visit Kenosha's Meredith
(02:09):
Jamisco next right after this and with me now is
Meredith Jamisco of Visit Kenosha. It's been a busy year. Hello, Meredith,
how are you hello?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I am good. How are you man?
Speaker 1 (02:22):
We haven't talked since Restaurant Week and that was busy
back in like February.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Oh, that seems like eons.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Ago, it does, right, So there is so much to
you the we're in the middle of summer here, and
I know Kenosha is just brimming with activities. In fact,
we're going to talk about two of them that are
kind of on top of each other.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
That is right, Yeah, same weekend. Well, events happening every weekend,
every weeknight. It's just crazy, it is.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
But the fact that there's a lot to do in
a lot going on is really cool because there's so
much to do, whether you're by the lakefront or really
all the way through the county. I mean Bristol Renaissance
Fair is in Kenosha County barely. It's on the state line, right, yeah, yeah,
Annekin going on. Yeah, that continues through Labor Day weekend.
But one of the big things is hearkening back to you.
And we've talked about this Kenosha's history with the automobile,
(03:11):
which is incredibly extensive, and American Motors was there when
it formed due to Nash and Hudson merging together in
nineteen fifty four. And there's a homecoming car show that
particularly focuses on American Motors and Nash products and other
classic cars. Let's get into that because that starts. Actually,
the swap meeting everything is July twenty fifth and twenty sixth.
(03:32):
The car show is July twenty sixth, but the events
actually began coming up here on July twenty second. Let's
dive into it.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
That is right, Well, we do have a one hundred
and eight year history of automobile manufacturing and engine assembly
here in Kenosha, and so the Kenosha County Historical Society,
also known as the Kenosha History Center, celebrates the area's
industrial history both inside its museum and then through events
like this one. So it typically happens every three years
(04:00):
the Kenosha Homecoming Car Show, and this year it is
July twenty seconds through the twenty seventh, and it's believed
to be the largest AMC show in the world, and
it happens right here in Kenosha.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
That would be appropriate, you know. It's funny. My grandfather
worked for American Motors. My dad did a few summers
too in what was a huge factory on the lakefront,
which is now where all those condos in the Civil
War Museum and the Kenosha Public Museum and the trolley
all that stuff is. It's amazing how Kenosha's reinvented that area.
But the history of American Motors is so extensive. And
(04:35):
it's funny because the Kenosha History Center right across the
water from where the American Motors Plant used to be.
It's right by the Southport Lighthouse. It's in a beautiful
location by the A Club. You get a full view
of the lake when you're there.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
That is right, you certainly do. And definitely the history
runs deep here and it's like a reunion for the
autoworkers to come back and anyone with AMC cars, they
literally are coming from all over the world. Someone from
Australia plants to actually ship a car here for the
car show. So it's a very big deal in anyone
with an AMC or any Kenosha related cars invited to
(05:12):
show their car at the events. We're talking all the
way back to Jeffrey Nash. Of course, Rambler. You can
have a Hornet, a Grimlin, a Pacer Ambassador or anything
like that. Even a persh fire truck if you happen
to have one of those hanging out in your garage,
it's welcome to come to the car show. And then
of course you can just come as a spectator as
well and enjoy all the different cars and vehicles.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
It's funny. We drove through Kenosha just a couple of
weekends ago and we were exploring a few things and
all that. I was with my parents and we saw
an AMC Javelin on seventy fifth Street, which is Highway fifty.
As we were driving through, and you will see those
classic cars Kenosha, like, if you love classic cars all
(05:53):
year round, Kenosha has people driving those things and preserving
those things and showing them off. So this homecoming Carsha
is going to be really something spectacular.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Definitely and what it is is a series of events
at various locations. So that's how everything gets started on Tuesday,
the twenty seconds, and among the cruisers, for the first
time ever, there is going to be one at the
AMC factory site, not the one by the lake, but
the one off of twenty second Avenue and thirtieth Avenue,
(06:23):
fifty second Street, that whole area. The cars can actually
go back to where they were made, and so this
is the first time ever and now it's part of
the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood. But the cars will be there
on Thursday evening July twenty fourth, and it's part of
the City of Kenosha's one hundred and seventy fifth anniversary celebration.
And then on Friday, the twenty fifth is the Swap
(06:44):
Meet starting at Kennedy Park. There's also a Grimlin event
at Jeffrey Elementary School and then the Homecoming car show parade.
This is wild to see. The cars will all parade
from Southport Park up to Kennedy Park, Noiir Park, all
those parks on Simmons Island and then it will all
lead to the Kenosha History Center at Block Party right
(07:05):
at their Museum on Simmons Island, so that's a huge event.
And then the car show and swap meet on Saturday
at the twenty sixth, and then it all closes on
Sunday with racing at Great Lakes Drakeaway. So events all
week long to enjoy. Man.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Yeah, you just went over the whole roster that I
have on State trunk tour right here. Yeah, right to
the right to the number right here, and yeah, it's
just going to be absolutely fantastic, especially Thursday and Friday
and then Saturday with the car show and Sunday with
the racing. Can I can I do this? You remember
the old Great Lakes drag Away ads?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Oh no, I don't. What is it coming up Sunday?
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Sunday Sunday, Great Lakes Dragway, Union Grove, Wisconsin. Remember hearing those?
Oh wow, they did that all the time growing up.
I heard that so much on the radio. Great Lakes
Dragway is a very fun place too. It's just south
of Union Grove in Kenosha County. And if you love
classic cars and seeing how fast they can go on
a quarter mile boom, that is the place to be.
(08:03):
So really, this is a county wide event, although it's
focused really on the lakefront in the city.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah, there are events like they have a cruise and
it brought stop one night, so they do get out
and about throughout the area. And really the History Center
is the hub of everything, and you go there to
register if you don't register ahead with your car or
for the swap meet, and you go there to pick
up your registration info. And then of course they have
(08:29):
great swag. They're con of AMC merchandise, so you'll definitely
want to make sure you head there. And also they'll
have believe some of their merchandise at various stops as
part of the tour of events here, especially at the
car show, they'll have their shirts for sale for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Something tells me there will be merch yes, indeed available.
So yeah, there's all of that cool car history with
American Motors and Nash and Hudson and yeah, I mean
Kenosh's history is so extensive there. And then at the
same time time during the weekend Friday, Saturday Sunday that
weekend last weekend in July, it is going to be
a tasty time right across from the Kenosha History Center
(09:08):
in Harbor Park.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
That is right, you can actually take in both events,
make it a whole weekend stay a couple of nights
in Kenosha's Taste of Wisconsin happening Friday, July twenty fifth
through Sunday to twenty seventh. So Friday it's three to eleven,
Saturday eleven to eleven, and then Sunday eleven to seven,
and it's free admission and Taste always brings the taste,
(09:31):
flavors and cultures of Wisconsin together for this. So it's
a beautiful location right on the Lake Michigan Shore. They're
going to have thirty plus food and drink vendors, eighty
music acts on four stages. They have children's activities and
much more. And again in mission is totally free. Food
and beverages are available to purchase. Some activities to have
(09:53):
a fee, but is a.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
I know you've been there before, Oh I have.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Many a time. And yeah, you get so many different
varieties of dishes you can sample witness it really makes
you want to cook. By the time you're done, you
want to go in your own kitchen see if you
can match the culinary creations. They have that kid zone
which is great to bring the kids that can work
off the energy as they eat the food, and you know,
you can let them let it out. There's several beverage
(10:19):
gardens going on, so you can enjoy some nice beers.
There is a great picture of me, I think it
made the paper where I was opening a Schlitz while
I was sampling some food. But yeah, there's chefs that
come in. They have restaurants in the city, but some
come in from other places.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
That's right, they do. And you can park downtown not
far at all from the venue. We also have a
parking ramp on Asa Avenue and fifty sixth Street, and
you can ride the street car to the grounds and
the street car will actually be free during the event,
so a great opportunity. And also be sure when you
go to or from taste to check out everything else
that's happening. We have two farmers' markets right by there
(10:57):
on Saturday, to Harbor Market and Kenosha Public Market. Of course,
two of the museums are right down there, the Kenosha
Public Museum and Civil War Museum, and the Sculpture Walk.
Harbor Park is right by there, so lots to do
within just a few feet of the event grounds.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Even well, and speaking of the kids, the dinosaur museums
down there. It's not normally open on I think Sunday,
but it is around there and should be open for
part of that time.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, dinosaurs cover Museum's about ten blocks from their streetcar
right away or a walk now too far. You can
check all the dinosaurs on display.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
And there's two breweries down there, don't forget Rustic Road Brewery,
which I particularly love mainly because of their name, and
then Public Brewing, which is right downtown, so you know,
you hit those areas. You can see the classic Franks Dinah,
which I believe is celebrating one hundred years this year
or next.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Right, ah, yeah, next year it will be wow. Yeah,
I know, a lot of history. Yeah, there's a lot
of great places to eat downtown. We have rooftop bars,
we have an ex growing venue art galleries. How many
club even open on Friday and Saturday evenings. So there's
lots to do there, really is.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
And you know, Kenosha's downtown has become so vibrant with
so many different kinds of places to visit, so many activities.
Part of that's because a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Live down there right now, Yes, definitely and more being added.
Lots of development going on and there's always something new
to see every time you visit. The public outdoor art
is incredible, all the murals downtown and the very walkable,
family friendly place.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
To visit it is. If you just hop down Highway
thirty two, which is also known as Sheridan Road in Kenosha,
you can get right downtown Highway fifty you'll bring you there.
Technically they've cut it off at thirty one nowadays, but
you just keep following seventy fifth Street to Roosevelt, it'll
bring you downtown. Hiw we win fifty eight to fifty
second Street that comes in right off the interstate too.
If you want to have quick access to downtown Kenosha,
(12:53):
that is the way to do it. And make sure
you're there for the American Motors Homecoming, the AMC Homecoming Show,
thank You, and through the twenty seventh and then Taste
to Wisconsin that weekend. It is going to be unbelievably
busy for you guys this weekend.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I know, it's very exciting. We love it to all
the visitors who come enjoy our community, and you know
they come for a special event like this and they're
bound to come back again and tell their friends and
family to come visit. So this is definitely a.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Great for tourism and for a slice of Americana. I
don't know if the king Fish are in town, by
the way, Are they in town that weekend?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I should we should have looked, right, Ah, yeah, we
should have looked. They only have they end in like
beginning of August, So now it's a chance to get
out and see them before the season ends.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Yellow north Woods League Baseball action. That's just south of
downtown off Sheridan Road at Historic Simmons Field. And then
of course you've got some other breweries. And with Kenosha
you have just amazing drive INDs. You have the spot
which is a class of going back to nineteen forty
five and I think Big Star open in fifty.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Four, right, Yeah, that sounds right.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Okay, see original American motors, cars and nashes. We're parking
there and eating burgers. You can do the same. So
there's there's always an adventure in Kenosha. There's always something
fun going on, but particularly this final weekend and week
in July is a great time to visit Kenosha. You
can find out more at visit Kenosha dot com. Of course,
State Tronk Tour dot com. We've got a lot of
information on there too, but you know, we really wanted
(14:21):
to go to this source and Meredith, that's why we're
talking with you today.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
That is right, yes, And for the homecoming car show
at visit Kenosha dot com. Slash AMC has all the details.
And by the way, the Dinosaur Discovery Museum is open
on Sundays. It's Mondays that they take a day off
and girl noon to five pm. During Taste to Wisconsin,
you can go check out the dinos. And it's how
modern day birds are related to those dinosaurs. That's the story.
(14:48):
It's the meat eating dinosaurs that they tell there.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Ooh, fantastic, Just in time for all of the Taste
of Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Too, that is right.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
That's phenomenal, all right, Well, definitely the place to be
July twenty seconds through the twenty seventh for the AMC
homecoming and then the twenty fifth through the twenty seventh
that same weekend for a Taste of Wisconsin. Visit Kenosha
dot com. You can find out more. Thank you so much. Meredith,
back with more in just a moment and Welcome back
(15:18):
to the State toront Tour podcast. So we summarized a
ton of reasons to visit Kenosha basically between now and
the end of the month. Don't forget some other major
events are gearing up across the state. EAA kicks off
in Oshkosh this coming Monday, July twenty first, runs through
Sunday the twenty seventh. Right along I forty one between
Highways twenty six and forty four ninety one, that's where
(15:39):
Whitman Regional Airport is. It'll be the busiest airport in
the world in terms of takeoffs and landings this coming
week as all those planes fly in from Basically, experimental
aircraft is what EAA is all about, but some of
the military's top jets and fighters show up too, and
everything in between. It is an astounding event. Check it
out in Oshkosh this coming week if you can. Wisconsin
(16:01):
State Fair is firing up in West Dallas pretty early
this year. It starts July thirty first. It usually doesn't
start till at least August first, right It runs through
Sunday August thirteenth. Other events include things like Ashley for
the Arts, the Central Wisconsin State Fair County Fair is
all across the state and more. It is prime time
for fun road trips and to explore across the state.
Our events page at state trunk tour dot com will
(16:23):
have some great highlights. Now to get into a highway
because we love following the roads. Thought i'd give a
good example. Now if you hit up EAA and Oshkosh
either before or after the event, he could take a
ride on Highway twenty one, which enters Oshkosh kind of
on the north side near Lake buttemoor f I forty one.
It starts actually at the Payne Gardens and Museum at
US forty five in Oshkosh, runs all the way west
(16:46):
to Sparta. And here's a few reasons why you might
want to take that road, just even the eastern half
of it. I'll take you through this here. Once you
leave Oshkosh in head west, cool spots await like the
unique coal watch Tower, which rises seven stories and was
used to monitor foxes on a fox farm near Omro.
When you hit Omro, check out the town. There's a
(17:07):
cool cheese shop in there, a couple of other neat
things to see, and just outside that is the Rushford
winery and meat.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
That's on a road a mile north of twenty one,
a little west of Omro, in a former school building.
They've got the vineyards out there and everything, wine, mead,
all kinds of wonderful beverages await there. They have their
tasting room and everything in one of the former classrooms.
Continuing west on twenty one past Red Granite, you'll find
the wonderful Silver crist Supper Club, which is squeezed right
(17:34):
between two lakes as Highay twenty one traverses between those.
It is a beautiful view, great food, famous old fashions,
and after hooking up with Highway seventy three, continuing west
on your way into Autola, you'll find the iconic Milty
Wilty Drive in a true classic. It opened back in
nineteen forty seven. All the classic foods and drinks, the burgers,
(17:55):
the fries, the onion rings. The onion ings are great,
the shakes, the malts, the sodas out a glass bottle. Yeah,
you can do that. Great place for the family, including
a mini golf course which is right behind it. Milty
Wilty is open in season now. Watoma itself has been
known as the Christmas Tree Capital. Of the world due
to all the trees raised on farms nearby. They have
(18:16):
some great shops downtown to explore. Further west on twenty
one into Coloma, the Colomba Hotel is a popular overnight
stop for travelers and weekenders. Right in the heart of
the downtown of this very little burg, and right across
the street. Recently reopened the Mecan River Brewing Company, which
we've tried twice now and loved both times. Great craft beers,
(18:37):
including some unique creemales like blueberry and orange and things
like that, and their standard things like the Vienna Lager
and everything really good beers, and their pizzas are good.
The crusts are made in part from spent grains from
the brewing process, so they're growing and drawing more and
more people now. It's great to see them reopening, because
they did have to close a couple of years ago,
but they did reopen with the original owners. They're there
(18:58):
and very passionate about what they do. So at Coloma.
Highway twenty one meets US fifty one and I thirty nine.
That's the backbone of the state. Ne's the eastern half
of Highway twenty one. If you continue on the western half.
You can go all the way to Sparta and there's
plenty more to see, but you know what, we're running
out of time here. You can follow it on the
Highway twenty one page on State trunk Tour dot com,
(19:18):
and we'll focus on Highway twenty one and a bunch
of other different highways in future podcast episodes. Meanwhile, keep
checking State trunk Tour dot com for more americ Paulison
appreciate you listening on the State Trunk Tour podcast. Catch
you next episode.
And welcome to another episode of the State Trump Tour Podcast.
I'm Eric Paul sing your head tour guide, if you will.
So here we are in mid July, and so much
is happening across Wisconsin. State turn Tour dot Com keeps
you on top of all of that. Now today we're
focusing on southeastern Wisconsin, hitting Kenosha County again. We talked
with Meredith at Kenosha County about their Whole Restaurant Week
(00:21):
and some other events back in February. Right now, so
much is going on this weekend alone in Kenosha County
Country Thunder and Twin Lakes Dosfest and awesome German Festival
on the Kenosha County Fairgrounds in Wilmot that runs Friday,
Saturday Sunday. Bristol Renaissance Fair that's ongoing on the weekends
along the state line at I ninety four and forty
(00:42):
one in Bristol, even this weekend in Kenosha, Harbor Parks
Celebration Place has its pop up beer Garden that continues
through Saturday, the nineteenth. That's all this weekend. We're talking
next weekend, which is really amazing because not only is
the annual Taste of Wisconsin happening in Kenosha. Harbor Park
are right along the lake with so many great food options.
But this only comes around every few years or so,
(01:05):
the Kenosha Homecoming Car Show. If you're an automotive enthusiast,
or if you just like history, or if you just
like beautiful classic cars, this will be the time to
hit Kenosha and see this amazing series of shows and
events showcasing the history of Kenosha's automotive manufacturing, which really
dates back to the Nashes and Hudson's of the world.
(01:27):
In nineteen fifty four of those two companies in Kenosha
merged to form American Motors, which became the fourth largest
car company in the nation. There was the Big Three
in Detroit. Kenosha is next. Kenosha is where they made
the Rambler, the Javelin, the Matador, the legendary AMC Pacer.
Chrysler was there for a long time. They made Jeeps,
(01:48):
Renault automobiles were made in Kenosha. The history is really
astounding and there's some serious classics that await at the
Homecoming Car Show, with events that start coming up here
on July twenty second, running through the twenty seventh. That
does coincide with the Taste of Wisconsin. It's going to
be a wild weekend of Visit Kenosha. So much happening.
We're going to cover it all with Visit Kenosha's Meredith
(02:09):
Jamisco next right after this and with me now is
Meredith Jamisco of Visit Kenosha. It's been a busy year. Hello, Meredith,
how are you hello?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
I am good. How are you man?
Speaker 1 (02:22):
We haven't talked since Restaurant Week and that was busy
back in like February.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Oh, that seems like eons.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Ago, it does, right, So there is so much to
you the we're in the middle of summer here, and
I know Kenosha is just brimming with activities. In fact,
we're going to talk about two of them that are
kind of on top of each other.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
That is right, Yeah, same weekend. Well, events happening every weekend,
every weeknight. It's just crazy, it is.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
But the fact that there's a lot to do in
a lot going on is really cool because there's so
much to do, whether you're by the lakefront or really
all the way through the county. I mean Bristol Renaissance
Fair is in Kenosha County barely. It's on the state line, right, yeah, yeah,
Annekin going on. Yeah, that continues through Labor Day weekend.
But one of the big things is hearkening back to you.
And we've talked about this Kenosha's history with the automobile,
(03:11):
which is incredibly extensive, and American Motors was there when
it formed due to Nash and Hudson merging together in
nineteen fifty four. And there's a homecoming car show that
particularly focuses on American Motors and Nash products and other
classic cars. Let's get into that because that starts. Actually,
the swap meeting everything is July twenty fifth and twenty sixth.
(03:32):
The car show is July twenty sixth, but the events
actually began coming up here on July twenty second. Let's
dive into it.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
That is right, Well, we do have a one hundred
and eight year history of automobile manufacturing and engine assembly
here in Kenosha, and so the Kenosha County Historical Society,
also known as the Kenosha History Center, celebrates the area's
industrial history both inside its museum and then through events
like this one. So it typically happens every three years
(04:00):
the Kenosha Homecoming Car Show, and this year it is
July twenty seconds through the twenty seventh, and it's believed
to be the largest AMC show in the world, and
it happens right here in Kenosha.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
That would be appropriate, you know. It's funny. My grandfather
worked for American Motors. My dad did a few summers
too in what was a huge factory on the lakefront,
which is now where all those condos in the Civil
War Museum and the Kenosha Public Museum and the trolley
all that stuff is. It's amazing how Kenosha's reinvented that area.
But the history of American Motors is so extensive. And
(04:35):
it's funny because the Kenosha History Center right across the
water from where the American Motors Plant used to be.
It's right by the Southport Lighthouse. It's in a beautiful
location by the A Club. You get a full view
of the lake when you're there.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
That is right, you certainly do. And definitely the history
runs deep here and it's like a reunion for the
autoworkers to come back and anyone with AMC cars, they
literally are coming from all over the world. Someone from
Australia plants to actually ship a car here for the
car show. So it's a very big deal in anyone
with an AMC or any Kenosha related cars invited to
(05:12):
show their car at the events. We're talking all the
way back to Jeffrey Nash. Of course, Rambler. You can
have a Hornet, a Grimlin, a Pacer Ambassador or anything
like that. Even a persh fire truck if you happen
to have one of those hanging out in your garage,
it's welcome to come to the car show. And then
of course you can just come as a spectator as
well and enjoy all the different cars and vehicles.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
It's funny. We drove through Kenosha just a couple of
weekends ago and we were exploring a few things and
all that. I was with my parents and we saw
an AMC Javelin on seventy fifth Street, which is Highway fifty.
As we were driving through, and you will see those
classic cars Kenosha, like, if you love classic cars all
(05:53):
year round, Kenosha has people driving those things and preserving
those things and showing them off. So this homecoming Carsha
is going to be really something spectacular.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Definitely and what it is is a series of events
at various locations. So that's how everything gets started on Tuesday,
the twenty seconds, and among the cruisers, for the first
time ever, there is going to be one at the
AMC factory site, not the one by the lake, but
the one off of twenty second Avenue and thirtieth Avenue,
(06:23):
fifty second Street, that whole area. The cars can actually
go back to where they were made, and so this
is the first time ever and now it's part of
the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood. But the cars will be there
on Thursday evening July twenty fourth, and it's part of
the City of Kenosha's one hundred and seventy fifth anniversary celebration.
And then on Friday, the twenty fifth is the Swap
(06:44):
Meet starting at Kennedy Park. There's also a Grimlin event
at Jeffrey Elementary School and then the Homecoming car show parade.
This is wild to see. The cars will all parade
from Southport Park up to Kennedy Park, Noiir Park, all
those parks on Simmons Island and then it will all
lead to the Kenosha History Center at Block Party right
(07:05):
at their Museum on Simmons Island, so that's a huge event.
And then the car show and swap meet on Saturday
at the twenty sixth, and then it all closes on
Sunday with racing at Great Lakes Drakeaway. So events all
week long to enjoy. Man.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Yeah, you just went over the whole roster that I
have on State trunk tour right here. Yeah, right to
the right to the number right here, and yeah, it's
just going to be absolutely fantastic, especially Thursday and Friday
and then Saturday with the car show and Sunday with
the racing. Can I can I do this? You remember
the old Great Lakes drag Away ads?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Oh no, I don't. What is it coming up Sunday?
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Sunday Sunday, Great Lakes Dragway, Union Grove, Wisconsin. Remember hearing those?
Oh wow, they did that all the time growing up.
I heard that so much on the radio. Great Lakes
Dragway is a very fun place too. It's just south
of Union Grove in Kenosha County. And if you love
classic cars and seeing how fast they can go on
a quarter mile boom, that is the place to be.
(08:03):
So really, this is a county wide event, although it's
focused really on the lakefront in the city.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah, there are events like they have a cruise and
it brought stop one night, so they do get out
and about throughout the area. And really the History Center
is the hub of everything, and you go there to
register if you don't register ahead with your car or
for the swap meet, and you go there to pick
up your registration info. And then of course they have
(08:29):
great swag. They're con of AMC merchandise, so you'll definitely
want to make sure you head there. And also they'll
have believe some of their merchandise at various stops as
part of the tour of events here, especially at the
car show, they'll have their shirts for sale for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Something tells me there will be merch yes, indeed available.
So yeah, there's all of that cool car history with
American Motors and Nash and Hudson and yeah, I mean
Kenosh's history is so extensive there. And then at the
same time time during the weekend Friday, Saturday Sunday that
weekend last weekend in July, it is going to be
a tasty time right across from the Kenosha History Center
(09:08):
in Harbor Park.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
That is right, you can actually take in both events,
make it a whole weekend stay a couple of nights
in Kenosha's Taste of Wisconsin happening Friday, July twenty fifth
through Sunday to twenty seventh. So Friday it's three to eleven,
Saturday eleven to eleven, and then Sunday eleven to seven,
and it's free admission and Taste always brings the taste,
(09:31):
flavors and cultures of Wisconsin together for this. So it's
a beautiful location right on the Lake Michigan Shore. They're
going to have thirty plus food and drink vendors, eighty
music acts on four stages. They have children's activities and
much more. And again in mission is totally free. Food
and beverages are available to purchase. Some activities to have
(09:53):
a fee, but is a.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
I know you've been there before, Oh I have.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Many a time. And yeah, you get so many different
varieties of dishes you can sample witness it really makes
you want to cook. By the time you're done, you
want to go in your own kitchen see if you
can match the culinary creations. They have that kid zone
which is great to bring the kids that can work
off the energy as they eat the food, and you know,
you can let them let it out. There's several beverage
(10:19):
gardens going on, so you can enjoy some nice beers.
There is a great picture of me, I think it
made the paper where I was opening a Schlitz while
I was sampling some food. But yeah, there's chefs that
come in. They have restaurants in the city, but some
come in from other places.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
That's right, they do. And you can park downtown not
far at all from the venue. We also have a
parking ramp on Asa Avenue and fifty sixth Street, and
you can ride the street car to the grounds and
the street car will actually be free during the event,
so a great opportunity. And also be sure when you
go to or from taste to check out everything else
that's happening. We have two farmers' markets right by there
(10:57):
on Saturday, to Harbor Market and Kenosha Public Market. Of course,
two of the museums are right down there, the Kenosha
Public Museum and Civil War Museum, and the Sculpture Walk.
Harbor Park is right by there, so lots to do
within just a few feet of the event grounds.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Even well, and speaking of the kids, the dinosaur museums
down there. It's not normally open on I think Sunday,
but it is around there and should be open for
part of that time.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, dinosaurs cover Museum's about ten blocks from their streetcar
right away or a walk now too far. You can
check all the dinosaurs on display.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
And there's two breweries down there, don't forget Rustic Road Brewery,
which I particularly love mainly because of their name, and
then Public Brewing, which is right downtown, so you know,
you hit those areas. You can see the classic Franks Dinah,
which I believe is celebrating one hundred years this year
or next.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Right, ah, yeah, next year it will be wow. Yeah,
I know, a lot of history. Yeah, there's a lot
of great places to eat downtown. We have rooftop bars,
we have an ex growing venue art galleries. How many
club even open on Friday and Saturday evenings. So there's
lots to do there, really is.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
And you know, Kenosha's downtown has become so vibrant with
so many different kinds of places to visit, so many activities.
Part of that's because a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Live down there right now, Yes, definitely and more being added.
Lots of development going on and there's always something new
to see every time you visit. The public outdoor art
is incredible, all the murals downtown and the very walkable,
family friendly place.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
To visit it is. If you just hop down Highway
thirty two, which is also known as Sheridan Road in Kenosha,
you can get right downtown Highway fifty you'll bring you there.
Technically they've cut it off at thirty one nowadays, but
you just keep following seventy fifth Street to Roosevelt, it'll
bring you downtown. Hiw we win fifty eight to fifty
second Street that comes in right off the interstate too.
If you want to have quick access to downtown Kenosha,
(12:53):
that is the way to do it. And make sure
you're there for the American Motors Homecoming, the AMC Homecoming Show,
thank You, and through the twenty seventh and then Taste
to Wisconsin that weekend. It is going to be unbelievably
busy for you guys this weekend.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I know, it's very exciting. We love it to all
the visitors who come enjoy our community, and you know
they come for a special event like this and they're
bound to come back again and tell their friends and
family to come visit. So this is definitely a.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Great for tourism and for a slice of Americana. I
don't know if the king Fish are in town, by
the way, Are they in town that weekend?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I should we should have looked, right, Ah, yeah, we
should have looked. They only have they end in like
beginning of August, So now it's a chance to get
out and see them before the season ends.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Yellow north Woods League Baseball action. That's just south of
downtown off Sheridan Road at Historic Simmons Field. And then
of course you've got some other breweries. And with Kenosha
you have just amazing drive INDs. You have the spot
which is a class of going back to nineteen forty
five and I think Big Star open in fifty.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Four, right, Yeah, that sounds right.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Okay, see original American motors, cars and nashes. We're parking
there and eating burgers. You can do the same. So
there's there's always an adventure in Kenosha. There's always something
fun going on, but particularly this final weekend and week
in July is a great time to visit Kenosha. You
can find out more at visit Kenosha dot com. Of course,
State Tronk Tour dot com. We've got a lot of
information on there too, but you know, we really wanted
(14:21):
to go to this source and Meredith, that's why we're
talking with you today.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
That is right, yes, And for the homecoming car show
at visit Kenosha dot com. Slash AMC has all the details.
And by the way, the Dinosaur Discovery Museum is open
on Sundays. It's Mondays that they take a day off
and girl noon to five pm. During Taste to Wisconsin,
you can go check out the dinos. And it's how
modern day birds are related to those dinosaurs. That's the story.
(14:48):
It's the meat eating dinosaurs that they tell there.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Ooh, fantastic, Just in time for all of the Taste
of Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Too, that is right.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
That's phenomenal, all right, Well, definitely the place to be
July twenty seconds through the twenty seventh for the AMC
homecoming and then the twenty fifth through the twenty seventh
that same weekend for a Taste of Wisconsin. Visit Kenosha
dot com. You can find out more. Thank you so much. Meredith,
back with more in just a moment and Welcome back
(15:18):
to the State toront Tour podcast. So we summarized a
ton of reasons to visit Kenosha basically between now and
the end of the month. Don't forget some other major
events are gearing up across the state. EAA kicks off
in Oshkosh this coming Monday, July twenty first, runs through
Sunday the twenty seventh. Right along I forty one between
Highways twenty six and forty four ninety one, that's where
(15:39):
Whitman Regional Airport is. It'll be the busiest airport in
the world in terms of takeoffs and landings this coming
week as all those planes fly in from Basically, experimental
aircraft is what EAA is all about, but some of
the military's top jets and fighters show up too, and
everything in between. It is an astounding event. Check it
out in Oshkosh this coming week if you can. Wisconsin
(16:01):
State Fair is firing up in West Dallas pretty early
this year. It starts July thirty first. It usually doesn't
start till at least August first, right It runs through
Sunday August thirteenth. Other events include things like Ashley for
the Arts, the Central Wisconsin State Fair County Fair is
all across the state and more. It is prime time
for fun road trips and to explore across the state.
Our events page at state trunk tour dot com will
(16:23):
have some great highlights. Now to get into a highway
because we love following the roads. Thought i'd give a
good example. Now if you hit up EAA and Oshkosh
either before or after the event, he could take a
ride on Highway twenty one, which enters Oshkosh kind of
on the north side near Lake buttemoor f I forty one.
It starts actually at the Payne Gardens and Museum at
US forty five in Oshkosh, runs all the way west
(16:46):
to Sparta. And here's a few reasons why you might
want to take that road, just even the eastern half
of it. I'll take you through this here. Once you
leave Oshkosh in head west, cool spots await like the
unique coal watch Tower, which rises seven stories and was
used to monitor foxes on a fox farm near Omro.
When you hit Omro, check out the town. There's a
(17:07):
cool cheese shop in there, a couple of other neat
things to see, and just outside that is the Rushford
winery and meat.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
That's on a road a mile north of twenty one,
a little west of Omro, in a former school building.
They've got the vineyards out there and everything, wine, mead,
all kinds of wonderful beverages await there. They have their
tasting room and everything in one of the former classrooms.
Continuing west on twenty one past Red Granite, you'll find
the wonderful Silver crist Supper Club, which is squeezed right
(17:34):
between two lakes as Highay twenty one traverses between those.
It is a beautiful view, great food, famous old fashions,
and after hooking up with Highway seventy three, continuing west
on your way into Autola, you'll find the iconic Milty
Wilty Drive in a true classic. It opened back in
nineteen forty seven. All the classic foods and drinks, the burgers,
(17:55):
the fries, the onion rings. The onion ings are great,
the shakes, the malts, the sodas out a glass bottle. Yeah,
you can do that. Great place for the family, including
a mini golf course which is right behind it. Milty
Wilty is open in season now. Watoma itself has been
known as the Christmas Tree Capital. Of the world due
to all the trees raised on farms nearby. They have
(18:16):
some great shops downtown to explore. Further west on twenty
one into Coloma, the Colomba Hotel is a popular overnight
stop for travelers and weekenders. Right in the heart of
the downtown of this very little burg, and right across
the street. Recently reopened the Mecan River Brewing Company, which
we've tried twice now and loved both times. Great craft beers,
(18:37):
including some unique creemales like blueberry and orange and things
like that, and their standard things like the Vienna Lager
and everything really good beers, and their pizzas are good.
The crusts are made in part from spent grains from
the brewing process, so they're growing and drawing more and
more people now. It's great to see them reopening, because
they did have to close a couple of years ago,
but they did reopen with the original owners. They're there
(18:58):
and very passionate about what they do. So at Coloma.
Highway twenty one meets US fifty one and I thirty nine.
That's the backbone of the state. Ne's the eastern half
of Highway twenty one. If you continue on the western half.
You can go all the way to Sparta and there's
plenty more to see, but you know what, we're running
out of time here. You can follow it on the
Highway twenty one page on State trunk Tour dot com,
(19:18):
and we'll focus on Highway twenty one and a bunch
of other different highways in future podcast episodes. Meanwhile, keep
checking State trunk Tour dot com for more americ Paulison
appreciate you listening on the State Trunk Tour podcast. Catch
you next episode.
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