THE HISTORIC ISLAND DAIRY
Built in 1916, The Historic Island Dairy was the heart of the Island’s dairy industry for over 50 years. At its peak, the Washington Island Dairy produced milk, butter, cream and cheese. The Dairy closed in 1969 and the building stood dormant for 40 years. From 2009 to 2012, The Historic Island Dairy was thoughtfully and extensively renovated into a central gathering space…
DEATH’S DOOR BARBEQUE: August 23rd & 24th, 2013
Mar. 1, 2013 – Come to beautiful Washington Island Friday and Saturday, August 23th & 24th for the second official Death’s Door Bar-B-Q at the Washington Island Airport. Presented by the Washington Island Ferry Line and the Washington Island Chamber of Commerce, the Death’s Door Bar-B-Q is a KCBS-Sanctioned Competition with 100% Certified Judges and $7,500 in Prize Money….
Christmas Bird Count on Washington Island, Dec. 14
Nov. 29, 2012 – From Dec. 14, 2012, through Jan. 5, 2013, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in the annual Christmas bird count. Families and students, birders and scientists armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists take to the fields and forests or their own backyards to count the presence and number of bird species in their particular areas. Each of these citizen scientists makes a contribution to the knowledge and conservation of bird life as they assist National Audubon and other…
How Low Will the Water Go?
Nov. 8, 2012 – During the week of Oct. 7, 2012, Emmett Woods noticed that an underwater spring just offshore from his property was suddenly no longer underwater.
“I knew there was a spring there,” said Woods, who lives on Foss Road on the north shore of Washington Island, “because the underwater vegetation around it was always lush and green. But it had always been underwater. Now suddenly the spring was almost on dry land. And the vegetation was lying flat on the exposed lakebed.” After a day or two the lake levels rose a bit, and Woods’ spring was once again underwater. But…
2013 – Feb 9-17: Celebrating Winter & Fish Derby
A week long celebration of ice and snow with food, fun, adventure and entertainment. Sponsored by the Washington Island Chamber of Commerce, the event calendar is anchored in several main events which include: the annual Chili Cook Off, Photo Contest, the Washington Island Lion’s Club Fish Derby, Community Bingo party, and each year: a “surprise” event! Local food specials, bake sales, live music, Island Players…
Capital Brewery Hosts the 8th Annual Harvest Fest at Washington Island Hotel
For the last seven years Capital Brewery has visited Washington Island to thank the wheat farmers for their continued supply of wheat for Capital’s Island Wheat beer; brewed with local Wisconsin ingredients including wheat harvested on Door County’s Washington Island. This year Harvest Fest will take place on Saturday, September 15 from 1-5pm at the Washington Hotel & Restaurant. Capital Brewery will be supplying…
2012 WASHINGTON ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL
Every year in August, Washington Island welcomes its Music Festival, a series of concerts led by Artistic Director Stephen Colburn, principal oboist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. World-class musicians donate their talents to the Festival, spending two weeks living and performing on the Island and establishing strong ties to the community. Sponsored by the Washington Island Art & Nature Center, the Festival’s events are now the heart of the Island’s summer music schedule…
WHAT WE DO IN WINTER – AN ISLAND GALLERY
Winter in Door County can be intimidating to the summer visitor. It’s so cold! they say, and what do you do all winter? On Washington Island, the locals have answered this question the best way Door County knows how: with art. Welcome to the What We Do In Winter Gallery! Door County TODAY approached Jennifer Perez, a member of the What We Do In Winter Gallery, to learn more about this creative cabin-fever cure…
Arsenic and Old Lace: A Comedy About Murder
Jan. 19, 2012 – Arsenic and Old Lace, a black comedy first produced on Broadway in 1941, will be the next production of Island Players. It will be performed at the TPAC on Friday, February 17, and Saturday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m. on both evenings.
What is a black comedy? A black comedy “makes light of serious and often taboo subject matter,” says one encyclopedia. And in this play that serious but funny subject just happens to be – Murder!
Fish Derby 2012 : With or Without Snow & Ice!
Jan. 19, 2012 – The Lions Club will be holding its 35th annual Fish Derby February 11th through February 19th. As of this printing of the Observer, the Island’s spring-like weather has broken and colder temps have finally brought some snow. Maybe there will be ice on the lake after all by February. But if not, the Fish Derby will still be held…
The Dance of the Northern Lights
On a cool autumn night when you’re out with the dog, or maybe just on a walk to take in the crisp air, and you chance to look up and find the sky streaked with bright color, count yourself lucky. Catching the Northern Lights can be a spiritual experience, especially when you least expect it. When they make an appearance in Door County, the Northern Lights, or Aurora borealis, shine brightly; especially in the northern Door and on Washington Island…
Fall Fun Fest and Cider Pressing Party
WASHINGTON ISLAND, (Sept. 18, 2011) – Good old-fashioned family fun awaits you at the annual Fall Fun Fest & Cider Pressing Party at the Washington Island Farm Museum, 10am – 4pm, Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th.
The Washington Island Cider Pressing Party has been held at the Farm Museum since 1987. Join in the fun by pressing your own cider on the Farm Museum’s antique press (always on display). Only $4 per bucket of apples, or bring your own apples.
Island Players Present: The Dining Room on Labor Day Weekend
The Island Players present: The Dining Room, by the American playwright A.P. Gurney, at The Trueblood Performing Arts Center (TPAC), on Washington Island, September 3rd and 4th, 2011.
The Dining Room, a comedy, takes place in a single dining room, around a single dining table, over several generations…
58th Lions Club Fly-In Whitefish Boil
Saturday, July 16th, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. — Washington Island’s Lions Club knows how to throw a party! The annual Fly-In Whitefish Boil is not only a great time, it’s also the Island Lions Club’s biggest annual fundraiser. In previous years the hard earned, or rather, hard-boiled funds have been used to create scholarships for local students, install a new bathroom, running water, and showers at Schoolhouse Beach, and to upgrade the Island dentist’s clinic, a ticket of $30,000 in itself. (Photo courtesy of Ron Overdahl, ©2010)
ANC Exhibit: The Beauty and Spirit of Washington Island
“The Beauty and Spirit of Washington Island,” the opening show at the Art and Nature Center, features the oil paintings of artist Sonja Noonan. Through this show, Sonja leads one on a journey through various idyllic landscapes of the Island. She wonderfully captures the hushed silence of a walk through Coffee Swamp woods as experienced during several seasons.
Washington Island Canoe & Kayak Event
This year’s (third annual) event offers activities filled with excitement, challenge and education. New and expert paddlers are welcome.
Island Fair Coming Late August!
Like most events on the Island, this one is devoid of flash, but with a sense of low-key fun and the spirit of a time gone by. Imagine a county fair from decades ago — with its food stands, exhibits, a parade, games, bingo — and you’ll be pretty close to the reality.
Washington Island Music Festival: August 1-12, 2011
For many musicians summer means that the intense activity of the symphony orchestra season is over until September. But what I love most about summer is that it means Washington Island Music Festival will once more be the focus of our musical activity for two very busy and exciting weeks.
In Memoriam: Arni Richter
The ARNI J. RICHTER became the ferry line’s hard-working winter ferry, as well as a productive and popular summer ferry. Its name honors the man most responsible both for building earlier ferries and for management of the company that provided the overall ferry service itself – Arni J. Richter (1911 – 2009).
Stavkirke
Washington Island harbors a real, almost hidden historical treasure: the Stavkirke (Church of Staves) based on drawings of one built in Borgund, Norway in 1150 AD. Be it history, old world beauty, spirit, there is something about this structure so compelling “You just have to see it.” A ‘prayer path’ leads you through the woods.
School House Beach
What’s so attractive about a stony beach? Well, like everything else about the Island, the place seems so natural, so unassuming, just lying in wait for the sojourner who happens to come upon the grand sweep of this quiet cove by bike, on foot, by car. Historically, Washington Harbor, by name. The site of the first log school house on the Island (1850). Deep, clear, blue waters that have sheltered many a ship and small vessel in storms.
The Journey Over
There and back again: Norbert Blei describes the inexorable pull of the ferry journey to and from Washington Island.
Requiem for an Island Poet: William H. Olson
Norbert Blei’s moving tribute to Washington Island resident William (Bill) Olson, the Island bard, who recently passed away.
Driving the Island
“You can drive into some scenes around here and the center of the Island which hold you fast…make you pull to the side of the road, get out, take a look around—and thank the Great Spirit you don’t know where you are at the moment. And you don’t care. You’re on an island. And you really like it this way.”
In 50 Years, Not Much Has Changed
Norbert Blei explores memories of his first visit to Washington Island, in 1956.
