In the Loop: Get a head start on Valentine’s Day, Kenosha

Top 5 things to do in Kenosha this weekend:

Miss Kenosha Farewell and Community Celebration

Miss Kenosha Farewell and Community Celebration

5:30 p.m., Saturday (Feb. 11)

Kenosha Creative Space, 624 57th St.

Dear Kenosha: A Thank You Celebration for a Remarkable Year. Open House hosted by Miss Kenosha 2022 Jenna Zeihen. The event will feature live music, time to socialize and network, information on Soul Space, and a speech/ slideshow. Karaoke later in the evening. This event is open to the community.

More information

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Darwin Day at the Kenosha Public Museum

International Darwin Day 2023

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday (Feb. 11)

Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave.

Charles Darwin’s work on evolution and natural selection fundamentally changed how we view the natural world. This is a day to inspire people across the globe to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth, just like Charles Darwin. It is a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being. Rotate through experimentation stations focusing on biology and engineering. Play a natural selection game and make some Darwin themed crafts.

More information

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“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at Tremper

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Thursday-Saturday (Feb. 9-11)

Tremper High School Auditorium, 8560 26th Ave.

Presented by KUSD Theatre Arts. Tickets $6-13

More information

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Dead Dog Creek and American Folk at Union Park Tavern

Dead Dog Creek and American Folk

8 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 11)

Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave.

This doubleheader of Outlaw Country and Folk marks American Folk’s long-awaited return. Free.

More information

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CommUNITY Kenosha-Themed Exhibit Reception at Lemon Street Gallery

CommUNITY Kenosha-Themed Exhibit Reception

6-9 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 11)

Lemon Street Gallery & ArtSpace, 4601 Sheridan Rd.

Opening reception for the Kenosha-themed art exhibition in the brick gallery includes unveiling an art installation done by 23 local artists. There will be musical performances by Evan Steidtman, Embahn, and Violet Wilder. Food will be provided by a mixture of local restaurants in Kenosha. We will also have a fun VR gallery experience based on a past exhibition. Tickets $15 online or at the door.

More information 

THE LINEUP

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 

Music 

Rhythm Dogs Blues Jam, 8 p.m., Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave. 

Art 

2023 Art Exhibition, 1-4 p.m., Anderson Arts Center, 6603 3rd Ave. Free. (Through March 19) 

“Constitutional”  exhibit Opening Reception, 3:30-6:30 p.m. in the H. F. Johnson Gallery of Art, Carthage College, 2001 Alford Dr. Gallery hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Extended hours are from 5-8 p.m. Thursdays and from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. All art exhibits are free and open to the public.

Theater 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 7:30 p.m., Tremper High School Auditorium, 8560 26th Ave. Tickets $6-13 (Through Feb. 11). 

Potpourri 

Old Weird America: The Rock n’ Roll Life of Little Richard Penniman, 6-7 p.m., Northside Library, 1500 27th Ave., Join historian Cathy Polovina as she follows her curiosity and explores “Old Weird America,” to look a bit closer at a variety of adventurous, innovative, and unusual characters throughout American history. This month features one of Rock n Roll’s most interesting, influential and entertaining characters, Little Richard. (No registration required for in-person event; virtual option available, register HERE

More than Money: Investing – Money Working for You, 6-8 p.m., Urban League of Kenosha/Racine, 1418 68th St. In this session, Students will explore how saving and investing can be used to build wealth. Students will explore how investing works. Students will explore the risks and rewards of several investment options. Students will learn about strategies to use while investing. (Presented in conjunction with the Kenosha Public Library). Free. Registration required. 

Pollination Investigation, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Explore the essential role that pollinators play in the natural world. Nearly 90% of flowering plants rely on about 200,000 species of animal pollinators for fertilization. Through pollinator profiles, learn about different pollinators — from butterflies and hummingbirds to bats and the wind — and their favorite flowers based on floral characteristics like flower shape, color, scent and more. Through March 5. 

Wild Ones — Native Plants and Natural Landscapes, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Photos by youth, adults, and professionals from around the country show Native species in their natural environments, from urban backyards to the American wilderness. 

Loyal to the Union, Ohio in the Civil War. Explore the people and events that made the Buckeye state unique and so important to the Union cause. Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave. Daily hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Family 

Weather Watchers, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Uptown Neighborhood Library, 2419 63rd St. Create a cloud in a jar! Ages 5-12. Registration required.

Preschool Storytime, 10-10:30 p.m., Northside Library 1500 27th Ave. Designed for children ages 3-5. Children enjoy 30 minutes of books, songs, fingerplays, and more during this classic storytime. 

Knee-High Naturalists: Woodpecker Wham, 10-11:30 a.m., Richard Bong State Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Rd., Kansasville. Woodpeckers are built to survive! Discover what makes their skull, beak, tongue, feet, and toes special. Bring your children ages 3-5 and explore nature together! Meet at Shelter 1. Registration required: 262-878-5609. Vehicle admission sticker is required: $8 per day for vehicles with Wisconsin plates (age 65-over $3) / $11 for vehicles with out-of-state plates. Annual state park vehicle admission sticker is also available.

Ice Skating, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (weather permitting), Veterans Memorial Park, 5220 6th Ave., adjacent to City Hall. Free. Bring your own skates or check out free ice skates sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Commission during posted rental hours. Ice skates are available on a first-come-first-served basis at the Skate Hut outside the ice rink during rental hours. Regular rental hours are: 4-9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Hours may be different on holiday weekends. Child and adult sizes are available for check-out with a photo ID, such as a valid driver’s license or a valid school-issued ID.

Snowshoe rentals, Pringle Nature Center at Bristol Woods, 9800 160th St. Available on walk-in based on conditions, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; & Sundays, noon-4 p.m.). General public: $5 per pair/Friends of Pringle free. 

FRIDAY, Feb. 10 

Music 

The Sipos Young Band (Eclectic Classic Rock), 7-11 p.m., Pavle’s Lounge, 1924 52nd St. 

Crosstown Drive, 8:30-11:30 p.m., 58 Below, 504 58th St. 

Art 

2023 Art Exhibition, 1-4 p.m., Anderson Arts Center, 6603 3rd Ave. Free. (Through March 19). 

“Constitutional”  exhibit, H. F. Johnson Gallery of Art, Carthage College, 2001 Alford Dr. Gallery hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Extended hours are from 5-8 p.m. Thursdays and from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. All art exhibits are free and open to the public.

Theater 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 7:30 p.m., Tremper High School Auditorium, 8560 26th Ave. Tickets $6-13 (Through Feb. 11). 

Lakeside Players present Wizard of Oz, 7:30 p.m., Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 56th St. Tickets $17 general public, $14 seniors and students. 

Chris Barnes at the Kenosha Comedy Club

Potpourri 

Second Friday Lecture Series: A Game of Whist: An Alleged Sheboygan Connection to Lincoln’s Assassin, noon, Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave. Presented by Steven Rogstad. Helen Brainard Cole was one of Sheboygan’s leading celebrities in the early 1900s. She was interviewed about her reminiscences about being a nurse during the Civil War at a Washington, D.C. hospital, where she frequently interacted with President Lincoln during his hospital visits. Her tales of seeing Lincoln became legendary. Another involved her association with Lincoln’s murderer, John Wilkes Booth, who she claimed she played cards with just weeks prior to the assassination. This program dives into many questions surrounding these stories. Free. 

Comedian Chris Barnes, 8 p.m., Kenosha Comedy Club, Wyndham Garden Hotel, 5125 6th Ave. Tickets $14.  

Pollination Investigation, 10-5 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Explore the essential role that pollinators play in the natural world.  Nearly 90% of flowering plants rely on about 200,000 species of animal pollinators for fertilization. Through pollinator profiles, learn about different pollinators — from butterflies and hummingbirds to bats and the wind — and their favorite flowers based on floral characteristics like flower shape, color, scent and more. Through March 5. 

Valentine’s Candlelight Hike at Pringle Nature Center

Valentine’s Candlelight Hike, 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m., Pringle Nature Center at Bristol Woods, 9800 160th Ave. Participants will check in at the front of Pringle Nature Center during one of three start times before following the candlelit trail through the woods and ending with hot chocolate in the nature center. This program is self-guided and not recommended for young children or those who may have difficulty navigating trails in the dark. Pre-registration is $6, and is required by Feb. 9. 

Wild Ones – Native Plants and Natural Landscapes, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Photos by youth, adults, and professionals from around the country show Native species in their natural environments, from urban backyards to the American wilderness. 

Loyal to the Union, Ohio in the Civil War. Explore the people and events that made the Buckeye state unique and so important to the Union cause. Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave. Daily hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 

Family 

Once Upon a Cuento, 9:30-10 a.m., Southwest Library, 7979 38th Ave.¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to our storytime bilingüe. We will read libros and sing canciones. 

Brown Bag Movies: Space Jam A New Legacy, noon-2 p.m., Southwest Library, 7979 38th Ave. Bring your lunch or some movie snacks to eat and watch a fun family film on the big screen. 

Chocolate Olympics 3-4 p.m., Northside Library, 1500 27th Ave. Compete in challenges that are super sweet and chock full of chocolate! Ages 9-12. Registration required. 

Preschool Storytime, 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m., Southwest Library, 7979 38th Ave. Preschool Storytime is designed for children ages 3-5. Children enjoy 30 minutes of books, songs, fingerplays, and more during this classic storytime. 

Toddler Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Northside Library, 1500 27th Ave. Approximately 20 minutes of stories, songs and fingerplays for children ages 1-2 and their caregivers. 

Ice Skating, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (weather permitting), Veterans Memorial Park, 5220 6th Ave., adjacent to City Hall. Free. Bring your own skates or check out free ice skates sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Commission during posted rental hours. Ice skates are available on a first-come-first-served basis at the Skate Hut outside the ice rink during rental hours. Regular rental hours are: 4-9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Hours may be different on holiday weekends. Child and adult sizes are available for check-out with a photo ID, such as a valid driver’s license or a valid school-issued ID.

Snowshoe rentals, Pringle Nature Center at Bristol Woods, 9800 160th St. Available on walk-in based on conditions, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; & Sundays, noon-4 p.m.). General public: $5 per pair/Friends of Pringle free. 

DJ Panda Jazz Valentine’s Party at The Apis Lounge

SATURDAY, Feb. 11 

Music 

Pat Garrett with Dead Dog Creek and American Folk, 8 p.m., Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave. 

Tail Light Rebellion, Old Wolves and Josie Spoons, 9 p.m., Port of Kenosha, 514 50th St. Doors 8 p.m. 

Tijuana Hercules, 8 p.m., Pavle’s Lounge, 1724 52nd St. 

From Sinatra to Rock and Soul with Bill Serritella and Darryl Armistead, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Wyndham Garden Hotel, 5125 6th Ave. 

DJ Panda Jazz Valentine’s Party, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. The Apis Hotel downstairs lounge, 614 56th St. $10 cover at the door. 

Art 

CommUNITY Kenosha-Themed Exhibit Reception, 6-9 p.m., Lemon Street Gallery & ArtSpace, 4601 Sheridan Rd. Opening reception for the Kenosha-themed art exhibition in the brick gallery includes unveiling an art installation done by 23 local artists. There will be musical performances by Evan Steidtman, Embahn, and Violet Wilder. Food will be provided by a mixture of local restaurants in Kenosha. We will also have a fun VR gallery experience based on a past exhibition. Tickets $15 online or at the door. 

2023 Art Exhibition, 1-4 p.m., Anderson Arts Center, 6603 3rd Ave. Free. (Through March 19) 

“Constitutional”  exhibit, H. F. Johnson Gallery of Art, Carthage College, 2001 Alford Dr. Gallery hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Extended hours are from 5-8 p.m. Thursdays and from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. All art exhibits are free and open to the public.

Theater 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 7:30 p.m., Tremper High School Auditorium, 8560 26th Ave. Tickets $6-13 (Through Feb. 11). 

Lakeside Players present Wizard of Oz, 7:30 p.m., Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 56th St. Tickets $17 general public, $14 seniors and students. 

Date Night at Blue House Books

Potpourri 

Miss Kenosha Farewell and Community Celebration, 5:30 p.m., Kenosha Creative Space, 624 57th St. Dear Kenosha: A Thank You Celebration for a Remarkable Year. Open House hosted by Miss Kenosha 2022 Jenna Zeihen. The event will feature live music, time to socialize and network, information on Soul Space, and a speech/ slideshow. Karaoke later in the evening. This event is open to the community.

Return to Romance winter hike, campfire and music, 7-9 p.m.,  Richard Bong State Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Rd., Kansasville. Celebrate love with Richard Bong State Recreation Area! Bring a special someone who makes you feel loved and enjoy a winter hike, campfire, music, and some tasty goodies! This event will have both indoor and outdoor components, so please dress for the weather. Meet at the Visitor Center. Fee: $8 per person, $15 per couple. Registration required: 262-878-5609. Vehicle admission sticker is required: $8 per day for vehicles with Wisconsin plates (age 65-over $3) / $11 for vehicles with out-of-state plates. Annual state park vehicle admission sticker is also available. 

Valentine’s Date Night 5 p.m., Blue House Books, 5915 6th Ave. A. Get dressed up, grab your partner, and come to the bookstore for a romantic evening of book browsing and intimate conversation. Tickets $65 per couple Includes a bookish game to help pick out books, appetizers and refreshments, and a discount on purchases that evening. 

Comedian Chris Barnes, 8 p.m., Kenosha Comedy Club, Wyndham Garden Hotel, 5125 6th Ave. Tickets $14.  

Kenosha HarborMarket, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Kenosha Union Club, 3030 39th Ave. Local vendors include produce, eggs, meat and poultry, prepared foods, soaps, arts and crafts, dog treats. Indoor market through April 29. 

Kenosha Public Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Kemper Center, 6501 3rd Ave. Vendors, food trucks, full bar and SNAP market match. Food Drive featured Saturdays in January. Indoor market through April 29. 

Pollination Investigation, 10-5 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Explore the essential role that pollinators play in the natural world.  Nearly 90% of flowering plants rely on about 200,000 species of animal pollinators for fertilization. Through pollinator profiles, learn about different pollinators — from butterflies and hummingbirds to bats and the wind — and their favorite flowers based on floral characteristics like flower shape, color, scent and more. Through March 5. 

Wild Ones – Native Plants and Natural Landscapes, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Photos by youth, adults, and professionals from around the country show Native species in their natural environments, from urban backyards to the American wilderness. 

Loyal to the Union, Ohio in the Civil War. Explore the people and events that made the Buckeye state unique and so important to the Union cause. Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave. Daily hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

Snowshoe rentals at Pringle Nature Center

Family 

International Darwin Day 2023, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Charles Darwin’s work on evolution and natural selection fundamentally changed how we view the natural world. This is a day to inspire people across the globe to reflect and act on the principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth, just like Charles Darwin. It is a day of celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being. Rotate through experimentation stations focusing on biology and engineering. Play a natural selection game and make some Darwin themed crafts.

Behind the Scenes tour of Simmons Library, 2:30-3:30 p.m., 711 59th Pl. Enjoy a peek behind the scenes of our local historic treasure: Simmons Library. Learn about Zalmon Simmons, Daniel H. Burnham, and the history of this beautiful building. Please note this tour involves significant stair climbing. Registration required. 

Puzzling Palooza, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Southwest Library, 7979 38th Ave., Search high and low to help us find the puzzle pieces to complete our giant puzzle! Play with all kinds of puzzles, mazes, and mysteries. Make a puzzle to take home!

Ice Skating, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (weather permitting), Veterans Memorial Park, 5220 6th Ave., adjacent to City Hall. Free. Bring your own skates or check out free ice skates sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Commission during posted rental hours. Ice skates are available on a first-come-first-served basis at the Skate Hut outside the ice rink during rental hours. Regular rental hours are: 4-9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Hours may be different on holiday weekends. Child and adult sizes are available for check-out with a photo ID, such as a valid driver’s license or a valid school-issued ID.

Snowshoe rentals, Pringle Nature Center at Bristol Woods, 9800 160th St. Available on walk-in based on conditions, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; & Sundays, noon-4 p.m.). General public: $5 per pair/Friends of Pringle free. 

SUNDAY, Feb. 12 

Music 

Cy’s Piano Jams, 4-7 p.m., Union Park Tavern, 4520 8th Ave. 

Art 

2023 Art Exhibition, 1-4 p.m., Anderson Arts Center, 6603 3rd Ave. Free. (Through March 19). 

“Constitutional”  exhibit, H. F. Johnson Gallery of Art, Carthage College, 2001 Alford Dr. Gallery hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Extended hours are from 5-8 p.m. Thursdays and from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. All art exhibits are free and open to the public. 

From left, The Cowardly Lion (Alex Ebert), Dorothy Gale (Kaitlyn Shores), Scarecrow (Katie Gordon) and The Tin Man (Austin Hill) are part of the Lakeside Players’ “The Wizard of Oz” at the Rhode Center for the Arts.
PHOTO: SUBMITTED PHOTO

Theater 

Lakeside Players present The Wizard of Oz, 7:30 p.m., Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 56th St. Tickets $17 general public, $14 seniors and students. 

Potpourri 

Big Game Party, 3 p.m., Public Craft Brewing, 628 58th St. Buffet and one draft beer, $25 in advance, $30 at the door. 

Pollination Investigation, 10-5 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Explore the essential role that pollinators play in the natural world.  Nearly 90% of flowering plants rely on about 200,000 species of animal pollinators for fertilization. Through pollinator profiles, learn about different pollinators — from butterflies and hummingbirds to bats and the wind — and their favorite flowers based on floral characteristics like flower shape, color, scent and more. Through March 5. 

Wild Ones – Native Plants and Natural Landscapes, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Ave. Photos by youth, adults, and professionals from around the country show Native species in their natural environments, from urban backyards to the American wilderness. 

Loyal to the Union, Ohio in the Civil War. Explore the people and events that made the Buckeye state unique and so important to the Union cause. Civil War Museum, 5400 1st Ave. Daily hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 

Family 

Ice Skating, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (weather permitting), Veterans Memorial Park, 5220 6th Ave., adjacent to City Hall. Free. Bring your own skates or check out free ice skates sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Commission during posted rental hours. Ice skates are available on a first-come-first-served basis at the Skate Hut outside the ice rink during rental hours. Regular rental hours are: 4-9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Hours may be different on holiday weekends. Child and adult sizes are available for check-out with a photo ID, such as a valid driver’s license or a valid school-issued ID.

Snowshoe rentals, Pringle Nature Center at Bristol Woods, 9800 160th St. Available on walk-in based on conditions, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; & Sundays, noon-4 p.m.). General public: $5 per pair/Friends of Pringle free.

To submit an event for our “In the Loop” weekend listings, email Laura@Kenosha.com. Please include event details and contact information. 

Laura Marran

After two decades in journalism, Marran earned her Master’s degree in Exceptional Education from UW-Milwaukee and has served as a special education teacher with Kenosha Unified School District since 2006. A Marquette University School of Journalism alum, Marran has lived in Kenosha since 1987.

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