Recovery from the July 27 tornado continues, and Samaritan's Purse has been on the ground in Appleton since less than 24 hours after the storm hit — Disaster Relief Unit #3 rolled in from Alliance Church of Appleton on July 29, with volunteer teams clearing debris, cutting fallen trees, and tarping roofs for families who lost everything. If you've got time this weekend, sign up to volunteer at spvolunteer.org, or donate to the relief effort at samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/us-disaster-relief. On the events side, XRoads41 takes over Oshkosh for four days with Zac Brown Band, Lainey Wilson, and Jason Aldean, Ignite the Night kicks off Kaukauna's fireworks festival Saturday, and Sunday's XRoads41 Rock Detour brings Breaking Benjamin and Daughtry through town. Here's everything else worth your time this week.
⭐ Weekender Picks
🎪 XRoads41 Music Festival — XRoads41 Festival Grounds, Oshkosh
Four days of country and rock kick off tonight with Zac Brown Band and Wiz Khalifa headlining, plus KC Johns, Lanie Gardner, Landon Parker, David Lee Murphy, and Braxton Keith. Gates open around 1pm. Camping's available if you're making a weekend of it — Lainey Wilson and Jason Aldean headline Friday and Saturday.
🎆 Wisconsin Fireworks Festival – Ignite the Night — Wisconsin International Raceway, Kaukauna
Opening night of the Pyrotechnics Guild International's fireworks and drone show at WIR — gates at 6pm, program runs 6:05 to 10:06pm. This is a professional pyrotechnics convention putting on the display, not a standard summer fireworks show, so expect something bigger than what you're used to seeing over the river. Presale tickets required.
🎸 XRoads41 Rock Detour — XRoads41 Grounds, Oshkosh
One-day rock spinoff of XRoads41 with Breaking Benjamin, Daughtry, Memphis May Fire, Dorothy, Drowning Pool, Atreyu, Saliva, Saving Abel, and more spread across three stages starting at 3pm. If country wasn't your thing the first three days, this is the payoff — a genuinely stacked rock bill on one ticket.
Thursday Events
⭐ XRoads41 Music Festival (Day 1 of 4) — Oshkosh 🎪 | Thu Aug 6 | Gates ~1:00pm | XRoads41 Festival Grounds, 4125 S Washburn St | Opening night of Wisconsin's premier country/rock camping festival (runs through Sun Aug 9). · details →
Comedic Cody Smith — Appleton 😂 | Thu Aug 6 | 7:00pm show / 6:00pm doors | Skyline Comedy Club | Touring stand-up comedian on his "SMALL, Dark & Handsome" tour, 18+. · details →
Heid Music Summer Concert Series — Appleton 🎤 | Thu Aug 6 | 5:30pm–8:30pm | Jones Park | Free weekly summer concert series presented by U.S. Venture, runs Thursdays through Aug 27. · details →
Community Crayfish and Critter Hunt — Kaukauna 👨👩👧 | Thu Aug 6 | 9:30am–11:00am | 1000 Islands Environmental Center | Free hands-on nature program for kids. · details →
Paul Bronson (solo acoustic guitar) — Menasha 🎤 | Thu Aug 6 | 5:30pm–9:00pm | Waverly Beach | Free patio/tiki bar show from named local acoustic guitarist. · details →
Friday Events
XRoads41 Music Festival (Day 2 of 4) — Oshkosh 🎪 | Fri Aug 7 | Gates ~1:00pm | XRoads41 Festival Grounds, 4125 S Washburn St | Friday headliners Lainey Wilson and Flatland Cavalry, with Wyatt Flores, Josh Ross, Lauren Watkins, Sterling Elza, Noah Rinker. · details →
Eric Eaton — Appleton 😂 | Fri Aug 7 | 7:00pm show / 6:00pm doors | Skyline Comedy Club | Comedy-magic act, seen on Masters of Illusion, Merlin Award winner, 18+. · details →
LIVE MUSIC: The Morbs & French Irish Coalition — Appleton 🎤 | Fri Aug 7 | 7:00pm–9:30pm | McFleshman's Brewing Co. | Touring noise-rock duo (Stockholm/Green Bay) plus Green Bay blues-punk act. $15. · details →
1000 Little Wonders — Kaukauna 👨👩👧 | Fri Aug 7 | 9:30am–10:30am | 1000 Islands Environmental Center | Free nature program for young children. · details →
Fire On High Duo — Menasha 🎤 | Fri Aug 7 | 6:30pm–10:00pm | Waverly Beach | Green Bay-area country/classic rock duo, free show. · details →
Movies on the Hill: The Wild Robot — Appleton 👨👩👧 | Fri Aug 7 | dusk (time unconfirmed) | Appleton Memorial Park Amphitheater | Free outdoor family movie night, first-come first-served. · details →
Saturday Events
XRoads41 Music Festival (Day 3 of 4) — Oshkosh 🎪 | Sat Aug 8 | Gates ~1:00pm | XRoads41 Festival Grounds, 4125 S Washburn St | Saturday headliners Jason Aldean and Treaty Oak Revival, with Jackson Dean, Tracy Byrd, Preston Cooper, Mary Kutter, Blake Whiten. · details →
GLASS Arts Festival — Neenah 🎨 | Sat Aug 8 | 10:00am–5:00pm | Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass | Free lakeside festival with 40+ glass artists, live glassblowing demos, kids' tent, live music from Kate Voss & The Hot Sauce, food trucks. · details →
⭐ Wisconsin Fireworks Festival – Ignite the Night (Opening Night) — Kaukauna 🎪 | Sat Aug 8 | Gates 6:00pm, show 6:05pm–10:06pm | Wisconsin International Raceway | Opening show of PGI's multi-night pyrotechnics/drone festival. Presale tickets required. · tickets →
Eric Eaton (Night 2) — Appleton 😂 | Sat Aug 8 | 6:00pm & 8:45pm (two shows) | Skyline Comedy Club | Second night of comedy-magic act, two shows. · details →
Downtown Appleton Farm Market — Appleton 🛒 | Sat Aug 8 | 8:00am–12:30pm | Downtown Appleton (College Ave) | Weekly farm market, 130+ vendors, live music, beer garden; also hosting a free Weekend WellBEing yoga/pilates class at 9am in Houdini Plaza. · details →
Packers Great Car Show — Neenah 🎉 | Sat Aug 8 | 10:00am–3:00pm | DoubleTree by Hilton, 123 E. Wisconsin Ave. | Free classic car show. · details →
Service Saturday — Kaukauna 🎉 | Sat Aug 8 | 9:00am–12:00pm | citywide | Free community volunteer/service day. · details →
Future Neenah Farmers Market — Neenah 🛒 | Sat Aug 8 | 8:00am–12:00pm | Shattuck Park | Weekly Saturday market through Oct 10, 50+ vendors, live music 10am–noon. · details →
Oshkosh Saturday Farmers Market — Oshkosh 🛒 | Sat Aug 8 | 8:00am–12:30pm | 400/500 Blocks N Main St & 100 Block Church Ave | Weekly market, 165+ vendors, live music, free entry. · details →
Boat Drinks — Menasha 🎤 | Sat Aug 8 | 6:30pm–10:00pm | Waverly Beach | Jimmy Buffett-style tropical/steel-drum duo, free show. · details →
Sunday Events
⭐ XRoads41 Rock Detour — Oshkosh 🎪 | Sun Aug 9 | 3:00pm | XRoads41 grounds (WIR-area), 4125 S Washburn St | One-day rock festival spinoff of XRoads41: Breaking Benjamin, Daughtry, Memphis May Fire, Dorothy, Drowning Pool, Atreyu, Saliva, Saving Abel, and more across 3 stages. · tickets →
Rob Jackels Memorial Car Show — Kaukauna 🎉 | Sun Aug 9 | 10:00am–3:00pm | Grignon Mansion grounds (venue inferred) | Community car show. · details →
Jordan Blanchard — Menasha 🎤 | Sun Aug 9 | 3:00pm–6:00pm | Waverly Beach | 90s-country-influenced singer-songwriter, free show. · details →
A-Town Trio [Marty/Eric/Rodney] at PozzyPalooza — Kaukauna 🎤 | Sun Aug 9 | 3:00pm–7:00pm | W3255 Dundas Road | Live acoustic music, fish fry at 5pm until gone, free entry (donations encouraged). · details →
📅 Coming Up This Week
MONDAY · AUG 10
Braxton Cook in Concert — Appleton 🎤 | Mon Aug 10 | 7:00pm–8:30pm | Gibson Music Hall, 211 W. College Ave. | Touring jazz/R&B saxophonist-vocalist who's worked with Jon Batiste, Solange, Christian McBride, Mac Miller. $17.50–$55. · details →
TUESDAY · AUG 11
Future Neenah Evening Concert feat. Copper Box — Neenah 🎤 | Tue Aug 11 | 6:00pm–8:00pm | Shattuck Park | Free weekly evening concert series (rescheduled from Jul 1). · details →
WEDNESDAY · AUG 12
Live From Hydro Park | Karen's Hit List — Kaukauna 🎤 | Wed Aug 12 | 5:30pm | Hydro Park, 100 Crooks Ave | Free weekly summer concert series in Downtown Kaukauna, family-friendly, bring lawn chairs. · details →
Kaukauna Farmers Market — Kaukauna 🛒 | Wed Aug 12 | ~4:30pm onward | 101 Crooks Ave | Weekly Wednesday evening market, 30+ vendors, food trucks, family activities. · details →
Future Neenah Evening Concert feat. Murphy's Law — Neenah 🎤 | Wed Aug 12 | 6:00pm–8:00pm | Shattuck Park | Free evening concert. · details →
Tim Dorsey — Menasha 🎤 | Wed Aug 12 | 5:30pm–9:00pm | Waverly Beach | Veteran singer-songwriter, free show. · details →
THURSDAY · AUG 13
Big Shrimp and The Palmer Squares w/ shrimpvision — Appleton 🎤 | Thu Aug 13 | 7:00pm | Appleton Music Factory (inside Appleton Beer Factory), 603 W. College Ave. | $10 show. · tickets →
Dave Smith — Appleton 😂 | Thu Aug 13 | 7:00pm show / 6:00pm doors | Skyline Comedy Club | Comedian/podcast host (Joe Rogan Experience regular, Legion of Skanks, Part of the Problem), 18+. · details →
Community Block Party — Neenah 🎉 | Thu Aug 13 | 4:00pm–6:30pm | 110 W North Water St | Fire/police departments, Drums Alive performance, family activities. · details →
🌅 On the Horizon
Little Chute Touch-A-Truck Event — Little Chute 👨👩👧 | Tue Aug 18 | time TBD | Doyle Park | Community touch-a-truck event for kids. · details →
Waterfest: Little River Band & The Pocket Kings — Oshkosh 🎤 | Thu Aug 20 | Gates 5:45pm | Leach Amphitheater, 303 Ceape Ave. | Touring classic-rock act headlines Waterfest's outdoor concert series, with The Pocket Kings opening. · details →
Ron Funches — Appleton 😂 | Fri Aug 21–Sat Aug 22 | Fri 7:00pm & 9:45pm, Sat 6:00pm & 8:45pm | Skyline Comedy Club | Touring comedian (Peacock's The Traitors, Apple TV's Loot, New Girl), 18+. Two-night run. · details →
Central Wisconsin Auto Collectors 44th Annual Benefit Car Show — Neenah 🎉 | Sun Aug 23 | 8:00am–4:00pm | Brennand Airport | Large annual car show benefit, 18 judged classes. · details →
Boogie Back to School — Neenah 👨👩👧 | Wed Aug 26 | 6:00pm–9:00pm | West Wisconsin Ave. | Free outdoor end-of-summer concert featuring Boogie and the Yo-Yo'z, presented by Future Neenah. · details →
📣 Community News
🌪️ An EF-3 tornado (140 mph winds, ~1,500-yard path, 12.1-mile track) struck the Fox Valley on Jul 27. As of Jul 31, recovery is ongoing: National Guard on scene, boil-water orders, overnight curfews in Menasha/Fox Crossing, submerged boat debris recovered from local waters, charging/cooling stations open at multiple sites. · Source: wbay.com
🚧 15 National Guard members assisting with traffic control in Winnebago County; block-by-block street closures started 6am Sat Aug 1 for brush pickup; curbside household trash collection Sun Aug 2. · Source: wbay.com
🤝 A Menasha print shop is selling "Menasha Strong" T-shirts, $20 each, all proceeds to tornado relief — over $40,000 raised so far. · Source: wbay.com
🤝 Pick 'n Save and Metro Market have launched a register round-up donation campaign benefiting Fox Valley tornado relief. · Source: wbay.com
🚧 Tornado-debris removal and household garbage collection continues in Menasha into the following weekend. · Source: wbay.com
🚧 I-41 Expansion Project road closures continue: East Frontage Rd closed (Kerrigan Dr–County U, through early Aug); French Rd overpass over I-41 closed through Aug 28; WIS 47/Richmond St interchange closed through fall 2026; Buchanan St overpass (Grand Chute) reopened Jul 30. · Source: wbay.com
Big weekend for outdoor events with XRoads41 pulling people in from every direction, but keep an ear out for neighbors who are still rebuilding — even a few hours with a Samaritan's Purse crew goes a long way. Reply and let me know what you're up to this weekend. See you next Thursday.
— Jake