Happy Thursday, Fox Valley. Jake here — the rain is finally packing up, and this weekend is stepping in to make it worth the wait.
Saturday is absolutely stacked. Seven bands rocking Rock for Wishes in Kimberly. Mini golf through downtown Appleton. The Kidz Expo. Cinderella at the PAC. A craft beer walk through Oshkosh. Live music at every turn.
Sun's out(Hopefully), plans are set. Zero excuses for the couch!
🎵 Live Music
David Wilcox — Icon Series — Thu Apr 9, 7:30pm · Gibson Community Music Hall, Appleton Named touring singer-songwriter in Gibson's intimate listening room. 21+. Tickets at gibsonmusichall.com.
Long Mama and Erik Koskinen — Thu Apr 9, 7pm · Appleton Beer Factory Americana/roots artist Erik Koskinen brings his Minneapolis sound to the Factory floor.
Sixtiesmania — Thu Apr 9, 7:30pm · Fox Cities PAC, Appleton One of the country's leading 60s tribute bands — Las Vegas-based, hits you know by heart. Tickets at foxcitiespac.com.
Spicy Tie Band — Fri Apr 10, 8:30pm · The 10th Frame, 618 W. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton Open to the public — No better reason to go out on a Friday.
Maygen & the Birdwatcher and Mae Simpson — Fri Apr 10, 8pm · Appleton Beer Factory Americana/folk with an eclectic twist — College Ave on a Friday night, can't go wrong.
Sprig of That with Kiyoshi Warriors — Fri Apr 10, 7:30pm · Gibson Community Music Hall, Appleton Local/regional artists on the Gibson main stage. 21+. Tickets at gibsonmusichall.com.
18th Annual Rock for Wishes — Sat Apr 11, Doors 2pm · Tanners Grill and Bar, 730 S Railroad St, Kimberly Seven bands, one cause — all proceeds to Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. Hank's Kaboose, Decades Band, Stank Town, Road Trip, Star Six Nine, Milly & The Mayhem, and INFER/RED closing it out near midnight. $10 online, $15 at the door. Tickets at zeffy.com.
Revelry Fest — Sat Apr 11, 3pm · Appleton Beer Factory Multi-band outdoor fest: Koffin Kats, IV and the Strange Band, Carrie Nation & the Speakeasy.
Fork in the Road — Sat Apr 11, 7pm · Waverly Beach, Menasha No cover. Country and classic rock — fiddle, banjo, keyboards, the works. Great excuse to get out to the lake.
The Plastic Knives at Corner Bar — Sat Apr 11, 7–10pm · Corner Bar & Grill, Oshkosh 178 people responded. New songs, old favorites — one of Oshkosh's liveliest spots.
PP3 at The Fountain Tavern — Sat Apr 11, 7–11pm · The Fountain Tavern, 3696 Stearns Dr, Oshkosh Public event, 83 people in. Live music in Oshkosh on a Saturday night.
Wishbone Breakers, Hang Ten & Quokka — Sat Apr 11 · Gibson Community Music Hall, Appleton Three acts, one night — a great night to discover something new. 21+. Tickets at gibsonmusichall.com.
😂 Comedy Events
Sarper Güven — Thu Apr 9, 7pm · Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton Turkish-American comedian with sharp takes on marriage, jealousy, and cultural collisions. Tickets at skylinecomedy.com.
Justin Willman — One For The Ages Tour — Fri Apr 10, 7pm · Fox Cities PAC, Appleton Netflix magic/comedy star fresh off Magic Lover brings the full tour to Appleton. Tickets at foxcitiespac.com.
William Montgomery — Fri Apr 10 (7pm & 9:45pm) and Sat Apr 11 (6pm & 8:45pm) · Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton Two nights, four shows. Grab tickets before they're gone — skylinecomedy.com.
🎭 Arts & Entertainment
The Art of Leadership: Audra McDonald — Fri Apr 10, 6pm · Lawrence University Memorial Chapel, Appleton Six Tony Awards. One evening in Appleton. The Broadway legend sits down for a conversation at Lawrence — this kind of thing doesn't happen every year. Tickets at lawrence.edu.
World Ballet Company: Cinderella — Sat Apr 11, 2pm & 7pm · Fox Cities PAC, Appleton Broadway-style ballet, two showings, all ages. Tickets $61–$124 at foxcitiespac.com.
🧒 Kids & Family
Fox Cities Kidz Expo — Sat Apr 11, 9am–2pm · Fox Cities Exhibition Center, Appleton FREE. 60+ interactive booths, STEM activities, live entertainment. Theme: "Heroes in the Making." No tickets needed — just show up.
Make Money Count at the Museum — Sat Apr 11, 10am–2pm · Building for Kids, Appleton Interactive financial literacy programming for kids at the children's museum.
🍺 Restaurant & Bar Events
Mini Golf on the Town — Sat Apr 11, 1–5pm · Downtown Appleton Putt your way through downtown bars and restaurants — two routes, East and West. $15/person or $60/foursome. Sign up at any participating location. Afterparty at D2 Sports Pub.
Downtown Oshkosh Craft Beer Walk — Sat Apr 11 · Downtown Oshkosh $35 gets you up to 20 craft beer samples from local breweries. Designated driver tickets $10. Register 12:30–1:30pm at Time Community Theater, 445 N. Main. Tickets at Eventbrite.
📅 Early Next Week
Stone Arch Sessions: Alex Dalnodar & Drew Bolder — Tue Apr 14, 7pm · Stone Arch Brewpub, Appleton $10 suggested donation, doors at 5pm. Local Americana/folk at the intimate Stone Arch stage — one of the best mid-week music nights in the Valley.
Taylor Rae — Rhythms & Brews — Wed Apr 15 · Gibson Community Music Hall, Appleton Free live music mid-week. Local artist on the Gibson stage.
Peter Antoniou — Wed Apr 15, 7pm · Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton Touring stand-up at Skyline to close out the week. Tickets at skylinecomedy.com.
That's your week, Fox Valley. Saturday alone has enough going on to fill a month. Go find something good.
— Jake