Arcadia to kick off county music series

Arcadia officials described as a “great thing” the kick-off of the first-ever Trempealeau County Music Series next month in the city.

Arcadia’s event will feature The Mondays June 12 at the Memorial Park Amphitheater, and council member Duane Matelski said he hopes to draw in food vendors for the evening.

“I think this is a great thing,” Matelski told the council last Wednesday. “We need things for families.”

The council agreed to fund up to $1,000 for the band’s performance. In the future, the city may seek a percentage of sales from vendors to cover the costs of garbage collection and cleaning. Matelski said he has interest from vendors of coffee, kettle corn, tacos and ice cream.

The 6 to 7:30 p.m. event is free to the public.

“We can be creative in 2024 and plan for 2025,” said Mayor John Kimmel. “I think eventually this could grow. We have a great stage and pavilion, and we should encourage more events.”

The Trempealeau County Music Series, organized by Jack Haye, county parks and recreation coordinator, includes:

• June 25, Independence, City Hall Park, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Blondie Blue

• July 3, Strum, Woodland Park, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Maddox Larson, fireworks at 10 p.m.

• July 21, Whitehall, Bandstand, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Hillbilly Fever

• July 22, Osseo, Garber Bandshell, 6 to 8 p.m., Dames

• Aug. 14, Blair, Riverside Memorial Park, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Wally Tranberg and The Band of Friends.

• Sept. 7, Galesville, Old Main, 7 to 9 p.m., Coulee Classic Barbershop Quartet.