☀️🏡 Good Monday Morning, Coulee

Good morning, my friends. ☀️ I hope that your weekend was restful, productive, happy, or restorative (whichever of those you were going for).  

Today on Good Morning, Coulee:

👀 we’ve got a new look (leave us feedback at the end)

🏡 we highlight a local organization that makes our region better

🔥 our first featured event

Let’s dive right in, shall we? 👇

Good vibes. 👇

*If you want to listen along as you read, scroll to the top right of this email and click “Read Online”.

You vibin’? You can listen to the entire playlist here ➡️

• Coulee Colors Winter Color Guard Extravaganza lights up Central High School (WXOW)

• La Crosse Regional Airport to welcome Envoy Air starting April 4th (News 8000)

• La Crosse St. Patrick's Day Parade draws a good crowd (WXOW)

• UW-La Crosse Falls In NCAA Men’s Basketball Elite Eight Contest (WIAC)

• Mt. La Crosse ends season with lively mountain meltdown party celebration (News 8000)

• Greenhouse trip shows young children from La Crosse how to grow plants (WIZM)

Storytelling is one of the oldest and most magical art forms in human history. It connects us to each other, to our past, and to our shared dreams for the future. The La Crosse Storytelling Festival is a shimmering jewel in the upper Midwest, celebrating this age-old tradition with heart, creativity, and a whole lot of fun! If you love stories (and who doesn’t?), you NEED to know more about this unique and meaningful event. Let’s dive into what makes it so special! 🌟✨

🎭 A Mission Worth Celebrating The La Crosse Storytelling Festival is no ordinary event; it’s a celebration of storytelling in its purest, most transformative form. Its mission—to edify, educate, and entertain people of all ages and backgrounds—makes it so much more than a gathering of storytellers.

🌳 Humble Beginnings in Pettibone Park Did you know that the La Crosse Storytelling Festival was born in 2003, thanks to the vision of TWO local attorneys, Keith Belzer and Ted Skemp? Yep, you read that right—storytelling and legal minds came together to create something extraordinary. Through their efforts, the first three festivals were held at La Crosse’s scenic Pettibone Park, setting the stage (literally!) for a beloved community tradition.

⭐ A Festival for ALL From its earliest days, the Festival set an important foundation: it would be a family-centered event, feature top-tier national talent, highlight professional local storytellers, and serve as an educational tool. Let’s break that down!

• 🎤 Family-Centered Fun: The Festival is designed for people of all ages to enjoy together. The laughter and awe shared between parents, kids, and grandparents make this event truly magical. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦✨ 

• 🌟 Top Talent: Every year, the Festival brings in amazing national and local storytellers who are at the peak of their craft. These performers don’t just tell stories—they transport you to entirely new worlds. 🌍

• 📖 Education Through Stories: Storytelling isn’t just about entertainment; it’s also about learning. This Festival helps audiences appreciate storytelling as an art form and teaches budding storytellers how to hone their craft. It’s a beautiful way to keep storytelling traditions alive and thriving for generations to come. 🌱

Ready to learn more? Click here »

🤝 Help Me Get the Word Out!

☘️ St. Patrick’s Day Karaoke @ Dewey’s Side Street Saloon // Today, 6pm // [LINK]

🤣 Bored Teachers “The Struggle is Real” Comedy Tour @ Viterbo Fine Arts Center // Saturday, 7:30pm // [LINK]

🛠 Repair Cafe @ La Crosse Public Library // Saturday, 10:30am-12:30pm // [LINK]

🌟 The Music of Billy Joel & Elton John Starring Michael Cavanaugh @ Viterbo Fine Arts Center // Friday, 7:30pm // [LINK]

📚 BookTok Bingo @ 608 Brewing Company (La Crosse) // Tuesday, 6:30pm // [LINK]

MONDAY 3/17

6:00pm // Popcorn Tavern // Mr. O’Blink ($5 cover)

TUESDAY 3/18

6:00pm // The Charmant // Marc LaMere

9:00pm // Popcorn Tavern // Open Mic

WEDNESDAY 3/19

5:00pm // Grounded Patio Cafe // Randy Erickson’s Singalong Sideshow

FRIDAY 3/21

3:00pm // Elmaro Vineyard // Mike Nanstad

5:00pm // Grounded Patio Cafe // Wilki

SATURDAY 3/15

Aquinas Boys Basketball @ Cumberland // W 69-56

West Salem Boys Basketball vs. Wausau // L 45-82

Join us tomorrow as I get better at deploying this new layout, we feature an image from a local photographer, and we unveil some more plans for the weekend. 🔥

See you in the morning, neighbor!

-Caleb

Have something to say? You know what to do.

📥 👇

[email protected]