Wings of Life Weekend Takes Flight

Door County North debuts new community festival 

There’s a new festival coming that seeks to not only offer a good time, but also do some good for the natural habitat. Wings of Life Weekend – previously called the Door County North Country Fair – will debut June 25-26. 

Mickie Rasch, community coordinator for Door County North, said the organization had been looking for something to replace the now-defunct Uncork Summer festival – the Door County foodie and wine event that ran from 2014 until 2019.

“When I learned that the end of National Pollinator Week is the weekend that was traditionally our festival weekend, it seemed like it was the right time for a new festival opportunity for families,” Rasch said. 

But instead of celebrating the food of the area, this environmentally focused festival will celebrate the pollinators that are directly responsible for at least one out of every three bites of food that we eat. Working with the Pollinator Partnership, the organizers’ goal is to promote the health of pollinators – which are critical to food and ecosystems – through conservation, education and entertainment for all ages. 

The weekend promises food and beverage vendors; tours of the gardens at Ellison Bay Beach; a sale of pollinator-friendly native plants with help from Jerry’s Greenhouse; nature- and pollinator-related arts, crafts and educational tools; a presentation by Debbie Clement, author of the Mighty Wings conservation picture book; a beekeeping workshop; build-your-own butterfly and bat houses; guest speakers and more. 

During the week prior, a scavenger hunt throughout Ellison Bay helped to set the tone. 

Though the festival is in its infancy, Rasch already has big plans for what she hopes will be an annual celebration. It was inspired by a similar event she attended in the Driftless Area.

“They have this wonderful festival where it’s all about homespun fun,” she said. “I would like to see an event where we have even more people involved going forward – artists and business owners – and incorporate more of the visual arts – sort of a Cirque du Soleil meets hometown parade.”

See a complete lineup of activities and learn more at doorcountynorth.org/events.