![The Mississippi River is seen in the distance from Grandad Bluff in La Crosse. ] COURTNEY PEDROZA • courtney.pedroza@startribune.com June 22-24, 2017; Wisconsin restaurants, cafes, bars, bakeries and breweries; Dining along the Mississippi River.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/EQQZA2RKAZ7FIK25DXLNVOFKWY.jpg?&w=1080)
Pella & Orange City, Iowa
Two tulip festivals celebrating the spring flower and Dutch heritage will be held in May. Tulip Time, held Thu.-Sat. at the Historical Village in Pella, highlights tulip gardens and sculptures, plus dancing, museum tours, ethnic food and more (pellahistorical.org). During Orange City's Tulip Festival May 16-18, visitors will enjoy a flower show, daily parades, village windmill tours, music, food, musicals and other festivities (octulipfestival.com).
Winona, Minn. & La Crosse, Wis.
Bands playing at various venues will draw crowds to the annual Mid West Music Fest Fri.-Sat. in Winona and May 17-18 in La Crosse. Visitors can enjoy dozens of local and regional bands performing everything from rock to bluegrass to folk and jazz. For a complete performer list, go to midwestmusicfest.org.
Horicon & Ashland, Wis.
Birders can observe migrating birds aplenty in two upcoming festivals. The annual Horicon Bird Festival May 9-13 in the Horicon National Wildlife Area and Refuge features hundreds of species of birds in the nation's largest freshwater cattail marsh. Avid birders and others can explore the 32,000-acre wetland by riverboat, biking, hiking and driving tours and more (tinyurl.com/y36qvk6l).
More birding can be enjoyed during the annual Chequamegon Bay Birding and Nature Fest May 16-18. Expert guides will lead birders and nature lovers on dozens of treks to explore birds, insects and picturesque flora (birdandnaturefest.com; 1-800-284-9484).
Colleen A. Coles
