Everything You Need to Know About Rhinelander’s Hodag Heritage Festival

Did you know there’s an entire festival dedicated to Rhinelander’s famous legendary creature, the Hodag? What began as a tale created by local logger Eugene Shepard, the hodag has become a symbol of history and pride for Rhinelander. Here’s your guide to the one-of-a-kind annual festival, dedicated to Rhinelander’s beloved mascot and history. Visit Rhinelander for the 4^th Annual Hodag Heritage Festival on May 18, 2024! This event is free to attend and family-friendly.

All Things Hodag Items List

The week of the festival (May 13-18), you can find a list of Rhinelander local businesses that are featuring Hodag-related food, beverages and retail items, many of which are only available during Hodag Heritage Week! The list is available the week of May 13^th online and in-person at the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hodag Store. Plan to check out the area businesses and pick up some hodag goodies while you’re in town for the festival!

Live Music and Entertainment: Stage Performances

During the festival, you can find entertainment and activities all day long. On the stage, a variety of musicians, fascinating historical presentations, children’s book readings, and more will take place. There is even a Hodag Calling Contest at high noon, where anyone can howl or growl their way to a gold medal! You also won’t want to miss the evening headliner- Hypnotized, playing the music of Fleetwood Mac. Visit the Hodag Heritage Festival webpage or Facebook page for the stage entertainment lineup.

Food, Drink, Vendors & Exhibitors

Start the day off with a delicious traditional pancake breakfast by the Rhinelander Masonic Lodge from 8-11am. Later in the morning and afternoon, you can enjoy food from a variety of food trucks as well as refreshments from the beverage tent and the Rhinelander Brewery Beer Pavilion. Don’t miss the infamous green Hodag beer!

Also, browse hodag and cryptid vendor booths from 9am-6pm, where you can find a collection of hodag merchandise, crafts, art and other items with a mythical creature focus!

Check the website for the full schedule of events and open times of food and drink vendors.

Hodag Historical City Bus Tours

Take a historical bus tour around the city! This opportunity is only available during Hodag Heritage Festival. Learn about local history as the bus makes stops at notable locations around town, relating to the hodag’s history. Bus tours are $5 per person and run three times during the day of the festival and are approximately 35-45 minutes long. And if you want to learn even more about the hodag and Rhinelander history- join the VIP Hodag Historical City Bus Tour on Friday night! In addition to your bus tour, you’ll receive a Hodag Heritage Festival t-shirt and a Hodag Beer or Hodag Root Beer from the Hodag Store. Your tour will be narrated by local historian and director of Pioneer Park Historical Complex, Kerry Bloedorn- legendary Hodag storyteller! This VIP tour will also be making a few extra stops that you won’t want to miss. Tickets for the bus tours are available NOW- click here to reserve your spot! If extra tickets are available, they can be purchased the day of the festival, first-come, first-served.

Activities

Kids can find plenty of entertainment while at Hodag Heritage Festival, too! Kids can enjoy a bounce house, crafts, games and storytime during the day. There is no cost for any of these activities! The kids games are put on by the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry. Donations of non-perishable items aren’t necessary, but appreciated! Check out the kids event schedule here.

During the festival there will also be a photo booth, hodag trivia and more for all ages!

Did you know that the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce has a Hodag Finder Map, where you can go on a scavenger hunt for all of the hodag statues and murals in town? Pick up your scavenger hunt map at the Chamber Monday – Friday between 8am-4pm, and bring the completed form back to the Chamber during a weekday or to the info booth at Pioneer Park during the festival for a special prize!

Art Contest

There will be a Hodag Art Contest on display at Pioneer Park Historical Complex during the festival, open to all mediums and ages. The public can vote on their favorite piece! More details on the art contest and how to submit your artwork can be found here. Forms can be picked online and at the Rhinelander Chamber in advance of the festival.

Pioneer Park Historical Complex

Hodag Heritage Festival will take place at Rhinelander’s Pioneer Park. The park is located near the intersection of Kemp and Oneida Ave. The Historical Complex gives you a glimpse into local and Wisconsin history, featuring seven different museum buildings including a logging museum, schoolhouse, Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, railroad museum, and more. The Complex will be open from 9am-3pm the day of the festival. There is no admission fee, but donations are much appreciated.

Need a place to stay?

If you’re traveling from out of town for the festival, there are plenty of options for lodging accommodations in the Rhinelander area. Choose from hotels, traditional lakeside resorts, scenic campgrounds and more. View Rhinelander lodging here.

Learn about the hodag here!

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