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

All Things Hodag Items List

The week of the festival (May 12-17), 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 12^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, where anyone can howl or growl their way to a gold medal! You also won’t want to miss the evening headliner- The Third Wheels, a pop/rock cover band. 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 VFW 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. Don’t miss the infamous Hodag beer!

Also, browse exhibitor and vendor booths from 9am-6pm, where you can find a collection of hodag merchandise, crafts, art and other items with a mythical creature or Rhinelander/northwoods 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. Your tour will be narrated by the Rock 105.3’s Duff Damos! 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! There will be various activities and a free bounce house during the day. Check out the kids event schedule here.

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!

Hodag Quest

New this year! During the festival, there will be a special Hodag Quest happening at Pioneer park. Follow clues around the park to be successful in your quest. Collect the one-of-a-kind hodag claws to complete your set and make a full Hodag paw!

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. Artwork will be on display from 9am-3pm the day of the festival. The public can vote on their favorite pieces! 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.

Friday Night Only: Attack of the Hodag film showing with director Bill Rebane

View a special one-time showing of Attack of the Hodag! Film director, Bill Rebane, will share the history of his fascinating film and hold a Q&A session after the film showing. The event will be held at 7pm at the Hilgermann Center in downtown Rhinelander, located at 25 S Brown Street. Tickets are $20 and include a beverage (pre-sale only). You don’t want to miss this! Get your tickets here!

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-5pm 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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