Rural Historical Society

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Rural Historical Society The Village of Rural is located on the Crystal River minutes from Waupaca, Wisconsin and the Chain 'O Lakes.

The villages 19th century homes offer charm and historic character. The quaint village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Not dressing up? Not trick-or-treating? No problem! Treat Yourself at A Rural Halloween !There's plenty to love at A Rur...
10/23/2026

Not dressing up? Not trick-or-treating? No problem! Treat Yourself at A Rural Halloween !

There's plenty to love at A Rural Halloween, even if you leave the costume at home. Come for an art show, live music, tasty food, and a great lineup of local vendors all awaiting you for you on a stroll through the beautiful village of Rural.

Among those vendors, three talented local jewelry makers will be selling their handmade creations:

✨ Rose in the Forest
✨ Taylor’d Trinkets
✨ Chain O' Lakes Creations

Expect hand-painted and wood earrings (including some very cute Halloween ones), beaded fringe, bracelets, necklaces, keychains, and a build-your-own charm bar. Whether you're shopping for a gift, a spooky-season accessory, or something just for you, these three local jewelry makers are here to charm.

📅 Saturday, October 31
🕒 3-6 PM
📍 Main Street, Village of Rural
🎟 Free to attend!

Put on your costume, or just your walking shoes, and come see what the village is up to. We'd love to see you there!

FOLLOW THE PIED PIPER!At A Rural Halloween, Simon Baumgart, head children's librarian at the Waupaca Area Public Library...
10/22/2026

FOLLOW THE PIED PIPER!

At A Rural Halloween, Simon Baumgart, head children's librarian at the Waupaca Area Public Library, will be leading a COSTUME PARADE down Main Street. Boogie Sauce will play the music, and anyone in costume can join in.

Monsters, fairies, witches, superheroes, and everything in between: fall in line and conga your way down Main Street with us! This will be fun for those in costume and for those watching from the sidelines who want to get a good look at all the cool costumed kids and adults!

Outside of the parade, the Waupaca Area Public Library will be running Papercraft Monster Masks, so kids can make a mask to wear and/or take home!

Parade start time coming soon, so stay tuned!

A Rural Halloween
📅 Saturday, October 31, 3-6pm
📍 Village of Rural, just outside Waupaca
🎟️ Free and open to all. Costumes encouraged!

WHAT TO EXPECT
Trick-or-treating, live music, storytelling, poetry, hayrides, vintage tractors, games for kids, local food, baked goods, and vendors. Plus Rural's first official art show at The Weller Studio and a pet costume contest with przes from Ava's Golden Paws!

PARKING
Main Street will be closed for the fun. Park at the Crystal River Inn & Cottages on Rural Road, just off Highway 22, or off Barlow Street/Rural Road. Volunteers will be on hand to guide you.

JOIN IN THE FUN
Are you a neighbor, business, or community group who'd like to help hand out candy at our event? We'd love to have you! Send us a message here on the page and we'll get you set up.

👻 Share this post, tag someone you'd bring along, and RSVP to our Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JBP3u4yqk/

A Rural Halloween is sponsored by the Rural Historical Society, the Weller Store in Rural, the Woodpile Foundation, Chain O' Lakes Litho, and King Berry Farm.

Rural is a barn-loving village! Check out the survey of barns in our county and join in the fun!
10/22/2026

Rural is a barn-loving village!

Check out the survey of barns in our county and join in the fun!

🎃 Homegrown Pumpkins, Fall Flowers & Mighty Fine Neighbors!!!Yesterday, Missi Thoe and Beanie Hallstrom, the heads of A ...
10/19/2026

🎃 Homegrown Pumpkins, Fall Flowers & Mighty Fine Neighbors!!!

Yesterday, Missi Thoe and Beanie Hallstrom, the heads of A Rural Halloween 's decorating committee, set up decorations at the the two village signs on both ends of Rural. What a gorgeous welcome to the village. Help us give a huge THANK YOU to both of them. Also...

🧡 Thank you to Missi and her family, who grew all of these pumpkins! So cool!

🧡 And a special thank you to Travis and Carmen of King Berry Farm, who donated the gorgeous flowers and hay bales. What a generous donation. Be sure to pop into their store, get some of your own fall decorations and thank them for being a thoughtful community partner!

If passing through Rural, feel free to take a photo of your family in front of these signs! Then come join the Halloween fun:

A RURAL HALLOWEEN
📅 Saturday, October 31
🕒 3 to 6 PM
📍 Main Street, Historic Village of Rural

What to expect: Live music from Boogie Sauce, Da Ukers, storytelling, trick or treating, a costume parade, the first art show at The Weller Studio, a Pet Costume Contest hosted by Ava's Golden Paws and so much more.

👻 Free and family-friendly

Follow the continuing announcements of what to expect here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FktxFwt89/

Costumes welcome. See you in Rural on Halloween day!!

CALLING ALL ANIMAL LOVERS!Ava's Golden Paws is hosting a PET COSTUME CONTEST at A Rural Halloween , and every animal is ...
10/17/2026

CALLING ALL ANIMAL LOVERS!

Ava's Golden Paws is hosting a PET COSTUME CONTEST at A Rural Halloween , and every animal is invited. Dogs, cats, reptiles, whatever you've got.

Bring your costumed critter to Ava's booth at the event, and they'll snap a Polaroid for your entry. Winners get a prize!

***Couples costume with your pet? Bonus points!

***Have a shy or anxious animal who can't make it? Bring your own Polaroid of them and they can still enter. (It has to be a Polaroid!)

***Ava's carries pet backpacks if you need a way to bring your reptile along.

***A friendly note: it'll be a lively, family-friendly crowd with music, parades, and tractors, so please only bring pets who will enjoy it and are comfortable around people and other animals. Dogs on leashes, please, and small critters in carriers or backpacks. If your pet would rather stay home and relax, the Polaroid entry means they can still win!

⏰ Entries: 3:00–5:30 PM
⏰ Voting: 5:30 PM
⏰ Winners announced: 5:45 PM

Questions? Reach out to Ava's Golden Paw or the Rural Historical Society.

A RURAL HALLOWEEN
📅 Saturday, October 31, 3–6 PM
📍 Village of Rural
🎟 Free and open to all, and costumes are encouraged!

DEATAILS HERE: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fk43pTE7a/

Trick-or-treating, a costume parade, live music, hayrides and vintage tractors, Rural's first official art show at The Weller Studio, storytelling, poetry, games for kids, local food, baked goods and vendors.

Bring the whole family, including your pets!

DA UKERS ARE COMING TO A RURAL HALLOWEEN, DONTCHA KNOW! We're thrilled to announce that Da Ukers will be playing at A Ru...
10/16/2026

DA UKERS ARE COMING TO A RURAL HALLOWEEN, DONTCHA KNOW!

We're thrilled to announce that Da Ukers will be playing at A Rural Halloween !

The infamous ukelele group is led by Barb Achten, a warm, compassionate, and gifted teacher whose gentle spirit is part of what makes Waupaca feel like such a homey place. Barb comes from a musical family, has sung and played all her life (including guitar and bass with the group Can't Lie Low), and has spent the last seven years sharing a love of the ukulele with our community.

We can't wait to hear Da Ukers on Main Street! We plan to have them play at The Weller Store!

If interested in joining Da Uker fun or interested in learning ukulele, check out details at Waupaca Community Arts Hub website! Set times for all the fun at A Rural Halloween will be announced soon, so stay tuned.

A RURAL HALLOWEEN
Saturday, October 31, 3-6pm
Village of Rural, just outside Waupaca
Free and open to all. Costumes encouraged!

WHAT TO EXPECT
Trick-or-treating, a costume parade led by the local children's librarian, live music, storytelling, poetry, hayrides, vintage tractors, games for kids, local food, baked goods, and vendors. Plus Rural's first official art show at Weller Studio!

PARKING
Main Street will be closed for the fun. Park at the Crystal River Inn & Cottageson Rural Road, just off Highway 22, or off Barlow Street/Rural Road. Volunteers will be on hand to guide you.

JOIN IN THE FUN

Wanna hand out candy at our event, eh? If you're a neighbor, business, or community group, send us a message here on the page and we'll get you set up.

Share this post, tag someone you'd bring along, and RSVP to our Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JBP3u4yqk/

A Rural Halloween is sponsored by the Rural Historical Society, the The Weller Studio in Rural, the Woodpile Foundation, and Chain O' Lakes Litho.

HELP! CALLING ALL NEIGHBORS, BUSINESSES & LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS: Help Us Hand Out Candy at A Rural Halloween!Ever wish you...
10/15/2026

HELP! CALLING ALL NEIGHBORS, BUSINESSES & LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS: Help Us Hand Out Candy at A Rural Halloween!

Ever wish your house, business, or organization was on a busy trick-or-treating street, so you could enjoy handing out candy to so many costumed cuties? Now's your chance! Rural is closing Main Street for its first-ever Halloween celebration, and you're invited to set up along the street and treat the trick-or-treaters. Families, shops, clubs, and groups are all welcome.

THE RUNDOWN
📅 Saturday, October 31, 3-6 p.m.
📍 Village of Rural, just outside Waupaca
🎃 Free and open to all, and costumes are encouraged

WHAT'S HAPPENING
Trick-or-treating, a costume parade, live music from Boogie Sauce, hayrides and vintage tractors, storytelling, poetry and games for kids, local food and baked goods, and Rural's first official art show at Weller Studio.

Please email [email protected] if you can help bring the sweets to the kiddos for this new community event! And please share this post with a business or group that would love to join in.

👻 RSVP and learn more on our Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JBP3u4yqk/

A Rural Halloween is sponsored by the Rural Historical Society, the The Weller Store & Studio, the Woodpile Foundation, and Chain O' Lakes Litho.

6 GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND A RURAL HALLOWEEN! (Hint: they're all artists!)The The Weller Art Studio is making village his...
10/12/2026

6 GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND A RURAL HALLOWEEN! (Hint: they're all artists!)

The The Weller Art Studio is making village history! The 1st official art show in Rural's long history opens as part of A Rural Halloween on Saturday, October 31, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Chris Johnson and Stacia Fields, owners of The Weller Store, have refurbished and modernized the adjoining building on their site and invited a group of well-known local artists to participate in the first ever Rural Art Show.

Here are your six reasons to stop in:

1️⃣ Davette Clare Leonard: abstract paintings and still lifes
2️⃣ Terry Achten: pottery and clay sculpture
3️⃣ Tammie Jo Berg: fused and stained glass
4️⃣ Dort DeWild: ceramics, acrylics, and fiber art
5️⃣ Beverly Crane: mixed media, collage, and fiber art
6️⃣ Cindy Kelm: watercolors inspired by nature

All six will show and sell their work. Stop in between trick-or-treating, live music, and hayrides. Meet the artists and see the new studio!

ART SHOW HOURS
Sat. 10/31: 3-6 p.m. (during A Rural Halloween)
Sun. 11/1: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sat. 11/7: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sun. 11/8: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

A Rural Halloween is free and open to all. Main Street will be closed to cars, with parking at the Crystal River Inn and Cottages and off Barlow Street/Rural Road.

Know someone who loves art? Tag them or share this post!

👉 Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1774865780177047/

THIS HALLOWEEN, BOOGIE SAUCE IS ON THE MENU!The Boogie Sauce band is bringing a monster mix of blues and classic rock to...
10/08/2026

THIS HALLOWEEN, BOOGIE SAUCE IS ON THE MENU!

The Boogie Sauce band is bringing a monster mix of blues and classic rock to A Rural Halloween !

The secret ingredients to this spooky sauce?

Meet the trio cooking it up:
**Mike Stockwell, a beloved member of our larger community who'll be holding down the beat so the ghosts, goblins, and little pumpkins can dance.
**Gordon Kirchoff, of Odin & Freja's Place, who'll be laying down a low-end groove that's a total treat for the ears.
**Special guest Kirk Tatnall on vocals and lead guitar, ready to deliver solos so good they'll rattle your bones.

Bring the family, put on your best costume, and come hungry for good music. The band's performance is sponsored by the Woodpile Foundation. Thank you for helping bring the Sauce to Rural!

📅 Saturday, October 31 · 3–6 PM
📍 Village of Rural
🎟️ Free and open to all. Costumes encouraged!

Plus trick-or-treating, a costume parade, hayrides and vintage tractors, Rural's first official art show at The Weller Studio, storytelling, poetry, games, local food, and more.

Rural is getting its very first art show, and the lights are going up!Chris Johnson of The Weller Store and potter Terry...
10/07/2026

Rural is getting its very first art show, and the lights are going up!

Chris Johnson of The Weller Store and potter Terry Achten are hard at work installing gallery lighting in the new Weller Art Studio, in the historic building right next to The Weller Store. THANK YOU, gentlemen! Your work is making village history.

📅 Saturday, Oct. 31, 3-6 p.m., as part of A Rural Halloween
Event details: https://facebook.com/events/s/a-rural-halloween/1774865780177047/

Chris Johnson and Stacia Fields, owners of the Weller's Store, have refurbished and modernized the adjoining building and invited a group of well-known local artists to take part in the first-ever Rural Art Show. Six artists will show and sell their work:

-Davette Clare Leonard: abstract paintings and still lifes
--Terry Achten: pottery and clay sculpture
-Tammie Jo Berg: fused and stained glass
--Dort Dewild: ceramics, acrylics, and fiber art
-Beverly Crane: mixed media, collage, and fiber art
--Cindy Kelm: watercolors inspired by nature

Stop in between trick-or-treating, live music, and hayrides. Meet the artists and see the new studio!

Art show hours:
Sat. 10/31: 3-6 p.m. (during A Rural Halloween)
Sun. 11/1: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sat. 11/7: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sun. 11/8: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

A Rural Halloween is free and open to all, and Main Street will be closed to cars. Please help spread the word! 🎃

Sponsored by The Weller Store, The Rural Historical Society, the Woodpile Foundation, Chain O' Lakes Litho, and a dedicated group of Rural volunteers.

Address

E1449 Main Street
Waupaca, WI
54981

Telephone

+16317213324

Website

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