It is time to talk about all the fun coming to the Racine area.
Raymond Ellis and his here from 5K events.
Those are the folks who handle all the entertainment, all the shows coming to and all the programs coming to Festival Park, also known as Rotary Park, Festival Hall and also Memorial Hall.
They got all three places.
When you say Rotary Park, do people know what you're talking about?
Never.
Never no, I know it's a shame because that's the name of it now Oh, yeah, they even got a sign out front of Rotary Park They say Rotary Park is that in Caledonia?
Madison, right?
No, it's festival park with the name of Rotary Park beautiful place.
What a fortune place.
Do you know what was there before?
Festival Park.
Well, I heard it was a few different things I heard there was a some sort of skating ring
Well, the skating was in but it was a car dealership Don Hudson Wow
It was they sold cars right there was a car dealership and then the city got old of it and Mitted Festival Park which became Rotary Park and of course Memorial Hall 100 years ago on December 6th 100 years ago was the first broadcast of WRJN at Memorial Hall 100 years ago yep that was it Memorial Hall I wasn't there
But I heard stories.
It was a live concert, orchestra concert.
And these were the beginning days of radio.
Yeah.
I mean, they didn't, it's not like it is today and everything.
And people, not a lot of people had radios, but they wanted to sell them.
So you got a broadcast if you want to sell them or it doesn't work like that.
All right.
So 5K events, once you explain to people what 5K events is, because you hear it, but people may not know what it
is.
Yeah.
So 5K events, it is an organization.
who operates Festival Hall Rotary, which is Rotary Park, which is Festival Hall Rotary Park and also Memorial Hall.
So we do a lot of different events.
We actually are the sub holders of events.
So if you are looking to plan an event, you can reach out to us.
We can get you a 5K event race schedule.
We also do the races as well.
Our farmers market, if you are looking to be a vendor at one of our Saturday farmers market, you can come down and also attend that as well.
Hey, and you got nice shirts too.
Five K event shirts.
That's pretty neat.
Okay.
So five K events handles that obviously five K runners.
That's where you started the whole thing by running.
Okay.
Let's talk about some of the events coming up here of August 29th, the Racine Farmers Market, Apple day.
Oh yeah.
So Apple
day.
So just like last week, Saturday, we had our corn on the cob day.
So we had a lot of corn.
Um, everything was about corn.
So, uh, the next farmer's market, uh, the 29th will be Apple day.
So that'd be all about.
Apple pies, apple sauce, apples, anything that has to do with apples, the farmers markets would be all about apples.
They telling corny jokes on corn day?
Probably.
You know, I've never had an apple in my life.
Geez, you're missing out.
I never had an apple.
One day I had apple sauce as a little kid and didn't like it.
And so, yeah, I never had an apple.
Now, my wife, my daughter, ever loved apples.
I mean, there's apples all over our house, but I never had one.
I don't know why.
The apples are the best.
Yeah, I never did.
I know it is.
I'm like, they never had an apple.
What are you, a communist?
What kind of apple?
Okay, that's on August 29th, the Racine Farmers Market on the grounds at Rotary Park Festival Park.
Okay, coming up on September 5th, this seems like something I would like.
Yeah, so that's the...
Bacon, five cakes in the racing farmers market salsa showdown.
Now we're talking.
Yes.
So that's
our
17th annual five K run and walk.
And then also our bacon and salsa and beer.
So on that day, you'll have a lot of different organizations actually competing in the contest who can make the best salsa.
So if you're looking to come try some salsa and get in on that test to see who can be the winner, come on down.
I told this on the air before the public library once had a
Salsa, I don't know if it was salsa, but kind of a hot sauce eating contest, not a contest, but a sampling.
And you just sign up before you go and it was free.
And there were about 12 people, maybe a little more in there, and they had 10 different types.
They were masked, so you couldn't see what you were tasting, and they had chips on the table.
And it was pretty good, one through seven.
Very good though.
Number eight, I took a bite of it on the...
And I said, I can't go to the hospital.
I can't.
My mouth is on fire.
And there was one of the guy too.
He was, it was like a mouse running around the room and both of we couldn't, I couldn't handle it.
I said, wow, I can't, I can't.
So they had milk there.
So you can drink milk just to put the fire out.
I can't do that.
Number nine, a number 10, the same thing.
It turns out number nine and number eight, number 10 were cooking hot sauces.
We were supposed to put one drop in the pot when you're cooking.
I put a bunch on a chip like here, but I was the, me and this other guy were the only two that's good.
I would say, hospital, hospital, hospital.
I thought this is it.
I thought they'll never put the fire out.
So that's not going to be this.
It is not going to be this.
Oh no, I hope not.
Okay, that's not going to be this.
Yeah, that was at the library.
That was, it was a fun event.
I just didn't think my mouth was going to burn off when I was there.
That's pretty neat.
It's called bacon and five kegs.
So beer there too.
Oh yeah.
I know you're not going to believe this.
I never had a beer in my life.
Oh, you're missing out
on that
as well.
It's not that I, you know, nothing.
I just never had it.
They would never came up and I just never had it.
Wow.
I just never came up.
You have to stop down sometime.
Beer and apples.
That's what I need.
Yeah.
Okay.
But there's a big event coming up on September 18th, the NAACP.
Freedom Fund Bank.
Let's talk about that for a while.
Oh, yeah.
So that's supporting civil rights community outreach programs.
So the title for this year is We the People.
So it's the Racing Branch NAACP Freedom Fund and Theodore Harris Humanitarian Awards Dinner.
So that'll be at Festival Hall.
The tickets are actually for sale now at $100 per ticket.
And their keynote speaker is Dr. Jamal Bryant.
uh, building pathways to justice through racial equity, civil engagement and institutional policy work.
Talk a bit about that for a while.
Yeah.
So Jamal Brian, he is, uh, he is a nationally known pastor and civil rights activist.
He goes around speaking and he, he's also for the people.
He's also does a lot of community work.
Um, he was recently known for the target work boycott that happened, um, for the past few months and actually restored that back within a past month or so.
That's a big event.
Oh, yeah.
That's going to sell out.
Oh, oh, yeah.
So when you get your tickets starting now, you can get your tickets starting last week.
How do people?
This morning, last week, let's go back in time.
So how do people do that?
Yeah.
So they can go directly to our site and you can buy tickets directly through our site or you can go through Zefi and search up the racing brand to NAACP and then the title we the people.
Give it the easiest one is yours.
Correct.
So what is that?
So that would be you can go to festivalpark.com.
Um, and you can find everything all the information for the racing in double
ACP festival park.com.
Easiest thing to remember.
Oh, yeah.
Festival park.com.
All right.
And that's for the N double ACP freedom farm banquet.
And that's coming up soon.
That's September 18th, a big event.
That's going to be nice.
Raymond Ellis, it is here.
He is from five K events.
Always good to talk to Raymond here.
We're talking about all the events coming to festival park, which is also known as rotary park, a festival hall, the indoor part of festival park and also.
Memorial Hall was just a few doors down the historic Memorial Hall.
Okay, let's talk about Spudfest.
This is part of the Racine Farmers Market.
Oh, yeah.
So Spudfest, it's just like our other events, our Apple Day, our Corner on the Cob Day.
So Spudfest is going to be all about potatoes.
So we're asking everyone to come down and support every vendor that is down there, all the local farmers.
Come buy some potatoes, buy some apples, buy some fruit, anything that you're looking for.
You can get it down at the Farmers Market.
Here's something I don't understand, but it's wonderful for people that are into this, Legos.
Britt City's Lego Convention.
Now, for people that don't know Legos, those little plastic things where you can snap on another one and build something with it, just keep snapping them together.
When my daughter was little, I bought her a set for a couple of bucks, but they're expensive now.
Very expensive.
Very.
The people who are such Lego fans are rabid about it.
They just love Lego.
I don't get it, but as it was me, you probably don't get it either way.
But this thing is going to be huge.
It's the Lego convention, Brick City's Lego convention coming up, what's it September 18th and 19th?
September 26th and 27th.
Oh, is that what that line crossed out through their means?
Oh, yeah.
And then somebody wrote down 26 to 27th, whatever that means.
Okay.
So it's actually September 26th through 27th.
I got out of order on this thing.
But that's that's going to be huge.
Oh, yeah, that's going to be a huge first time coming down to Festival Hall.
So we're hoping for a big turnout as we have been receiving a lot of calls to verify that this is a real event.
Now, why would people think it's not real?
What?
Why would they?
Why would you think?
Oh, yes, we're advertising, but it's not real.
You're going to come here.
It's going to be empty.
Exactly.
But this is going to be huge.
Oh, yeah.
Now, what is Brick
City's Brick City?
You know, I'm still learning a lot about Brick City, so hopefully I'll learn a lot more when this event comes up, so I can be able to explain that a little bit better.
But you know about Legos.
Oh, I know somewhat about Legos.
I had to do some history when I heard there was going to be a convention.
Just don't step on one with your bare feet.
Oh, yes, I could tap on the ground.
Very painful.
Oh, yeah.
OK.
Let's talk about October already.
Oh, no, October.
Stand down.
This is the Racine County Veterans Expo.
Stand down.
This is real important.
Oh, yeah.
So to stand down.
So that's the racing county's expo.
So that'd be at our festival park and our Rotary Park.
It's an annual thing that happens.
So we're asking everyone to support the racing county veterans.
Reach out to them, see how you can support and help.
The Policeman's Ball is coming up October 10th.
Oh, yeah.
So October, October 10th is the recent Policeman's Ball.
So it's a former fundraising and community support event.
It's connected with Seoul.
So support our local enforcement.
It brings together police officers.
It brings together the community members, businesses, sponsors, and local leaders for an evening of dinner, entertainment, raffles, and a silent auction.
You have to be present to win the silent auction.
So come out and support.
Yeah.
And if you're a crook, stay away.
Oh,
yeah.
You
might want to stay away.
You always hear these stories about some idiot who tries to rob some place.
And it's the police you're training inside.
And they try to run.
I mean,
Talk about your bad time.
There's like 300 cops there and you're trying to rough.
Bad time.
You hear about all the time.
Okay.
Coming up October 17th, the first brigade band.
Let's talk about that.
Oh yeah.
So this is going to be an event where you're going to hear a lot of music at Memorial Hall.
Yep.
So you're going to hear a lot of music from the Civil War time.
So there's going to be dance lessons starting at 615.
Smaller dirt served with the cash bar 50 50 raffles door prizes and the tickets are actually on sale now for an individual It's 45 a student 35 and a group of four plus it'd be $40 per
ticket now You brought a giant poster in for this first brigade band.
Oh, yeah And it's it's a Civil War theme.
Do you have to dress like the Civil War?
Oh, you would hope so, you know, we were I was telling you we went to the
the unveiling of the sign, the Memorial Monument for Camp Utley, which was located at Wisconsin Avenue, just about a few houses down from, a few houses north of Lake Oaks, right there in the lake.
And there were women dressed in the Civil War outfits and those big billowy dresses and everything.
I was like, wow, that looks so authentic.
Until you see her holding a cell phone.
Kind of ruined the whole thing.
Leave your cell phones at home.
Brings it up to speed.
Well, who came up with that idea?
First Brigade Band?
You
know, I believe this is the first time we're actually having this event.
Yeah, I never heard of it before.
Yeah, so I'm looking to learn a lot more about this as well.
I actually want to be present to see how this actually turns out.
And leave your muskets at home.
And your cell phones.
And your cell phones at home.
We don't want to ruin it.
All right, the Racine Farmers Market, October 24th.
Fall Fest.
Oh, yeah.
So we're getting into the Halloween season around this time.
So there's going to be pumpkins, German beer, all at the farmer's market.
We're going to have music, we're going to have an open bar there.
Well, actually a cash bar, I should say.
I don't want anybody to get the wrong idea.
So that's going to be down at Rotary Park from nine to one.
Coming together.
We're seeing the same day, October 24th.
Oh, yeah.
So that's going to be at Festival Hall.
So in the indoors.
That's going to be celebrating the First Nations caretakers of this land.
November 11th, very important day.
It's Veterans Day, the RCV Veterans Celebration, the annual Veterans Day ceremonies at Memorial Hall.
Oh, yeah.
That's what Memorial Hall was, by the way.
It was started for the veterans.
Yeah.
And you could see, if you go into Memorial Hall, they have all the designations from all the wars from the veterans.
Wow.
And...
Yeah, my dad was a veteran of World War two, so it's always important to me.
Yeah, that's amazing 17 years old.
He was in the Navy.
He was a Navy tail gunner in a plane at 17.
He was in the Pacific for four years and All he did was It was a tail gunner 17 he started he started right after Pearl Harbor Day.
He went in Then he didn't come out till the war was almost over.
That's I know 17.
I'm thinking when I was doing at 17
Trying to get a date with somebody at high school.
I
think I was too.
How can I ask her after the prom?
And my father was out there fighting the enemies with a tailgunner.
So that's an important day.
It's a Veteran's Day celebration and that will be at Memorial Hall November 11th.
November 16th, we start with the Festival of Trees.
We're talking about that already.
Wow.
Oh yeah.
So now we're getting into the
To the good season that we're all excited for.
So that starts our annual Festival of Trees.
It's a month long of celebrating of charitable giving.
So that'd be November 16th through December 6th.
Wow, Festival of Trees.
I love that.
You know, it can probably put you in the mood too.
You see a lot of nice tree decorations.
Then you go home and look at your sad tree.
Yeah, no gifts under.
No
gifts, no decorations.
Looks like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
Right.
The Grinch who
stole Christmas.
Okay.
Thanksgiving Racine.
This is an annual event and I've been to this before, the National Turkey Trot and Thanksgiving Feast at Festival Hall.
Oh yeah.
So if you're looking for a great Thanksgiving dinner, come on down and enjoy some good time, good fellowship down at Festival Hall.
And the
Turkey Trot, same day.
Oh, same day.
Yeah.
And what is the Turkey Trot?
So that's a National Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Feast.
So it's...
Oh, that's what it's called.
Okay.
The Caledonia Conservancy December 4th.
That's a holiday wine tasting.
Well, yeah, so
that'll be at Festival Hall.
So if you're looking to get tickets, I'm sure they'll be posted very soon.
The Racine Symphony Orchestra is going to be there all that same night at the Christmas Concert.
And I'm going to tell you a story about this in a minute.
That's a memorial hall, though.
Yep.
So the Racine Symphony Orchestra was at Festival Hall this particular year.
And I think Greg Berg
was supposed to emcee it, but for some reason he couldn't.
So they asked me if I would emcee it.
That's how I got my tuxedo and everything.
And I was getting engaged to my present day wife at the time.
It was 20 years ago.
Wow.
And so we got the ring and everything, but she had no idea that I told the conductor, the band leader, the symphony leader, and I said, at intermission, I'm going to bring her up on stage and propose to her.
So he told the members of the orchestra, do not walk off the stage.
Stay right where you are when there's an intermission.
Don't leave.
And I got that on one knee.
And luckily she was dressed beautifully.
And it was also the night that our sister cities from France were there.
Wow.
And there were hundreds and hundreds of people that I got that on one knee.
She was shaking.
Thank goodness, she said yes.
Yeah, I was going to exit.
She said yes that night.
That would have been the longest walk off the stage.
They
would have to play a sad song as you exit.
It was 20 years ago and it was in October, I think, because we got married in November.
And they're still a
very good band.
Yeah.
The orchestra, I should say.
Yeah.
Oh, that was some night.
Whoa.
And it was 20 years ago.
OK, so it's coming up again.
This is December 4th at Memorial Hall.
Grinchmas.
Coming up on December 19th.
What's that?
Oh, yeah.
So that's all about fun Christmas games with the Grinch theme.
So you might even see Patrick Flynn dressed inside of a Grinch costume.
Really?
Oh, yeah.
Is he showing off his true personality?
Yeah, he doesn't know that yet.
But hopefully once he hears
this, he's going to say yes.
The Grinch.
So that's going to be a festival hall.
And that is just fun games with a Grinch theme.
And do you have to get tickets for that?
How does that work?
No, I don't believe there's any tickets.
You just come down and just enjoy some community.
Yeah.
OK.
And just a sneak peek into 2027.
Can't believe I said that.
Yeah.
The Heritage Ball Celebration is coming up.
It's a holiday wine tasting, February 20th.
Oh, yeah.
Next year.
Yeah.
OK.
We're getting into next year already.
And March 1th will be the empty bowls, the hunger fighting event.
This is huge every year, the empty bowl.
Oh yeah, every year.
Okay.
Thank you for coming in, my friend.
Of course, thanks for inviting me.
Remy Della, listen, that's a lot of stuff to keep in your head.
And you did it with the use of a cell, what would you do if you didn't have a cell phone with you?
You know, I try to keep everything in my head, but you know, cell phones, they help out nowadays.
Pretty, you know, I'm telling you in about 30, 40 years from now, people are gonna say cell phones.
Yeah.
They depended on cell phones.
We're going to be flying cars soon.
I mean, I mean, I still use DVDs and Blu-rays and VHS occasionally.
And young people say, TVDs, Blu-rays, what are you talking about?
VHS?
Wasn't that Alexander Graham Bell, didn't he invent VHS?
That's old.
Thank you, Raymond, for coming in.
Thank you.
Raymond Ellison from 5K Events.
They handle all the events at Rotary Park, a.k.a.
Festival Park Festival Hall and Memorial Hall.
What a great gem to have in the city of Racine.
Oh, yeah.
And I'm glad you guys signed another deal to manage it.
Oh, yeah.
We're hoping to stay as long as we can.
Yeah.
OK.
Till cell phones are no good anymore.
Oh, yeah.
Till we're flying cars.
OK.
Thank you, my friend.