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Racine's 4 th Fest is an exciting time to get together with fellow community members and enjoy the summer weather and the Independence Day parade. USA Today said that Racine was one of top 10 places to spend Independence Day, and the family-friendly activities and thousands of spectators are proof that it's a great time. Check out the details here and get ready to come and be a part of the Fourth Fest celebrations in Racine for 2017. more Check This Out: Local Food Pantries Independence Day Parade Racine WI 2017 The theme for the 2017 parade is "Dreams Come True Under the Red White and Blue!" Whether you're there to help welcome service men and women home from a tour of duty, or just want to remember the sacrifices that many of our citizens have made to make our country what it is today. Read More: 2017 Farmer's Market Racine WI The parade will take place on July 4 and will start at 9:00am. Those coming to watch the show are encouraged to arrive early and choose a curb-side seat along the parade's path. The march starts at the Racine Zoological Gardens and travels all the way down Main Street, turning the corner at 14 th Street. Check out this page for more information about what to expect when you come to see the parade! Fourth Fest Fireworks Racine WI 2017 After viewing the excitement of the parade, head over to North Beach to pick a spot for the fireworks show. The synchronized fireworks show will feature patriotic music and is 40 minutes of heart-pounding explosions of color and light! The show will begin at dusk, so be sure to get your spot set up for the best view early in the day!

If you're looking for Memorial Day events in the Racine area this year, we've got a few options for you. The annual Memorial Day Parade is a family-friendly event that both honors those who have served our country and makes for an excellent way to spend Memorial Day with friends and those we love. Check out the time, location and date for the 2017 Memorial Day Parade in Racine WI, and then consider checking out some of the other Memorial Day events going on in the area. more Memorial Day Community Events Racine WI 2017 Racine Memorial Day Parade 2017 Date: May 29th, 2017 Time: 10:00am-12:00pm Event Description: This free event, organized by the Racine Area Veterans Council, will start at 10:00am at West Boulevard and Washington Avenue, ending with a memorial ceremony at Graceland Cemetary's Veterans Memorial shortly after 11:00am. Read More: Farmers Market Downtown Racine WI 2017 Who Are We Honoring on Memorial Day? Every year, on the last Monday of May, we come together as a community and as a country to honor those who have died in military service. The holiday was originally called Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic organized the day to decorate the graves of the Union soldiers with flowers. Check This Out: Family Friendly Events in Racine May 2017 Memorial Day and Veteran Day are two different holidays. While we should honor all those who serve our country, Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who have died while serving. Veteran's Day, celebrated on November 11 th, honors all military veterans.

When it comes to buying fresh produce and getting the most out of your summer, there's no better place to go than the local famer's market. There, you'll find fresh fruits and veggies, along with a variety of other crafts produced and sold locally. Check out the Racine Downtown Market this summer in West Racine. We've got the details about the starting date and the new location. more Read More: Racine WI Family-Friendly Events May 2017 Downtown Market West Racine Summer 2017 The Racine Farmers Market is moving this year and will be opening a short drive from downtown at the corner of Hwy 20 and West Boulevard. The market will be open on Saturdays, starting May 13th. There's nothing quite as sweet as supporting local farmers and community members by purchasing goods and food from your friends and neighbors. The money goes back into the Racine area and will continue to make the farmers market a thriving part of what makes Racine a great place to live. Check This Out: Recycling Hazardous Waste and Garbage Racine WI

Looking for some fun activities for your kids this May? Depending on whether you're looking for something educational or simply just a good time, there are things going on in Racine! Check out these fun, family-friendly events for kids in Racine WI May 2017. more Kids Education Events Racine WI May 2017 Museum Munchkins – Kenosha Public Museum – Free Dates: May 3 rd,10 th, 17 th, 24 th, 31 st Time: 9:30am-10:00am Contact: 262-653-4140 Bring your toddler to learn more about science and the world around them. There's a different theme every week and a fun craft! Legally Blonde – Malt House Theatre -- $15 If you love the movie, or haven't seen it, come to see this musical based on the movie Legally Blonde. It features the story of a woman who defies stereotypes and snobbery to pursuit her dreams! Buy your tickets ahead of time at The Coffeehouse at Chestnut & Pine or online here. Shows are at 7:30pm on the following dates: May 4 th, 5 th, 6 th, 12 th, 13 th, 14 th, 19 th, 20 th, 21 st Dino Digs – Dinosaur Discovery Museum --  Free Dates: May 6 th, 7 th, 13 th, 14 th, 20 th, 21 st, 27 th, 28 th Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm Contact: 262-653-4450 Bring your kids to enjoy the excitement and wonder of excavating a dinosaur fossil every Saturday and Sunday in May. This free event is a great way to create fun memories with your younger kids! Read More: Recycle Hazardous Waste in Racine WI 2017

Spring cleaning and Earth Day are right around the corner, so it's a great time to get rid of some of the hazardous materials laying around your house! Whether it's used vehicle oil, batteries or fluorescent lightbulbs, you'll want to be sure to dispose of them in the correct way. Check out the location, times and the types of hazardous items you can dispose of this spring in Racine WI. more Hazardous Materials Disposal List Racine WI Starting in April, residents from Racine, Sturtevant, Elmwood Park, North Bay, Wind Point, Mount Pleasant and Caledonia can gather any hazardous materials around the home and drop them off for free in Racine. Read More: 5 Vehicle Parts to Check After Hitting a Pothole The collections are held on the third Saturday of the month from April through October. For 2017, the first drop-off date is April 15 th from 8:00am to 1:00pm. During these hours, you can bring harmful chemicals and items from around your house and they will be disposed of safely. What Counts as Hazardous Materials for Disposal? If you're unsure what materials around your house should be disposed of carefully, check out this list. Don’t throw these items into your normal trash, as their chemicals are damaging for the environment and dangerous for our local wildlife. In order to know what is hazardous to dispose of in your normal garbage, look for one of these words on the label: Poison Toxic Corrosive Volatile Flammable Inflammable Combustible Explosive Danger Caution Warning Harmful Hazardous Materials From Your Vehicle There are many different fluids and items from your vehicle that are considered hazardous and should be disposed of carefully. Here are a few examples of vehicle-related materials you should bring to the drop-off instead of throwing them into your garbage can: Antifreeze Batteries Brake Fluid Car Wax and Cleaners Gasoline Motor Oil Transmission Fluid Windshield Wiper Fluid

No matter your age, Easter can hold some excitement and joy. Whether you've got kids who look forward to finding treat-filled eggs, or you're simply looking forward to a delicious brunch, Easter is a good time. Check out these family-friendly Easter events near Racine WI for 2017. We've got some fun ideas for you and your kids! more Read More: Spring Vehicle Maintenance Coupons Kids Easter Egg Hunts Racine WI 2017 Annual Egg-Stravaganza – Saturday, April 15 Address: Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main Street, Racine, WI 53402 Time: 9am-4:30pm Pack up the fam and head over to the zoo to collect hidden eggs, play a few Easter-themed games, and create some fun arts and crafts. You can even have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny! 24 th Annual Eggcellent Easter Adventure & Parade – Saturday, April 15 Address: Main Street at Park Ave, headed North to William's Street, Antioch IL 60002 Time: 10:30am Not in the mood to search everywhere for eggs? Bring the whole family to enjoy the fun and excitement of the Easter parade in Antioch. You might even leave with a few treats in hand! 20th Annual Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 15 Address: Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake, IL 60030 Time: 11:30am Bring the kids aged 1-9 years old to help find over 10,000 eggs! Have your camera at the ready because the Easter Bunny will be there! Check This Out: Does the Weather Change Affect My Suggested Oil Change Intervals?

Looking for somewhere to take your special someone this Valentine's Day? Read on to see what special restaurants in the area would be a new adventure for you and your date, and to find the number to call and make a reservation before it's too late! more Read More: Donate to Your Local Food Pantry Restaurants with Valentine's Day Specials near Racine WI 5 O'Clock Steakhouse – Milwaukee, WI This family-owned restaurant serves fine steaks and offers a large wine list, as well as a full-bar for cocktails and beer. Rated as the best steakhouse in Milwaukee, you can visit on Friday, February 10th for a chance to be one of the first 20 couples who will each receive a $20 promo certificate, which is good for a future visit. Address: 2416 W. State Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233 Phone Number: (414) 342-3553 BRAVO Cucina Italiana – Brookfield, WI Made-to-order Italian cuisine is a crowd-pleaser, and the large menu of delictable options are sure to please even the pickiest of dates. A two-course Prix Fix for Valentine's Day is available for only $21.95 per person. Call and make a reservation to enjoy great service, and even better food! Address: 95 N. Moorland Road, A 147, Brookfield, WI 53005 Phone Number: (262) 785-0858 Fleming's Steakhouse – Brookfield, WI Steak and wine together make for the perfect Valentine's dinner date. Come to check out the quality ingredients and made-from-scratch recipes that make this a great place to eat. On Valentine's Day, enjoy a three-course dinner that includes Filet Mignon with either lobster or salmon! Address: 15665 W. Bluemound Road, Brookfield, WI 53005 Phone Number: (262) 782-9463 Read More: Why You Should Never Drive on Empty

Christmas is just behind us, and the new year has almost arrived. For many, this is the time where we remove the holiday décor and festive Christmas tree from our homes. Now you're stuck with a dead pine tree and nowhere to put it. If you're interested in learning more about Christmas tree disposal in Racine WI for 2016 keep reading and get your tree recycled instead of letting it sit in the yard. more 4 Ways to Use Your Dead Christmas Tree Turn the Whole Tree into Mulch – Pine needles dry out quickly and decompose slowly, so they make a great bed for creeping plants and flowers you may have in your garden. Create a Bird Haven – Put your tree outside in the stand. Hang feeders from the branches or cover pine cones with peanut butter to hang for the birds to enjoy. Cover Your Perennials --  Cut the boughs off your tree to lay down as cover for your perennial flowers and herbs. Not only will these keep snow from laying directly on top of them, but it will keep them warmer! Christmas Kindling – Instead of getting rid of your tree, let it dry out and use the needle-covered branches to start your bonfires this summer. Enjoy the quick flash of heat and flame as the needles get your fire toasty hot in no time! Read More: Protecting Your Car From Winter Road Salt Damage Christmas Tree Pick-Up Racine WI 2016 January 4th, 2016 - January 15th, 2016 Beginning Monday, January 4th 2016 and continuing through Friday January 15th 2016, the Department of Public Works' will be picking up Christmas Trees that are left by the curb. All decorations must be removed from the tree before placing it by the curb, including lights, tinsel and any ornaments! Read More: How Often Should I Be Checking My Tire Pressure?

The holiday season is filled with opportunities to make memories with friends and family, and it turns out that you don't have to travel far to find some great festivities to be a part of this year. We're here to share details about some great family Christmas events happening in Racine WI for 2016, and to help you think of a few great ways to spend time with your loved ones this season. Read on and find out where the fun is! more Family Friendly Events December 2016 Racine WI Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights – Nov. 26 - Dec. 31 If you're looking for a great adventure for the kids, head out to the Jellystone Park Camp Resort to drive through a campground filled with lights and displays for everyone to enjoy. You can take pictures with Santa and see Evy the Talking Christmas Tree! The cost is $20 per car (up to 8 people) and $30 for large passenger vans. Address: 8425 Highway 38, Caledonia, WI Hours: Opens evenings at 5:00pm Jamestown Lights – Nov. 26 – Jan. 1 Featuring over 21,000 lights set to music, this free family event is a great way to enjoy the bright and cheerful twinkling Christmas lights of the season. The show, hosted by Douglas Fir, an animated Christmas tree is heard through your car's radio on station 97.7FM. Head into the Jamestown subdivision from Northwestern Avenue at Taurus drive and look to your left! Address: 6509 Williamsburg Way, Mount Pleasant, WI 53406 Hours: Starts at 5:00pm and ends at 10:00pm Family Christmas Activity Ideas for at Home If the cold weather makes you want to snuggle up indoors, there's no need to let memory-making time go by. Brew up some hot chocolate and throw in one of your Christmas movie favorites! Play a board game as a family, or read a classic Christmas story. There are lots of fun ways to make the holiday season bright for everyone, even with a tight budget!

Decorating your home for the holidays is a fun family activity, and it all starts with finding the perfect Christmas tree. The team here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Racine wants to help you get your perfect tree, and so we've come up with a few of the best Christmas tree farms in the area. It's always good to support a local tree farmer, and you can even experience the fun of chopping the tree down yourself. Bring the family along and check out these two great Christmas tree farms near Racine WI. more Read More: Where to Donate to Food Pantries in Racine WI Cut Your Own Christmas Trees Kenosha Racine WI Sugar Creek Tree Farm This family owned and operated farm is located near Alpine Valley. Thirty-two beautiful acres are full of beautiful trees just waiting to be your perfect choice. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, the Sugar Creek Tree Farm is open from 8:00am till dark. Website: http://www.sugarcreektreefarm.com/ Buffalo Bill's Christmas Trees Cut your own beautiful trees or choose from fresh pre-cut options. There are also ornaments, wreaths and other décor accessories for sale. This tree farm is open Friday-Sunday from 9:30am-5:00pm and Tues, Wed and Thurs from 3:00pm-5:00pm. Website: http://www.buffalobillschristmastrees.com/ Home Depot Christmas Tree Lot If making the trip out into the wilderness to find a tree just doesn't seem like your cup of tea, there are trees available at the Kenosha Home Depot. Just be sure to choose one that looks healthy and strong, as pre-cut trees can sometimes die more quickly since they were cut earlier than your time of purchase! Check This Out: Free Online Maintenance Coupons for Racine WI

This time of year, many people are looking for a way to give back to their community. It's part of that Thanksgiving spirit that has us feeling thankful for everything we have. If you're looking for a place to donate some food or household supplies, check out the food pantries located in and around Racine, WI. We'll help you get a start on your good deed. more Donate Food and Toiletries Kenosha & Racine WI If you've got some extra canned good and toiletry items laying around your house, there might be a better use for them. Instead of allowing your excess items to collect dust before you eventually toss them into the trash, give them to a shelter or food pantry in the area that could use them. Racine County Food Bank With the economy as rough as it is for low income families and people who could use a helping hand, donations can make a huge difference. Community members in need are looking for help with feeding themselves and their families, and you can choose to donate food or money to the cause. Visit the website to learn more about what you can donate, or to make a monetary donation online. The Salvation Army – Kenosha We've all heard of the Salvation Army, and it does a lot for our communities. If you are interested in donating to this organization, located in Kenosha and all over the country, feel free to do so online via the website.  Otherwise, find out where your closest drop-off location is to bring items like clothes, books and other household items to donate to those in need. The Shalom Center – Kenosha This local organization offers food, shelter and guidance to those who need a helping hand.  They are looking for a variety of items for the food pantry: canned soup, canned fruit, tomato sauce, tuna fish, side dishes, beans. The soup kitchen also accepts donations of: chicken, ground beef, cheese, butter, spices and fresh fruits and veggies.

If you're looking for some classic Autumn fun, you've got to check out some of the local pumpkin patches. You'll find the perfect pumpkin for your porch, along with a variety of fun family-friendly activities and delicious fall treats. Whether you're in it for the adventure or to show the kids what makes fall in Wisconsin such a great time of year, we've got something for you. Check out these local pumpkin patches near Kenosha and Racine WI. more Brightonwood Orchard – Burlington, WI Pumpkins and apples are what the fall season is all about, and at this particular orchard, you can drive home with both in hand! They grow over 200 apple varieties, many different kids of squash, and bright, beautiful pumpkins. All of this available, along with a large number of all-natural products, homemade honey, Wisconsin cheese and award-winning apple cider. There's more than enough things to do when you visit the Brightonwood Orchard. Jerry Smith's Pumpkin Farm – Kenosha, WI This country store and pumpkin patch has more fun in one location than you could ask for! Bring the kids to enjoy picking out the perfect pumpkin, and follow up with some delicious fall treats and activities. Wristbands are only $10 and include access to the bounce pillow, corn maze, petting zoo, and hayride. Activities can be purchased separately for $3-$5. Thompson's Strawberry Farm – Bristol, WI If berries are your thing, or you're just looking for the perfect pumpkin, Thompson's Strawberry farm has something for you. The pumpkins are sold at prices of $70.00 per car-load, but can also be purchased individually, priced by size. The farm is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, is open Wednesday-Friday from 3pm-5pm, and Saturday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Happ's Pumpkin Patch – Trevor, WI Located right down the road in Trevor, this cute pumpkin patch is home to more than just your favorite orange fall decoration! You'll find antique items for sale, a haunted train ride, and even a haunted Goul Bus after 5:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Enjoy the fall season without leaving the area as this local pumpkin patch offers fun for the whole family. Check out the Facebook page linked above to see what people love about Happ's!