Blog

Green-clad people of all ages will come out for the parade! What's going on in Racine for the upcoming celebration of of the Feast of Saint Patrick? We'll give you the information you need to know, like the time and place of the 2014 Racine St. Patrick's Day Parade, right here! more At Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we're always happy to help you find a new or used vehicle that suits your needs and budget. We might even have something for you in green! But you probably know that car shopping is only one of the many fun things you can do here in Racine now that the weather's starting to warm up. How about coming downtown for the 2014 St. Patrick's day parade? Here are the details: What: The 8th annual Downtown Racine St. Patrick's Day parade. All you have to do is show up! When: Saturday, March 15th at 12 noon Where: The parade begins at State & Main street and heads South, so come early to catch your favorite spot along the parade route Why: For all-ages fun, of course! You won't be able to miss it! If you're interesting in entering the parade, make sure to apply by Wednesday, March 12th. You can visit the Downtown Racine website to find out more and download your application. Otherwise, just pack up the family and come on down to celebrate the event with your friends and neighbors in the community. Make sure to wear green! Looking for something to do later that night in Racine? Check out the 60s, 70s, and 80s cover band the Fur Pants Band at Henry & Wanda's on 6th street. Or if that's not really your speed, head to the Racine Theater's Guild on Northwestern Avenue to see 37 Postcards, a play about a young man returning home after years abroad. However you choose to spend your St. Paddy's day weekend, we hope it's great!

Sledding hills Racine The holidays have dwindled down. It’s time to put the decorations away, toss the tree (or box it up carefully for next year if you do the artificial thing; we won’t judge), and relax a little. Whew! It’ll feel good for a little while, but then we get to the part where winter feels like it’s dragging on forever and without all the dazzling lights and home-baked cookies to sweeten the deal, it can get a bit depressing. But don’t succumb to it! You can beat the winter blues right here in Racine, and we’ve got some great suggestions on how to keep moving and keep that chin up! more How about some winter soccer? The Racine Area Soccer Association offers league play in three sessions, including one starting in February that there’s still time to sign up for! It’ll be a great way to get out there, make new friends, and keep yourself in shape as part of a fun, competitive team. There are programs for adults and children so the whole family can get in on it. Speaking of fitness, have you joined the Racine Family YMCA yet? In addition to having a place to go to work on your health through individual exercise, there are loads of group classes, sports programs, informal classes like cooking, scrapbooking, and quilting, and tons of great activities for kids to get involved and make new friends outside of school. Don’t let winter hold you and your family back!   Oh, and let’s not forget good old-fashioned sledding! Who doesn’t love sliding down a freezing cold hill at rapid speeds? It doesn’t sound that fun on paper, does it? But you know it is! Lockwood Park has a great hill, and of course there’s the water tower hill at Devor Park. Or find your own place to sled (without trespassing, though!) - just remember to wear lots of layers for warmth and padding! Whatever you do, do something! And if you need a winter-ready vehicle to help get you around and out of the house, you know who to call!

Santa Claus Racine WI 2013 And to all a good night! If you’ve got a big Christmas wish list and need to get your face time with Santa in this season, we’ve got your times and dates right here. The time for big family fun is upon us in full swing, so don’t get so caught up in the holiday hustle and bustle that you miss these great events. Find out about where to see Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and the a dazzling Christmas light display the whole family will love and remember! more Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights. This annual event takes place at Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Caledonia. It’s an incredible display of over a million lights throughout the park, sure to give you and your family that warm, magical holiday feeling! The cost is $15 per vehicle of eight or fewer, and what you get is a delightful, winding journey through a spectacular, one-of-a-kind Christmas village from the comfort of your car. And guess who will be there? Santa, of course! Give him a letter or get your photo taken with him (photos offered on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays before Christmas Eve)! The Carnival of Lights begins on Friday, November 29th 2013 and runs through Tuesday, December 31st.. The hours are 5pm-10pm on Friday and Saturday and 5pm to 9pm Sunday-Thursday. Santa's sleigh has more features than it used to! Of course, you can always see Santa at his other favorite holiday hangout –  the mall! He’ll be at Regency Mall, near Boston Store through 6pm on Tuesday, December 24th. The hours are 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm, and 6pm-9pm Monday through Friday, 11am-2pm on Saturdays, and 3pm-6pm on Sundays. There will also be three special days for pet photos: December 4th, 11th, and 18th from 6pm-9pm. You can bring in your dog, cat, or rabbit –  please use a leash or carrier and come in through the southeast entrance. Finally, you can also spend some quality time with the Mrs! Starting November 30th and running every Saturday through December 21st, Santa’s better half will be at Borzynski’s Farm and Floral Market in Mt. Pleasant from 1pm-4pm for crafts, storytelling, cookie decorating, and more! The event is free for kids ages 1-12, so bring your camera and enjoy! We hope you all get a chance to participate in these fun family events this season! And if you should need an upgrade or service on your own sleigh, you know where to reach us!

Christmas Trees Racine WI Pre-cut or you-cut! We know there are plenty of realistic-looking fake Christmas trees out there for those of you can’t stand a mess. But for those of you who just can’t do Christmas without the real thing, we’ve put together this list of places to go get your tree, and all are within an hour’s drive of our location here in Racine. more We’ve divided them into two groups - those that let you cut your own tree, and those that have a selection of pre-cut trees for you to choose from. Be sure to call ahead to the location of your choice to confirm hours and availability. A fun family activity. You Cut: Bentz Road Farm - 6109 85th Street, Pleasant Prairie, WI. Phone: 262-620-4636.Saws provided. Hay rides and gift shop. Open for trees day after Thanksgiving. T.P. Pines Christmas Tree Farm - Holy Hill Rd, Twin Lakes WI. Phone: 262-877-2797. Also offers pre-cut. Saws provided. Buffalo Bill’s Christmas Trees - 9612 W. Oakwood Rd. Franklin WI. Phone: 414-427-5155 Pre-cut trees available. Bagging, shaking, and baling available. Saws provided. Noffke Tree Farms - 10341 N Granville Road, Mequon, WI. Phone: 262-242-5157 or 920-787-2812. Shaking, baling, refreshments, saws, and kneeling pads provided. There's always the easy way! Pre-Cut: Borzynski’s Farm & Floral Market - 11600 Washington Avenue, Mt. Pleasant, WI. Phone: 262-886-2235. Gift shop, petting zoo, wreaths and boughs. Apple Holler - 5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant, WI. Phone: 800-238-3629. Sleigh rides, restaurant, gift shop. Meadowbrook Farm - 2970 Mile View Rd., West Bend, WI. Phone: 262-338-3649. Pre-cut or you can choose one and let them cut it for you. Christmas park and petting zoo. Garden Gate Nursery - N48 W30756 Hill Street, Hartland, WI. Phone: 262-367-6464. Wreaths, boughs, decorations available. Of course, there are plenty more great choices in and around our area, but hopefully this list will get you started! And if you happen to need a great vehicle to strap that tree to the roof of, you know where to find us!

**Update: For 2014 Hours, go HERE! It’s that time of year again. For one day out of the year, little ghosts and goblins patrol the streets of Racine, while being rewarded with candy for their ghoulish deeds. But while it is sure to happen every year, the time and date is always in questions. Well, we can tell you that the Racine Trick-or-Treat hours for 2013 are from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3. more Being on a Sunday is convenient for children and parents alike. And, it can be mostly done during lighted hours, which takes some of the stress off for parents worried about their kids traveling the streets at night. And while it may still be safer during daylight hours, we can’t stress enough that there still are potential dangers. Below we’ve listed some safety tips for parents and kids to assure they can stay safe on Halloween. 1. With so many lit jack-o-lanterns and candles around, make sure the costumes you buy are flame resistant. 2. Affix reflective tape to your child’s costume so they can be seen by cars in the dusk and early night hours. 3. Make sure that the kiddos go out in groups if no adults are walking with them. 4. Always remember to walk, not run while Trick-or-Treating. 5. Keep foot travel limited to the sidewalks whenever possible. If you need to cross the street, do so in the crosswalk. 6. Parents should inspect all candy before the kids eat it – and only wrapped candy should be consumed. 7. NEVER accept a ride from someone that you don’t know. The biggest factor to enjoying Halloween Trick-or-Treating is to be smart about what you do. By following a few simple rules, everyone can enjoy their Halloween! Traveling in groups is always a good idea on Halloween.