Hodag Heritage Festival

Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at Pioneer Park

It's the 4th Annual Hodag Heritage Festival!

BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR HODAG GEAR Saturday May 18th! The day will be filled with a variety of events held at Pioneer Park including a traditional pancake breakfast, the Hodag grand entrance at 10am with the RHS Marching Band, hodag calling contest, guest cryptid speakers, historical speakers, live music, hodag and cryptid vendors, food trucks, beer tent, free kids bounce house, kids crafts, kids book readings, hodag historical tours and more!

For more information please contact Rachel@RhinelanderChamber.com or call 715-365-7464.

Drinks & Eats

(Saturday May 18th-Pioneer Park)

Beverage Tent (Water, Non-Alcoholic Options, Hodag Beer) 9am-8pm
Rhinelander Brewery Beer Pavilion 11am-8pm

Variety of Food Trucks 9am-7pm

Online Exhibitor Application

Printable Exhibitor Application

thumbnail_Resized_20220521_154716 - Copy

Hodag Historical City Bus Tour

It's the one and only Hodag Historical City Bus Tour! This ONLY takes place during Hodag Heritage Festival! You have the ability to join the Hodag Historical City Bus Tour for just $5 per person! Hear from amazing tour guides as they narrate your tour to various historical stops around town. Learn more about the hodag at every stop! Tour lasts about 35-45 minutes.

NOW AVAILABLE: (Must be 21 Years Old) Join the VIP Hodag Historical City Bus Tour Friday, May 17t. For $25 per person you will receive a Hodag Heritage Festival T-Shirt, a Hodag Beer or Root Beer from The Hodag Store, and a ride on the Hodag Historical City Bus Tour narrated by non-other than local Historian and Pioneer Park Historical Director, Kerry Bloedorn. Kerry is widely known as a legendary Hodag storyteller and writer of the bus tour! Join us for a one-of-a-kind experience you only get during the Hodag Heritage Festival!

Stay tuned for times and additional details!

All Things Hodag Items List

(The week of May 13th)

Annually, we create what we call the All Things Hodag list for the week of the Hodag Heritage Festival. This list is made of food, beverage, or retail items with a Hodag theme that you can find in the Rhinelander area at local businesses. Check back to this page the week of May 13th for the complete list. You can also pick up a physical copy at the Hodag Store or Chamber. Some Hodag items are permanent; some are for a limited time so hurry in and check out your local businesses. Hodags love it when you shop local!

Are you a business with a Hodag item? Email it to rachel@rhinelanderchamber.com by May 1st to be included.

Stage Performances

(Saturday May 18th)

To Be Determined

Logging Museum & Pioneer Park Historical Complex

(Saturday May 18th 9am-3pm)

Pioneer Park Historical Complex (PPHC) is first opening for the season on Saturday May 18th for the festival. PPHC is seven museums in one. Visit May 18th or later during the summer to see Red's Sawmill, The Rufal Schoolhouse Museum, The Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, The Rhinelander Fire Equipment Museum, Duke's Outboard Motor and Boat Museum, The Rhinelander Logging Museum, and the Rhinelander Railroad Museum.

Hodag Calling Contest

(Time YTD - Saturday May 18th-Pioneer Park)

Have you ever heard a hodag howl? Join us May 18th for the annual Hodag Calling Contest!

All ages and abilities welcome. Get up and grunt, howl, bark, or call your way to the winner's seat! No need to pre-register, just give us your name at the info booth before we begin at noon. Judges will choose a winner based on originality. All ages and abilities welcome.

Art Contests

(The week of May 13th, Winner's Announced at Pioneer Park May 20th)

Details to Come!

Kids Activities

(Saturday May 18th)

9am-6pm FREE Bounce House

9am-6pm Hodag Crafts

Time YTD: Kid's Storytime - Local Hodag book authors will join us to read their children's books.

Hodag & Cryptid Vendors & Exhibitors

(Saturday May 18th 9am-6pm)

See some of the most unique vendors and exhibitors...all focused on the hodag or cryptid culture! Buy some hodag merch, see some hodag crafts, find some cryptid playing cards, and meet all kinds of experts on cryptids and the Hodag!

Do you deal with Hodags or the cryptid world? Join us by filling out an application!

Online Exhibitor Application

Printable Exhibitor Application

'Hodags Throughout the City' Scavenger Hunt

(The week of May 13th and all year round)

Take advantage of our chamber's traditional scavenger hunt around town. Pickup an information sheet at the chamber the week of May 13th, or print one here and have fun combing the city for Hodag murals and statues. Not all statues look the same so keep your eyes peeled! Bring your checked off form to the chamber any weekday between 8am and 4pm and receive a Hodag prize! You may also bring your form to info booth at Pioneer Park on May 18th for your prize!

Hodags Throughout the City Finder Map