This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Highlights
Tuesday, July 3
One of the best local Fourth of July celebrations is the Monona Community Festival. We may be biased, as this was the site of our own very first fireworks display (this involved cowering in the back of a station wagon under a blanket, but we've recovered). The 27th annual Taste of Monona, where you can sample from many of the city's fine restaurants. Barring that, of course, there's a brat and beer tent. Winnequah Park, 1041 Nichols Rd., Monona, 3 p.m.-midnight Tuesday and 10 a.m.-midnight Wednesday. See Facebook, and call 235-6726 for more info.
More events this week
Tuesday, July 3
Stoughton Fair, an annual six-day community Mandt Park, 321 S. Fourth St., Stoughton, 4-10 p.m. Tuesday, noon-10 p.m. Wednesday-Monday, $5-$23 admission for various events. See Facebook, and call 608-873-4653 for more info.
DeForest Fourth of July, an annual two-day community festival, featuring a beer garden, food booths, a car show, bingo, a parade, fireworks, live music, children's activities, and more. Fireman's Park, 500 Jefferson St., 5:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday. Call 846-2922 for more info.
Columbus Fourth of July Celebration, an annual five-day community FacebookWednesday, July 4
Waterloo Fourth of July Celebration, an annual community festival, featuring pulled pork dinners, food and beer vendors, baseball, bingo and euchre, horse and tractor pulls, a parade, fireworks, live music, children's activities, and more. Fireman's Park, 500 N. Park Ave., Waterloo, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Call 920-478-2739 for more info.
Token Creek Independence Day Celebration, the 29th annual Fourth of July community festival, featuring a brat tent, a military remembrance ceremony, the "Hiney Run," a parade, live music, children's activities, and more. Along Portage Rd., Token Creek, 10 a.m-5 p.m. Call 217-3974 for more info.
Thursday, July 5
Hawthorne Library Farmers' Market, commencing for the 2012 growing season. Hawthorne Library, 2707 E. Washington Ave., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 246-4548 for more info.
Kitchen Science, a class for kids to use household items in scientific experiments. Goodman South Madison Library, Villager Mall, 2222 S. Park St., 2-3 p.m., free. Call 266-6395 for more info.
Vom Fass preparing a menu of marinated grilled pork chops with salsa macha, grilled pineapple, and grilled sweet potato and corn. Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 6:30-9 p.m., $30. Call 204-0300 for more info.
Friday, July 6
Kids in the Kitchen: Sweet Strawberries class, a class for kids ages 6-12, with instructor Lily Kilfoy preparing a menu of strawberry oat muffins, spinach and basil salad with strawberries, quesadillas with strawberry salsa, and a surprise strawberry dessert. Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 4-5:30 p.m., $10 owners and $20 all others. Call 251-6776 for more info.
Saturday, July 7
Free community meal prepared by volunteers. Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 11:15 a.m., free. Call 257-4576 for more info.
Sunday, July 8
Savory Sunday, with volunteers need to prepare and serve a fresh, hot meal for the hungry. Lutheran Campus Center, 325 N. Mills St., 11 a.m. Call 233-6967 for more info.
Madison SOUP dinner, an ongoing series of micro-grant benefit meals hosted by Sector 67, 2100 Winnebago St., 6 p.m., $10. RSVP class, with instructors Sarah Droege and Sheila Robertson covering weekly meal planning and cooking techniques that eliminate the eight most common food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. Whole Foods Market
Save the date
Tuesday, July 24
WLFN Quarterly Gathering, a regional , featuring discussions about the work of the organization. Loire Valley, a wine tasting in the L'Etolie Oenophile series, with wine director Michael Kwas presenting Chenin Blancs, Sauvigon Blancs, Cabertet Francs, and late harvest wines from the Loire Valley wine region of central France. L'Etoile, 1 S. Pinckney St., 6:30 p.m., $65. Call 251-0500 for more info.
