Warrens Cranberry Festival R & R
Warrens, WI
Sept. 23-26, 2010









We arrived in Warrens during a downpour and the Lions Club ball field was turning into a mud field. Rallymaster David McGivern is directing an incoming Roadtrekker  where to drive to not get stuck in the mud.










The Lions Club graciously allowed us to hold our potluck dinner in their shelter. The food was very good. It seems that Roadtrekkers know how to cook, despite small refrigerators and cramped kitchens in their rigs.








The festival started the next day. The rains had stopped but it was still blustery. The festival seemed to be one huge market, with vendors as far as the eye can see. This three-day festival typically draws about 100,000 people, so it is quite a transformation for this little village of about 300 people. Every available piece of land was being used for selling something.









Our camping area was right next to where the vendors were located, so it was very convenient, especially for those who wanted to shop.









Many of the vendors were selling arts and crafts of all styles and sizes.








Food was also a popular item. This young lady was grilling turkey drumsticks.









You can't have a cranberry festival without cranberries....










... or products made out of cranberries.











The Ocean Spray motorhome rolled into town and started passing out samples.









Despite the blustery weather, the tradition of "Happy Hour" was observed










The weather improved on Saturday and I took a bus tour to see the cranberry bogs. Our guide was a cranberry grower in the area. She called herself a "newbie" since she had only been growing cranberries for twelve years. Some farms in the area had been in a single family for over a hundred years.









Cranberries ready to be picked. They are typically harvested in late September or early October. Despite common misconceptions, they don't grow in water, but in sandy soil.







These are cranberry bogs formed by building dikes. Our guide explained that the bogs are flooded three times a year - in the spring for insect control, in the fall for harvesting the cranberries, and in the winter to protect the cranberry plants from the cold weather.











On Saturday afternoon we had an impromptu technical session. Al is demonstrating how to set up the awning, ...












...while others kibitzed.











Happy Hour on Saturday under a clear blue sky.








We all headed to the Lions Club for a steak dinner. It was a pretty good dinner and the price was right.








Many thanks to our rallymasters, Karen and David McGivern, for organizing the Warrens R&R. It was a very pleasant introduction to one aspect of Wisconsin culture, as well as being a relaxing get together with fellow Roadtrekkers.

Additional rally photos by Al Rollins