Plan ahead for two Wisconsin events you won’t want to miss this year! From the engine-rumbling action of the Tomah Truck & Tractor Pull to the cranberry-filled fun of the Warrens Cranberry Festival, these two favorites are great reasons to mark your calendar for summer and fall. Keep reading for big engines, bright berries, and a whole lot of fun!
Tomah Truck & Tractor Pull
If you’ve never been to the Tomah Truck & Tractor Pull, you’re missing out on one of Wisconsin’s loudest and proudest summer traditions! What started at the Monroe County Fair in Tomah has grown into a legendary event that now fills an entire weekend, drawing thousands of fans who come for the horsepower, the excitement, and the unmatched sense of community.
Built on Family and Horsepower
Christopher Schreier, President of the Monroe County Agricultural Society, grew up surrounded by farms, engines, and community. His dad played a huge role in shaping the area, serving on the Monroe County Fair Board and helping launch one of the very first tractor pulls in Norwalk nearly 60 years ago. In 1976, he brought the legendary national pull to Tomah, and the rest is history!
Back then, pullers ran basic farm tractors with simple technology. Today, those machines are custom-built—stronger, louder, and more powerful than ever. Part of what makes Tomah special is the track itself. Known as a “power track,” it’s become one of the best in the business because of the high-quality soil and, of course, the dedicated workers who prepare it.
Ready, Set, Pull!
Every June, around 60,000 spectators roll in from near and far for this one-of-a-kind event! The grounds are filled with food trucks, non-profit food stands, and a wide assortment of vendors offering everything from handmade wooden furniture and clothes to custom signs and toys. For the full experience, stay at the on-site campground! But hurry, the 450 sites fill up fast.
To get in on all the action, venture through the open pits, where you can see these amazing machines and meet world-class pullers. While the tractors are certainly cool, the Tomah Truck & Tractor Pull is all about tradition, adrenaline, and the tight-knit community. Once you’ve been once, you’ll understand why people call it a bucket-list experience, and why they keep coming back.
Warrens Cranberry Festival
Another beloved Wisconsin tradition awaits this fall, and it’s one of the state’s most colorful, flavorful, and downright fun celebrations… None other than Warrens Cranberry Festival! Every September, this small town of just over 500 people transforms into the world’s largest cranberry festival, drawing massive crowds (and smiles) for more than 50 years.
Generations of Cranberry Growers
Nodji Van Wychen and her husband, Jim, own and operate Wetherby Cranberry Company, a family farm that’s been growing cranberries for more than 120 years! Since its start in 1903, Wetherby has passed through five generations, each tending the same marsh where this incredible family legacy first took root.
Originally, the land was part of a lumbering operation, and once the trees came down, wild cranberries began popping up. Locals started hand-picking the berries, and that’s right when Nodji’s grandfather began developing what would become the Wetherby Marsh!
After World War II, Nodji’s father returned home to join the family business, and by 1972, they officially purchased the farm. Today, visitors can walk that same marsh and buy fresh cranberries straight from the source or at the fan-favorite Warrens Cranberry Festival, founded in part by Nodji herself!
A Berry Big Weekend!
Every September, more than 130,000 visitors come to Warrens for this massive cranberry festival (the world’s largest)! It began with a handful of haywagons and has grown into an impressive three-day event stretching three miles, with over 1,400 booths filled with handmade crafts, local art, and lots of cranberry treats!
It’s the official kickoff to cranberry season, and you can taste it in every bite, from cream puffs and syrup to ice cream and even cranberries on a stick. None of it would be possible without the incredible volunteers who plan, prepare, and make it all happen. Come once, and you’ll understand why this bright, berry-filled weekend is a Wisconsin tradition you’ll never forget.
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Two seasons, two can’t-miss Wisconsin traditions! Feel the roar at the Tomah Truck & Tractor Pull and taste the flavor at the Warrens Cranberry Festival. Mark your calendars! This is the year to experience both!
Ready to plan your visit? Start by watching this Discover Wisconsin episode, “A Wisconsin Tradition — Warrens Cranberry Festival & Tomah Tractor Pull,” today:
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Hailey Marien: Writer for Discover Mediaworks. A born & bred Wisconsinite with a love for fishing, hunting, and enjoying the great outdoors.
