Welcome to the Northland Mardi Gras in beautiful Ladysmith, WI! 

The Northland Mardi Gras is an annual 4-day event hosted by the Northland Community Club! 

The event takes place the 3rd full weekend in July!  Admission to the Northland Mardi Gras festival grounds is free!

In addition to our signature event, the Northland Community Club hosts and participates in a number of other fun events in the Ladysmith area throughout the year including our annual Haunted House, Winter Magic and Park Cleanup events! 

To learn more about the Northland Community Club, what we do and how to join, please visit the Membership page!

3rd Full Weekend in July

A Northern Wisconsin tradition, The Northland Mardi Gras is always held the 3rd full weekend in July! 

July must start on a Friday or earlier in order to count the 3rd full weekend. 

The 2023 Northland Mardi Gras will be July 20-23, 2023!

Venetian Night Parade & Fireworks

One unique aspect of the Northland Mardi Gras is the Venetian Night Parade which takes place on the scenic Flambeau River during Friday and Saturday nights! 

Themed floats take to the river as a dazzling fireworks display takes place overhead!

Carnival Rides, Games & Food

What’s a community festival without the carnival rides, games and food?  You’ll find it all at the Northland Mardi Gras where we have a midway full of fun games and rides for all ages and a variety of food booths to satisfy any taste!

4 Days of Local Entertainment

The Northland Mardi Gras is packed full of entertainment for little ones and adults alike! From live music, an arts & crafts fair, sporting tournaments, special shows like magicians, lumberjacks or water skiers, the Northland Mardi Gras has you covered! Visit the Entertainment page for more info!

Schedule :

July 20, 2023

4:00 p.m.- Ribbon Cutting and Opening Ceremony / Entrance to Memorial Park

4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Beer Garden Stage – D.J. Music by “Midnight Mayhem”/Memorial Park

5:00 p.m.- Christman Amusements Opens / Memorial Park

5:00 p.m.- Beer Garden Opens-$3.00 Gate Admission Fee / Memorial Park

6:00 p.m.- Tri-County Little League Majors ALL STAR GAME / Fairgrounds

6:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.- Veteran’s Memorial Pavilion Stage Presents The Band “8 Seconds” / Memorial Park

10:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Beer Garden Stage – D.J. Music by “Midnight Mayhem”/Memorial Park

11:00 p.m.- Beer Garden Closes Down

11:00 p.m.- Closing Down Of Festival Grounds

July 21, 2023

12:30 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.- Rusk County Historical Society Museum Open/ Fairgrounds

3:00 p.m.- Christman Amusements Opens

4:00 p.m.-Beer Garden Opens-$3.00 Gate Admission Fee / Memorial Park

4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.- Beer Garden Stage – “Dylan Martinson” / Memorial Park

5:00 p.m.-8:00p.m. – Bingo – Armstrong Pavilion/Memorial Park – Proceeds go to the Hawkins Lions Club

6:00 p.m. – Magic Show – The Magic of Robert & Lynn Halbrook / Memorial Park Amphitheater (40 minute free show) – Sponsored by Lori Stushek Agency

6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.- Veteran’s Memorial Pavilion Stage Presents The Band “The Dam Lincolns” /Memorial Park

7:00 p.m. – Rusk Co. Jr. Fair Truck & Tractor Pull at Rusk County Fairgrounds

9:00 p.m. – Veteran’s Memorial Pavilion Stage presents “Chris Kroeze”/Memorial Park

10:00 p.m.- Venetian Night Parade and Fireworks Show / Flambeau River-Memorial Park

12:00 a.m.- Closing Down of Beer Garden and Festival Grounds

July 22, 2023

7:00 a.m.- Mardi Gras Open Golf Tournament / Tee-A-Way Golf and Supper Club

8:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.- Firefighters Pancake Feed / Ladysmith Fire Hall

8:00 a.m. – Race Start Time for “Blue Hills Running Club” Mardi Gras 5K Walk Run Ladysmith High School – No charge, no shirts provided. Donations accepted for Blue Hills Running Camp for youth – [email protected] for more info.

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Rusk County Farmer’s Market – Lake Ave & E. 2nd Parking Lot Downtown Ladysmith

8:30 a.m – Registration for Mardi Gras 3 on 3 Basketball – Memorial Park – 9:00 a.m. Start Time

9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.- Mardi Gras Arts & Craft Fair / Downtown Ladysmith-Miner Ave

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Car Show – Miner Ave. W. in front of Post Office and Miner Station – Downtown Ladysmith.

10:30 a.m.- Citizen’s Water Fights / Ladysmith Fire Hall

11:00 a.m. – Horseshoes registration/ Memorial Park. $5 per person, 100% payback, draw a partner.

12:00 p.m. – Horseshoes Tournament/ Memorial Park. Contact Bill at 715-532-7275 for more info.

12:00 p.m.- Christman Amusements Opens / Memorial Park

12:00 p.m.- Mardi Gras Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament / West Cove Lanes – $25 Per Team, 2 Woman Minimum – Registration – 715-415-6937

12:00-2:00 p.m.- Music by “Joe’s Music”/Festival Midway – Memorial Park

12:30 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.- Rusk County Historical Society Museum Open / Fairgrounds

1:00 p.m.- Beer Garden Opens-$3.00 Gate Admission Fee / Memorial Park

1:00 p.m-1:30 p.m. – Cornhole Team Tournament Registration – Beer Garden Entrance – $10 Per Person, Double Elimination – Memorial Park

1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. – Mardi Gras Stage Presents The Band “Best in Class”/Memorial Park

2:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. – Cornhole Team Tournament – Beer Garden – 100% Payout

2:00 p.m. – Magic Show – The Magic of Robert & Lynn Halbrook / Memorial Park Amphitheater (40 minute free show) – Sponsored by Lori Stushek Agency

3:00 p.m.-6:00p.m. – Bingo – Armstrong Pavilion/Memorial Park – Proceeds go to the Hawkins Lions Club

3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. – Beer Garden Stage Presents The Band “Oakwood”/Memorial Park

5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. – Free Kartoon Caricatures by Pete and Dian Wagner – Memorial Park

6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. – Beer Garden Stage Presents the band “Anxiety”/Memorial Park

9:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. – Veteran’s Memorial Pavilion Stage Presents “Shallow Side”/Memorial Park

10:00 p.m.- Venetian Night Parade and Fireworks Show / Flambeau River-Memorial Park

12:00 a.m.- Closing Down of Beer Garden and Festival Grounds

July 23, 2023

10:30 a.m.- Parade Registration Begins / Old Ladysmith Elementary School/Community Center (Lindoo Avenue & E 6th St S) $25 fee for non-Mardi Gras sponsors.

12:00 p.m.- Christman Amusements opens / Memorial Park

12:30 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.- Rusk County Historical Society Museum Open / Fairgrounds

12:30 p.m.-Kiddie Parade / Downtown Ladysmith-Miner Avenue

1:00 p.m.- Street Parade / Downtown Ladysmith-Worden & Miner Avenue

3:00 p.m. – Balloon Animal Twisting by Zor Misfitz – Memorial Park/Festival Midway – Free – Donations accepted.

3:00 p.m.- Beer Garden Opens-$3.00 Gate Admission Fee / Memorial Park

3:00 p.m.-5:00p.m. – Bingo – Armstrong Pavilion/Memorial Park – Proceeds go to the Hawkins Lions Club

3:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. Beer Garden Stage Presents “Jennifer Reisch” / Memorial Park

3:00 p.m. – Queen’s Court – Memorial Park

6:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. Veteran’s Memorial Pavilion Stage Presents The Band “Ember”/ Memorial Park

Date : July 20, 2023 - July 23, 2023

Location : Various Location

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