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On June 4 and 5, Richland Center, WI, will host the third annual Ocoochapalooza, a downtown neighborhood celebration featuring free live music, arts-and-crafts booths, business specials, and fames such as Human Foosball and Family Feud. The event was first organized by NeighborWorks member Neighborhood Housing Services of Southwest Wisconsin (NHSSW).
In 2013, a Community Leadership Institute team from NHSSW undertook an ambitious project to bring awareness to the downtown neighborhood of Richland Center. To reach this goal, the team created new partnerships, raised additional cash and in-kind resources and used media to market the event, Richland Center’s downtown, NHS of Southwest Wisconsin and NeighborWorks America.
Organized as a kickoff for NeighborWorks Week, Ocoochapalooza not only breaks down financial barriers, it also brings people from different economic and cultural backgrounds together in a fun and interactive atmosphere. The festival stabilizes the challenged downtown corridor by introducing residents and visitors to what each store offers, while also encouraging interaction between cultures and generations.
As Ocoochapalooza grew, there was a stronger emphasis on intergenerational activities. The event, "Family Feud," is based upon the popular TV game show but with an added twist; each team of five must have one member under 20 and one member older than 60. An additional day of activities was added as a partnership with a local group, offering a kayak trip, beginner and intermediate bike trips, and a 3K run to inspire people to get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery that defines the Driftless Region of Southwest Wisconsin.
The coming Ocoochapalooza 2016, on Saturday June 4, will be a day filled with music, food, human foosball, and Family Feud followed by four bands at a night time ticketed performance. Sunday will feature a walk-run, kayaking and canoeing on the Pine River. The A.D. German Warehouse, designed by Richland Center native Frank Lloyd Wright and the Park Hotel Apartments, developed and managed by NHSSW, will each host open houses during the event.
The volunteer group assuming the leadership of Ocoochapalooza III consists of local residents who trained and learned community engagement skills either with a NeighborWorks America CLI or a similar training organized by NHS of Southwest Wisconsin. The volunteers absorbed leadership lessons and have successfully executed their action plan so far.
Through the work of Ocoochapalooza, NHSSW has been able to strengthen the community, increase economic activity and tourism in Richland County, assist local business owners in marketing their businesses, provide an opportunity for local artists and musicians to celebrate their talents locally and offer other local non-profits and groups the opportunity to partner together for a stronger community. Together, this group of volunteers and the Richland community are creating an excellent event that promotes Richland Center’s downtown, creates a music and art festival the community can be proud of and celebrates life in the Driftless Area.
In 2013, a Community Leadership Institute team from NHSSW undertook an ambitious project to bring awareness to the downtown neighborhood of Richland Center. To reach this goal, the team created new partnerships, raised additional cash and in-kind resources and used media to market the event, Richland Center’s downtown, NHS of Southwest Wisconsin and NeighborWorks America.
Organized as a kickoff for NeighborWorks Week, Ocoochapalooza not only breaks down financial barriers, it also brings people from different economic and cultural backgrounds together in a fun and interactive atmosphere. The festival stabilizes the challenged downtown corridor by introducing residents and visitors to what each store offers, while also encouraging interaction between cultures and generations.
As Ocoochapalooza grew, there was a stronger emphasis on intergenerational activities. The event, "Family Feud," is based upon the popular TV game show but with an added twist; each team of five must have one member under 20 and one member older than 60. An additional day of activities was added as a partnership with a local group, offering a kayak trip, beginner and intermediate bike trips, and a 3K run to inspire people to get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery that defines the Driftless Region of Southwest Wisconsin.
The coming Ocoochapalooza 2016, on Saturday June 4, will be a day filled with music, food, human foosball, and Family Feud followed by four bands at a night time ticketed performance. Sunday will feature a walk-run, kayaking and canoeing on the Pine River. The A.D. German Warehouse, designed by Richland Center native Frank Lloyd Wright and the Park Hotel Apartments, developed and managed by NHSSW, will each host open houses during the event.
The volunteer group assuming the leadership of Ocoochapalooza III consists of local residents who trained and learned community engagement skills either with a NeighborWorks America CLI or a similar training organized by NHS of Southwest Wisconsin. The volunteers absorbed leadership lessons and have successfully executed their action plan so far.
Through the work of Ocoochapalooza, NHSSW has been able to strengthen the community, increase economic activity and tourism in Richland County, assist local business owners in marketing their businesses, provide an opportunity for local artists and musicians to celebrate their talents locally and offer other local non-profits and groups the opportunity to partner together for a stronger community. Together, this group of volunteers and the Richland community are creating an excellent event that promotes Richland Center’s downtown, creates a music and art festival the community can be proud of and celebrates life in the Driftless Area.
