LAKE GENEVA The closing of a season can lead to sour feelings, but organizers in Downtown Lake Geneva have a sweet surprise in store before the dog days of summer completely slip away and give way to autumn and back-to-school.
A past Lemonade Crawl in Lake Geneva.
A past Lemonade Crawl in Lake Geneva.
After a successful launch last year, the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District is holding its second annual Lemonade Crawl in the heart of the citys business community with more sweet treats and additional festivities on tap.
This years Lemonade Crawl is again taking place on Wednesday, Aug. 20, the same date as National Lemonade Day. Additionally, the Lake Geneva BID, with the assistance of event co-creators the Rohde Family, is also holding a Picnic in the Park extravaganza the same evening.
The Lemonade Crawl will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. throughout the downtown business community. Picnic in the Park will be held at Flat Iron Park, 201 Wrigley Drive, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Attendance at Picnic in the Park is free, while participation in the Lemonade Crawl is a ticketed event of $5 per adult. There is no charge for children 12 and under. All proceeds from the Lemonade Crawl ticket sales will go toward the ongoing mural project in Downtown Lake Geneva.
Alexandria Binanti, executive director of Downtown Lake Geneva, credits the Rohde Family for their partnership, creativity and ingenuity in helping launch the Lemonade Crawl last year as a farewell to summer and for playing a part in expanding further on the festivities this year.
A past Lemonade Crawl in Lake Geneva.
The community just rallied around it. It just exploded, Binanti said of last years reception to the Lemonade Crawl. It was so successful downtown that we had to do it again.
A total of 25 downtown-based businesses are hosting the Lemonade Crawl this year, including Clear Water Outdoor, 744 W. Main St., which is a sponsor of the event. Other participating businesses include restaurants, boutique clothing stores, antique stores, among others.
Businesses taking part in the Lemonade Crawl will feature samples of a variety of different lemonade treats, such as lemonade slushies and lemon brownies. Local shops will feature special discounts and promotions during the event, and all participants will receive a token souvenir bag, souvenir lemonade drinking glass and a passport of savings for the event.
The free Picnic in the Park event will feature a number of family-friendly activities, including music and family karaoke, a food truck rally, free yard games, a mobile pop-up bookstore and a selfie booth for families.
A number of local restaurants will feature their unique cuisine at the food truck rally at Picnic in the Park. Visitors can purchase such delicacies as authentic tacos, Asian-fusion and sweet treats from a chocolatier and an ice cream shop.
Participation in the Lemonade Crawl is limited to the first 250 guests. To register online visit .