Eau The Places We'll Go Podcast
Get ready to explore Eau Claire like never before! And in a city with so many unique stories, we're ready to share them. Eau the Places We’ll Go takes you behind the scenes of Eau Claire's biggest events, must-visit attractions, and one-of-a-kind experiences through conversations with the people who make them happen. From festival organizers to event creators, farmers to runners, this podcast is your all-access pass to the energy, creativity, and passion that make Eau Claire unforgettable. Whether you're a local looking for new adventures or a visitor planning your next trip, get ready to explore Eau Claire like never before—one episode at a time.
Episode 11: Bragging about Eau Claire
Bragging about our area’s highlights is the job of Visit EauClaire’s Senior PR Manager, Luke Alexopoulos. He pulls back the curtain on how Eau Claire is marketed to the region and the world, from showcasing different events to telling the stories of the communities. He talks tourism, economic impact, and what it really takes to get people to put Eau Claire on their travel map.
Whether you’re a local who already loves it here or someone curious about the region, you’ll get insight into our town.
Episode 10: Strolling downtown
The heartbeat of a community is downtown and Eau Claire isno different. This area of the community has seen spectacular growth over the past 20 years, and during the holidays inparticular, shines with lights and activity. Erin Klaus is a downtown business owner and president of Downtown EauClaire Incorporated, a non-profit that assists and markets this slice of the city. She joins us to share insights into downtown, what events are coming up and yes…she talks parking as well.
Episode 9: Inside the Sonnentag Center with the New General Manager
Long dreamed of in the community, The Sonnentag Center opened in late 2024 with the goal of serving as a hub for athletics, concerts, conferences and community gatherings in the region. Interim General Manager Steve Kirk talksabout the intricacies of this multi-faceted space from its unique fieldhouse to the event center/arena. The ways thecenter is accessible to the community and the effort to connect with as many local users as possible while simultaneously working to bring in outside groups. And the collaborative effort they have with other area event spaces to enhance the area’s overall entertainment eco-system.
Episode 8: UWEC Homecoming 2025
Once every Fall, everyone in the area is a BLUGOLD with the annual UW-Eau Claire Homecoming. This year marks the 100th Homecoming celebration and Joann Martin '15 with Student Activities and Gary Barta '79 the Alumni Association Board President tell us what makes this such a special event
They note all to look forward to from the morning parade returning to Water Street, a new live concert following the football game, various meet-ups and the I Love the 90s show at The Sonnentag.
They also highlight the importance of connecting both the older alumni and those only a few years removed from attending classes with the event. And showcasing the synergy the university and the city as a whole have had in burgeoning growth the last 20 years.
Episode 7: Great Gourds & Big Vibes: Inside Altoona's Ginormous Pumpkin Festival
The third annual Ginormous Pumpkin Festival returns to River Prairie in Altoona on Saturday,y September 27th. Officially one of the world’s largest “bigpumpkin” weigh-off competitions, the full day event has become a staple in the community, featuring a fun run, pumpkin decorating, a pet costume contest, and much more. City administrator -and big pumpkin growing veteran- Mike Golat gives us the details on the 2025 edition of the event. We also learn why the City of Altoona takes the lead on establishing many events throughout the year. We also talk about the brand new container park dubbed “The Yard” and the arrival of this new public engagement space to the valley.
Episode 6: Multi-Cultural Festival
Eau Claire is a collection of diverse cultures, and each August, they are showcased at the annual multi-cultural festival. A full day of immersing visitors into varying cultures through food, music, games and exhibits. Committee member Marisol Cisneros tells Scott about why the opportunity to showcase cultures is important, the ways immersion helps build bridges through shared experience.
Episode 5: Ride Across Wisconsin
Nearly 1,000 visitors will converge in Eau Claire this July for Ride Across Wisconsin. This event, put on by the Wisconsin Bike Federation, celebrates its 10th Anniversary and is making its first visit to the region. Heather Rainer, with the Wisconsin Bike Federation, tells us why Eau Claire was selected, what the community can expect, and how the focus of the event is on showcasing the communities it's held in.
Episode 4: U.S. Kubb Championships
How did KUBB not only grow in interest, but become a partof the identity of Eau Claire? The nickname “Kubb Capital of North America” isn’t just a marketing slogan; it is accurate, as our community is known by players far and wide. Eau Claire is home to the country’s largest tournament and the second largest in the world!
Eric Anderson with the U.S. Kubb Championships, talks to us on the newest “Eau the Places We’ll Go” presented by Visit Eau Claire.
Episode 3: The 2025 CV Air Show
The 2025 Chippewa Valley Air Show takes flight this June and features the return of the famed Blue Angels! Air Shows have been coming to the area since 1982 and since 2008 have been organized by the local Scouts. Tim Molepske, the CEO of the Chippewa Valley Council helped lead a 130-person committee that puts on the show, that typically draws 30k spectators with the vast majority coming from outside of the area. We learn how ticket sales benefit not only the local scouts but roughly 60 other local entities who help to volunteer atthe show.
Episode 2: Eau Claire Marathon
One of the area’s signature events is the Eau Claire Marathon, and race director Emi Uelman joins us ahead of the 2024 race weekend April 26-27th. Orchestratedby nearly 1,000 volunteers and drawing in participants locally, regionally and nationally the race weekend has an economic impact of over $5 million to the Chippewa Valley.
Episode 1: The Pablo Center
The debut of this all-new podcast series presented by VisitEau Claire, takes us to the Pablo Center. A state of the art performance center in downtown Eau Claire, WI. We talk with long time local entertainment industry professional Kathy Wright who handles the bookings for the center. She tells us not only about the national touring acts that the center hosts but also how the building is being used moreas a meeting space. Additionally, the building’s unique ability to serve as a working laboratory for students in the region to get into the entertainmentbusiness.