Calendar of Events
Discover upcoming public events, seasonal programs, and special experiences for all ages.
Planning a Private Event?
From meetings and celebrations to birthday parties and weddings, Food + Farm Exploration Center offers farm-to-table catering and exceptional service in a one-of-a-kind setting.
Rieslings from Around the Globe with MSTC
Experience five distinct Rieslings from around the globe paired with curated cheeses without leaving Central Wisconsin in this hands-on wine tasting workshop.
Spud of the Month: Irish Colcannon
Make the traditional and delicious Irish Colcannon that uses two Wisconsin crops: potatoes and cabbage!
Rooted in Gratitude Dinner & Celebration
Celebrate the future of Wisconsin agriculture at our premier annual fundraiser. Enjoy a curated dinner, silent auction, and a special ceremony honoring the 2026 Women in Agriculture award recipients.
Community Safety Day presented by PAF & John Deere
Join us for Safety Day 2026! Bring the family for interactive safety booths, hands-on activities, agricultural safety education, and full center exploration.
Pour + Explore Wine Dinner | Wunderlust
Satisfy your culinary wanderlust with an evening dedicated to the elegant wines and rich flavors of Germany. Enjoy five curated pairings, live music, a wine pull, and an immersive field-to-fork experience at Food + Farm Exploration Center.
Worldwide Day of Play
Celebrate the power of play! Join us for Worldwide Day of Play featuring hands-on Makerspace projects, 60+ interactive exhibits, and self-guided tours.
Fall Wines from Around the World with MSTC
Discover your new autumn favorites! Taste five popular fall wine varietals and blends from around the world paired with complementary cheeses.
Farm-to-Table Florals Workshop
Join local cut flower growers for a hands-on floral arranging workshop. Design your own seasonal arrangement in a reusable vase to take home!
Homeschool Workshop: Pumpkins
Discover the science, history, and agriculture of pumpkins through hands-on activities, farming lessons, and a festive seasonal snack creation!
SOLD OUT Gorgeous Gourds Workshop
Decorate two unique, garden-grown pumpkins using pressed flowers to create stunning fall home decor! Enjoy drinks and snacks available from the café.
Spud of the Month: Pumpkin Potato Curry Soup
Embrace fall flavors with Chef Davey! Learn to make a cozy, flavorful Pumpkin Potato Curry Soup in our monthly social cooking club. Includes snacks & drinks.
Pinot Noirs from Around the World vs. Burgundy with MSTC
Explore the subtle spectrum of Pinot Noir from light to full-bodied pours as global regions square off against classic French Red Burgundy.
National Mashed Potato Day Celebration
Join our annual National Mashed Potato Day Celebration! Enjoy the Masher 5K, bounce houses, potato eating contests, food sculptures, and delicious mashed potato bars. Suggested donation of $10 per person supports our 501(c)(3) mission to keep community events accessible and agricultural education growing for all ages.
Spud of the Month: Warm Winter Potato Salad with Cranberries
Embrace fall flavors with Chef Davey! Learn to make a cozy, flavorful Pumpkin Potato Curry Soup in our monthly social cooking club. Includes snacks & drinks.
Homeschool Workshop: Harvest
Homeschool students are invited to celebrate the start of harvest season through hands-on farming activities, lessons, and a Kitchen Lab snack creation.
U-Pick Harvest Day
Don’t miss our final community harvest of the season! Harvest your own produce, enjoy a picnic on the grounds, and help us support local food security through this unique hands-on event.
U-Pick Harvest Day
Enjoy a special pop-up U-Pick Day since our corn is ready early! Join us for a free, family-friendly event!
Bouquet Pop-Up by Central Wisconsin Local Cut Flower Collective
Celebrate local agriculture with fresh, seasonal blooms! Pick up a $10 hand-crafted bouquet from the Central Wisconsin Local Cut Flower Collective.
Root + Rise: Yoga by the Potato Masher
Elevate your morning with Root + Rise! Join us for an outdoor 1-hour yoga session by the World's Largest Potato Masher, then stay for a latte and explore the center.
Spud of the Month: Batata Harra (Spicy Lebanese Potatoes)
Take a trip to Lebanon to make Batata Harra and spice up your potatoes in a new way!
U-Pick Harvest Day
Soak up the summer sun in our demonstration fields! Pick your own seasonal favorites and enjoy a family-friendly day of agricultural discovery, food, and fun.
SOLD OUT Italian Agrodolce Sauce + Pork Schnitzel Cooking Class
Create the dish seen on Wisconsin Foodie! Join us at Food + Farm Exploration Center to master our signature Pork Schnitzel with Agrodolce sauce in this high-demand, hands-on cooking class.
U-Pick Harvest Day
Soak up the summer sun in our demonstration fields! Pick your own seasonal favorites and enjoy a family-friendly day of agricultural discovery, food, and fun.
United Way Summer Sizzle Story Time
Celebrate literacy and learning with United Way of Portage County! Bring the family for a free, interactive morning featuring storytime, farm-focused youth activities led by our education team, and a healthy snack.
Root + Rise: Yoga in the Greenhouse
Elevate your morning with Root + Rise! Join us for a 1-hour yoga session in the greenhouse, then stay for a latte and explore the center.
CANCELED Seeds of Success: Agriculture Careers Day Camp with MSTC
Get ready for a hands-on adventure into modern agriculture! Students will explore exciting career paths through interactive learning and real-world tools at our Seeds of Success day camp.
U-Pick Harvest Day
Pick your own farm-fresh produce and celebrate the start of the harvest season! Enjoy a hands-on "field to fork" experience in our demonstration fields featuring family activities, concessions, and a bounce house.
SOLD OUT Cultivate + Create: Lavender Workshop
Immerse your senses in one of Wisconsin’s most aromatic crops! Join us for a hands-on lavender workshop featuring greenhouse exploration, culinary demonstrations, and artisanal cookie decorating.
Unique White Wines of the World with MSTC
Expand your palate beyond standard whites! Join Mid-State Technical College at Food + Farm to taste unique global wine varieties paired with artisanal cheeses, and take home your own wine glass.
U-Pick Harvest Day
Pick your own farm-fresh produce and celebrate the start of the harvest season! Enjoy a hands-on "field to fork" experience in our demonstration fields featuring family activities, concessions, and a bounce house.
King Cone Ice Cream Social + Early Father’s Day Deal
It’s getting "cool" at the Center! Join us for a special Mint Month visit from King Cone. Enjoy award-winning ice cream and discover why Wisconsin ranks 5th in the nation for mint oil.
Root + Rise: Yoga in the Greenhouse
Elevate your morning with Root + Rise! Join us for a 1-hour yoga session in the greenhouse, then stay for a latte and explore the center.
SOLD OUT Hand-Woven Market Basket Workshop
Transform simple materials into functional art! Join art educator Joanne Raabe to weave your own 10”x16” market basket—perfect for your next trip to the farmers market or a summer picnic.
CANCELED Native Plant and Pollinator Workshop
Transform your backyard into a pollinator paradise! Join experts in our Greenhouse to discover the vital role pollinators play in production agriculture and take home three native perennials to jumpstart your local ecosystem.
Pour + Explore Wine Dinner | Summer Rosé Soirée
Celebrate the arrival of summer with our "Summer Rosé Soirée." Enjoy five premium Rosés paired with fresh, seasonal courses, live music on the balcony, and a mission-driven evening at Food + Farm Exploration Center.
Summer Wine & Flatbread with MSTC
Uncork the flavors of the season! Join instructor Richard Neumann and Mid-State Technical College in our Kitchen Lab for a fun, educational tasting of five popular summer wines perfectly paired with delicious flatbread.
SOLD OUT Hand-Woven Market Basket Workshop
Transform simple materials into functional art! Join art educator Joanne Raabe to weave your own 10”x16” market basket—perfect for your next trip to the farmers market or a summer picnic.
CANCELED Potato Growing Workshop
Start your garden with the secrets of the pros! Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how large-scale growers maximize yields and prevent disease. Plus, take home your own planted seed potatoes to start your harvest!
Star Spangled Spinner Craft Workshop
Get creative and celebrate your patriotism! Join us to paint and assemble a custom 3-tiered wooden star spinner—the perfect decoration to honor our great country.
Autism Society of Central Wisconsin Member Event: All About Mint
Celebrate community and sensory-friendly learning! Join the Autism Society of Central Wisconsin for a hands-on exploration of mint, featuring cooking workshops and greenhouse planting.