Tracy Sengupta’s border collie Joe clears a hurdle during an agility competition. Amy Johnson/Submitted photo

All of my life, I’ve grown up with dogs. I don’t think my husband and I have gone for more than a year without having one of these furry family members. And while I’ve loved all of mine, I’ve never had a dog quite like the one we’ve just adopted. Her name’s Roxy, and she’s one of the most intelligent creatures I’ve ever had the good fortune to know.

As a matter of fact, she’s so incredibly smart and responsive, I’ve started thinking about training her to compete in dog shows. Realizing that all I really knew about them was the name of the Super Bowl of dog shows — the Westminster Kennel Club’s — I set out to learn what I could about these competitions. » Read More

Kelly Pickler performs at 7 p.m. Thursday.

TWIN LAKES — The Country Thunder music festival kicks off Wednesday and runs through Saturday at Shadow Hill Ranch, 2305 Lance Drive, Twin Lakes.

This year, the festival will be featured on the Great American Country television network.

Great American Country festival hostess Suzanne Alexander will be filming from the festival grounds and visiting with country music stars and their fans. » Read More

Town of Delavan
July 3: Fireworks, music and food at Community Park, Highway 50 and South Shore Drive, (262) 740-2335.

Delavan
July 4: Daylong celebration with music, food, games. Parade at 3 p.m., fireworks at dusk. Most activities at Veterans Park.

Sixth annual Let Freedom Ring Canoe and Kayak Regatta, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Lake Comus, (262) 949-1182. » Read More

The Ramsey Lewis Trio performs June 27 at Music by the Lake.

WILLIAMS BAY — Musical lovers can catch another impressive slate of performances at the Ferro Pavilion beginning with the June 27 appearance of the Ramsey Lewis Trio.

Other headliners for the Music by the Lake lineup include Johan Stengard on July 26, Michael Bolton on Aug. 1 and a tribute to James Taylor on Aug. 15.

The Natalie Cole concert, originally scheduled for Aug. 8, has been canceled.

For tickets, call (262) 245-8501 or (866) 843-5200, or e-mail to mbtl@aurora.edu. For information, go online to www.musicbythelake.com.

For a preview, read the e-edition of Weekender HERE.

For lodging, dining and event guide, visit www.greatgenevagetaway.com

Music by the Lake

Dave Kyle gets ready from one of three milings daily in his new, state-of-the-art dairy barn. Terry Mayer/Photo

33rd annual dairy breakfast Saturday at fairgrounds

By Lynn Greene
Senior Editor

ELKHORN — Derrick Papcke is putting the dairy back in the dairy breakfast this year. As chairman of the annual Walworth County event, he wants to make it a more educational experience.

The Farm Bureau’s dairy breakfast moved to the Walworth County Fairgrounds in 2001, after the outbreak of mad cow disease in the United Kingdom. Before that, the breakfast was held on a  working dairy farm, which gave people an opportunity to see how milk is produced. » Read More

Harmilda, the community’s mascot, welcomes thousands of people to Harvard Milk Days every year./File photo

HARVARD, Ill. - Thousands of people will be “Moooving in Changing Times” during the 68th annual celebration of Harvard Milk Days. » Read More

Lake Geneva Farmers Market. Bob Kukuwich from Spring Prairie selling his produce at the market. Candice Finnegan buying some veggies after her walk uptown with the dogs and getting a cup of coffee and then to the market. Terry Mayer/Photo

I had anticipated this year’s opening of the Janesville Farmers Market with glee. I’d been dreaming of Skelly’s strawberry donuts, and I’d run out of my beloved goat’s milk soap from the Misty Meadows Farm. I also was yearning to sit in Fireman’s Park, sip coffee with my husband and watch our son monkey around as the serene Rock River flowed by. » Read More

The Elkhorn Antique Flea Market is always a popular attraction.

By Lynn Greene
Senior Editor

Like many youngsters who have the same desire, no matter their hometown, I escaped from my growing-up place right after high school. It didn’t take long to figure out what I missed, and like so many visitors to our county, I came back often to enjoy the things I missed most. Nowadays, I live here for good, so I’m a tourist in my own backyard. » Read More

Chef will demonstrate signature recipes — truffles — at ChocolateFest

By Margaret Plevak
For Weekender

Even in a penny-pinching economy, good chocolate is irresistible.Consumers might give up pricey cappuccinos and lattes at their local coffee house, but they’re still willing to pay $4.75 for a box of four hand-crafted chocolate truffles from Indulgence Chocolatiers in Waukesha. » Read More

The Chocolate Extravaganza Bake-Off Contest is Saturday. File Photo

Event is March 28

By Dan Plutchak

Burlington’s Spring Home Expo will have the feel of a home kitchen with the annual Chocolate Extravaganza bake-off contest. » Read More