Get Into The Swing of Summer

June is here and we’re getting into the swing of summer in Racine County. Listen to some outdoor music, enjoy a barbecue or just go fishing.

Outdoors for music.  Music on the Monument returns for its tenth year this Friday, June 1 at Downtown Racine’s Monument Square with the bluegrass sound of the Saturday Night Preachers. The free concerts are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each Friday through Aug. 31. In case of rain, the music moves indoors to the Red Onion Café in the Johnson Bank Building.

First Friday is back. Head downtown from 4-9 p.m. for shopping, musicians and artists. The band Groove Factor performs at Monument Square and other entertainment can be found up and down Main and Sixth streets all evening. First Friday also means free admission to the Racine Art Museum (RAM) 441 Main St., from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. where you can see the new exhibition “Beth Van Hoesen: The Observant Eye.”  Visit www.racinedowntown.com

Art shopping.  Monument Square Art Fair at Festival Park, 5 Fifth St., is celebrating its 50th anniversary as one of the area’s best places for original artwork. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy food and entertainment while you shop. Details at www.monumentsquareartfair.com

Go fishing. Grab your pole (or net) and head for the Carp Roundup on the Fox River and Tichigan Lake on Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. This is Wisconsin’s free fishing day, so no license or registration is required. Just catch the carp by any legal means and bring them to the DNR boat launch on 31421 Bridge Drive. The organizers will pay $1 bounty for every carp more than 6 inches long. Find out more from the Citizens Against Underwater Silt and Erosion. Visit www.frcause.com.

Barbecue Time!  Grab some good eats at the Union Grove Lions Club’s 32nd Annual Chicken Barbecue and Classic Car, Motorcycle and Van Show, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Racine County Fairgrounds. Dinners are $9 for adults and $6 for kids. While you’re there, you can check out the classic vehicles, a bake sale, quilt raffle and free hayrides.

Plan ahead!  Spike ‘n Splash, presented by Real Racine, is Saturday and Sunday June 16-17 at Racine’s award-winning North Beach.  EVP Pro Beach Volleyball, featuring two-person teams, is Saturday. Grand Prix Watercross racing and freestyle  competition is both days. Spectator admission is free. Click HERE to read more about it.

That’s it for now!  For more ideas all summer long, visit www.realracine.com, like us on Facebook by clicking HERE or follow us on Twitter by clicking HERE.