Weekly roundup

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Upcoming events

🎭 Carroll Players Present: Alice By Heart

Carroll University’s Carroll Players are staging Alice By Heart from June 20–29. It’s a timely, moving musical set in a London bomb shelter during WWII, where a young girl escapes into the world of Alice in Wonderland to process grief, fear, and hope.

With music by the creators of Spring Awakening, this isn’t a typical community show, it’s a local performance of real substance.

🎟️ Tickets + showtimes: carroll-players.com/alice-by-heart

Local arts need local audiences. Go support them!

🍔 Hidden Gem: Big John’s Food Trailer

In the Woodman’s parking lot sits an unassuming blue trailer serving some of the best sandwiches around. Big John’s makes a $7 Philly that rivals restaurants, plus Italian beef and burgers on bread that’s a definite step above the chains.

📍Woodman’s Waukesha
🕛 Most days 11 AM–2 PM, closed Sundays (I think)
📣 Not on social (that I could find) - you just have to go.

🎉 Saint Mary’s Festival – Local Favorite, Big Community

Waukesha’s church festivals are a summer institution and St. Mary’s Festival (June 21–23) is one of the best. Food, rides, raffles, and community all weekend long. Friday night fish fry, Saturday night live music, and Sunday’s family focus make this a 3-day local classic.

📍St. Mary’s | 225 S. Hartwell Ave, Waukesha
🗓️ June 21–23
Details: ccwauk.org/parish-festivals

🌳 Tree Climbing at Horeb Pool – Saturday Only

Yeah, we have a local tree climbing club. This Saturday, Treetop Explorers are setting up an open climb event at Horeb Pool: you’ll be harnessed in and able to climb some of the park’s biggest trees in a totally safe, guided experience.

This is a unique chance to try something adventurous, right in the middle of the city. Ideal for kids (ages 7+) and adults alike.

📍Horeb Park | 🗓️ Saturday, June 21 | ⏰ 11 AM – 3 PM
💵 $15 per climber | Info: treetopexplorer.com

Get educated

🌮 Birria Tacos: What They Are + Where to Find Them in Waukesha

If you’ve seen “quesabirria tacos” on menus lately, you’re not alone. But what are they?

Birria is a traditional Mexican stew from Jalisco, typically made from goat or beef, slow-cooked in spices. Quesabirria tacos are made by stuffing that stew meat into corn tortillas with cheese, pan-frying them until crispy, and serving with a rich dipping broth (consomé). They exploded in popularity after L.A. taco trucks started posting viral videos of the melty, dunkable tacos and Waukesha is now home to some great versions:

• 🌮 Taco Jalisco – Traditional birria with consomé

• 🌮 Guanajuato Mix Food Truck – Cheesy, crispy, flavorful

• 🌮 Birria Manzanas (varies by location) – Often found at local festivals and brewery pop-ups

Where is your favorite quesabirria? We want to go check it out.

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Every event we feature supports a local business, venue, or artist. No franchises. No filler. Just the real stuff happening in your city.
See you next Thursday.
— Waukesha Local