Dear Ashwabay Alliance Community,
As we move toward a new year, I’ve been thinking about what’s ahead—and about what brings us together.
Across the Ashwabay Alliance, our spaces exist for one simple reason: to give people a place to gather. Places where you can reconnect with those you love, meet new friends, try something new, enjoy the outdoors, and share experiences that stay with you long after the moment passes.
Whether it’s under the stage lights of the Big Blue Tent, in the glow of StageNorth, sitting at a high-top at The Backstage, or out on the trails at Mt. Ashwabay, these are places meant to be shared.
At Mt. Ashwabay, that sense of connection shows up in small, familiar moments—cross-country skiing with a friend on the way to Nourse’s Sugar Bush Cabin, riding the chairlift alongside someone you just met, or exchanging a quick thank-you with the lift operators, snowmakers, boot fitters, volunteers, and yes, even the French fry slingers. The goal is always the same: to welcome people in and help them feel at home.
That same energy carries through our performance spaces. Weekly Open Mic Nights at The Backstage and Live in the Lounge at StageNorth have become reliable gathering points—where music, conversation, and community naturally come together. At Big Top Chautauqua, artists and audiences continue to share unforgettable nights made possible by a team committed to hospitality, care, and connection.
Looking ahead to 2026, there’s a lot to anticipate. Events at Mt. Ashwabay like the Summit Ski Race and the Thunderbird Warrior Challenge are gaining momentum, bringing people together around shared experiences that celebrate movement, challenge, and the outdoors.
We’re also returning to our Chautauqua roots in a big way. In 2026, we’ll mark our 40th anniversary with a full season of Chautauqua-style events that bring arts, education, recreation, and family into the same space.
Here, the Blue Canvas Orchestra will continue telling stories that matter, welcoming back audience favorites including:
- Big Top Opry
- Anishinaabe Dibaajimowin: An Ojibwe Story
- Back to the Garden: The Music of Woodstock
- 30th Star: A Musical Tribute to Wisconsin’s Sesquicentennial
…and the show that started it all—Riding the Wind—returning as a public matinee for everyone to enjoy.
As we look toward summer, we’re finalizing a lineup under the Big Blue Tent that we can’t wait to share, including a big announcement coming in July.
As we step into the new year, I feel a deep sense of gratitude—and excitement—for what’s ahead. Thank you to the staff, volunteers, artists, and community members who continue to show up and make these gathering places possible. We look forward to welcoming you back, again and again, in the year to come.
Respectfully,
Garry Schalla
The Sights & Sounds of Opening Weekend at Mt. Ashwabay
In households across the Chequamegon Bay, a familiar scene plays out on opening weekend. Ski gear is pulled from closets and basements as parents answer questions while packing the car:
Where are my snowboard boots?
Did anyone grab the helmets?
Do you have your mittens?
Everyone eager, rushing to get up the hill in time for the first chair.
The anticipation builds as you turn onto Ski Hill Road, climbing higher until you round the final corner and catch your first glimpse of the chairlift. Snow guns fire in the distance, and the sight of crisp, freshly groomed corduroy stretching across the hill fills the windshield—a welcome sign that winter has arrived.
The hatchback opens and everyone spills out, arms full of skis, boots, backpacks, snacks, and thermoses. Inside the rustic chalet, the door swings open to familiar faces and easy smiles. People settle into well-worn routines—buckling boots, adjusting helmets, finding their usual spots—feeling instantly at home.
Outside, the chairlift revs to life, its familiar hum rolling across the hill as those eager for first tracks hurry out, clip in, and skate toward the line. As the day unfolds, the chalet and slopes fill with energy. From the lift, you can watch the ski team weaving through gates, kids cheering each other on in the terrain park, and a pair of telemark skiers lunging gracefully down the hill.
In the parking lot, Nordic skiers shoulder their gear and head toward the trailhead, swapping notes on trail conditions. Nearby, fat bikers unload their rides and attach wide front tires, ready to head out. At the rental building, a line stretches out the door—season pass photos being snapped, boots being fitted, skis and snowboards finding their next adventure.
Back in the chalet, there’s a steady buzz—people warming up by the fire, sharing a large fry with friends, and debating which run to tackle next. Laughter drifts through the room as stories from the day begin to pile up.
As the sun sinks behind the hill, casting a warm glow across the slopes, the chairlift slows to a stop. Ski patrol makes their final pass, and handfuls of gear find their way back into cars. Headlights flicker on, and one by one, vehicles wind their way back down Ski Hill Road—already looking forward to the next time they’ll gather here again.
Live in the Lounge: Where Community Comes to Listen, Move, and Belong
Live music has always been about more than the songs—it’s about the people in the room. That belief sits at the heart of Live in the Lounge at StageNorth, a weekly gathering that’s become something locals can count on and artists are genuinely excited to be part of.
Built with intention, Live in the Lounge highlights local and regional voices, gives emerging artists a place to grow, and creates a space where audiences feel welcome to gather—even in the heart of winter.
The lounge has become an incubator for up-and-coming acts, offering musicians the chance to develop their stage presence, sound, and confidence in a room designed to care just as much about the artist experience as the audience experience.
These Thursday nights are donation-based by design—accessible, relaxed, and rooted in the simple idea that music brings people together. You’ll find dancers, movers, and listeners sharing the space, lingering a little longer, and leaving a little lighter than they arrived.
Live in the Lounge also celebrates variety. Funky, gritty blues. Jazz. Covers. Genre-blending bands that defy easy labels—and maybe even more punk in the future. It’s a place to try new things, take chances, and keep the calendar alive year-round, not just in the summer months.
At its core, StageNorth exists to help our community stay connected—to give us a reason to head out, share a night together, and remember why we love living here.
Looking ahead, StageNorth continues to open its doors wider.
Beyond live music, the theater is being thoughtfully shaped into a flexible performing arts space—one that can host film nights like The Giant Spider Invasion, dance recitals, and creative experiences that don’t fit neatly into a single category. The goal is simple: to let the space evolve alongside the community, welcoming new ideas and making room for whatever possibilities want to take shape next.
And everyone’s invited!
Looking ahead to Live in the Lounge:
Jan 8 | Spring Fed
Jan 15 | Horse Apiece
Jan 22 | Cosmic Otter Club
Jan 29 | Boss Mama
Feb 5 | Spring Fed
Feb 12 | Flesh Wound
Feb 19 | Joy Scout
