Community Corner

75th Anniversary Will Include Hot Air Balloon Rides, Laser Light Show and Much More

There will also be an Alumni Village and a performance by members of the UW Band as Greendale celebrates its 75th anniversary in a big way.

A number of special events and activities scheduled as part of Greendale’s 75th Anniversary celebration, now less than five months away, are inching toward receiving the official green light Tuesday.

At its next meeting, the Village Board is expected to approve plans for a number of events that will highlight the five-day birthday extravaganza to be included as part of Village Days Aug. 7-11.

"The 75th anniversary committee has been doing a really nice job of planning these event," Village President John Hermes said. "They’ve been working on it for 1 ½ or 2 years and the celebration is going to reflect their hard work."

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The events include:

  • hot air balloon ride;
  • Retro 40s on Broad Street;
  • 5th Quarter performance by members of the UW Band
  • laser light show on Broad Street;
  • Alumni Reunion Village;
  • 75th Anniversary Village Days parade;
  • Sunday night fireworks.

The hot air balloon ride, presented by Driftaway Hot Air Balloons owner and aeronaut Al Hanson, is tentatively slated for 6-8 p.m. Aug. 7, and is one of the kick-off events for the celebration.

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The balloon will be tethered and will rise up to 30 feet in the air. As many as 80 passengers could ride the balloon per hour, but space would be limited so tickets will be sold for $10 in advanced. More ticket sale details will be announced at a later date.

Brinkman Field will likely be the primary location for this event, though Canterbury Grade School and Greendale Middle School are options as well.

The “Retro 40s on Broad Street" will also be Aug. 7, from 5-9 p.m. There will be vintage cars on display, people in period costumes, a swing band, and special appearances by “President and Mrs. Roosevelt.”

The UW Band will hit Gavinski Field at Greendale High School from 6:30-7:45 p.m. Aug. 8, the first ever outside appearance of the band in Greendale. The Greendale pom poms, cheerleaders and G-Harmony vocal ensemble will open the 75-minute show, which costs $5 per person.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Library, Broad Street Coffee Shop, and online at www.greendalecelebrations.com. Tickets can also be purchased the night of the event.

The laser light show will take place on Broad Street from approximately 9:30-10:30 p.m. Aug. 8. The light show systems will be set up in front of the Greendale Village Hall. The reflectors and several smoke machines will be located on the grassy areas along Broad Street and on the light poles.

Alumni Reunion Village will be open Aug. 9, 4-8 p.m., and Aug. 10, noon to 6 p.m., in Dale Creek Park, east of the village shops on Broad Street. There, party-goers can meet and reminisce with old friends.

Alumni from all 75 years of Greendale’s graduating classes are being invited. They include graduates in the early years before Greendale had a full high school, Greendale High School graduates, residents who may have graduated from other high schools, and all the graduating classes from Martin Luther High School.

There will be a large tent set up for each decade of Greendale graduating classes, and one for Martin Luther graduates. The classes are being encouraged to have displays, pictures, and memorabilia set up.

Various sponsors and fund raising efforts by individual classes are covering the cost of the Alumni Reunion Village.

The five-day celebration will end with a bang with a special fireworks display shortly after dusk Aug. 11.

"The one concern that we have to have the Board look at and think about is all the various street closings," Village Manager Todd Michaels said. "One concern is the street closings are nice because they allow the events to happen, but they also create a problem getting to the special events."

Five “diamond sponsors” contributed nearly $26,000 toward the anniversary projects, including the commemorative book, the laser light show, the UW Band performance and the Sunday night fireworks. Those sponsors are: Jim and Bonnie Cyganiak and Family (ServiceMaster), The Greendale Entertainment Association, J&J Contractors I LLC, The Starr Group, and Frank-Dale Roof and Chimney.  

Other events traditionally held during Village Days still require approvals, and details about the following activities are pending and are expected to be approved at a later date:

  • Greendale Lions Club’s food and beer garden and “Rummage on the Green”;
  • Greendale Entertainment Association’s entertainment stage, family entertainment area and Saturday family movie night;
  • American Legion’s corn roast stand;
  • and the Friends of the Library’s book sale.


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