Tony Woiak History Festival
Admission $5/Season Pass $15
The purpose of the History Festival is to provide educational and entertaining programs about Washburn area history. Programs are scheduled four times in the winter and four times in the summer.
This is a collaborative program with the Washburn Area Historical Society. Pases and Seasons Passes available at the door online.
Location: Harbor Table in Washburn. 7pm start time.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
“Tom Blake: Washburn’s Famous Surfer”
Hard as it might be to imagine, one of the most important surfers in history came from our little town far from the ocean. Tom Blake, raised here in Washburn, would become not only one of surfing's greatest champions, but also the sport's most important pioneer and innovator.
Speaker: Bob Mackreth
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
“Geology of the Apostle Islands”
The Apostle Islands are referred to as the Crown Jewels of Wisconsin be-cause of their spectacular scenery and geology. This stunning landscape has been created by the action of glaciers, rivers, and most dramatically by the erosive forces of Lake Superior. This slideshow presentation will explore the factors that have influenced the spectacular coastal landforms such as sea caves and arches that have made the Islands famous.
Speaker: Professor Tom Fitz, PhD
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
“Washburn’s Airstrip and the Pilots Who Flew"
Find out about Washburn's once busy airstrip and the pilots who flew.Learn about WWII Capt. and instructor, Tommy Peterson, and the "Flying Baker", Earl Johnson, and the heroic flights he made, saving lives in the Chequamegon Bay area. Presenter is Kathy Peterson Holt, daughter of Tom & Kathleen Peterson.
Speaker: Kathy Peterson Holt
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
“Bayfield Courthouses”
The Courthouses of Bayfield/La Pointe County 1845 to the present-from the Island to Washburn!
Speaker: Judge John Anderson
How THe Festival started
The Washburn Heritage Association has been producing Tony Woiak Winter and Summer History Festivals since 2012. Local citizens, as well as tourists and visitors have come together for festive evenings of remembering and preserving our heritage. Each season consists of a series of four events occurring every two weeks in mid-winter and again in mid-summer. The presenters are both academic historians as well as regular folks with stories to tell.
The aim is always to give our audience an awareness of Washburn history in an accessible and entertaining format. We know it’s been a successful evening when audience members stick around following the presentation to share their own Washburn memories with one another. The festival venue, Harbor Table, is a warm and welcoming place for these community-building evenings.
But how did this history festival, which is much more than a formal “lecture series,” get started? And what does it take to bring the people and stories together? Read on, folks! In 2012, local historian Bob Mackreth, had a conversation with Carla Bremner who was at that time the WHA President. Bob and Carla talked about the possibility of starting a History Festival to honor recently deceased Tony Woiak who had written two books about Washburn’s history.
The idea was presented to the WHA board and was enthusiastically embraced, leading to 13 years of festivals with over 70 wide-ranging topics that celebrate local heritage and history.
