Loon Day delight

MERCER, Wis. – Thousands of people enjoyed sunshine, shopping and the occasional sound of a loon call during the annual Loon Day celebration in downtown Mercer on Wednesday.

Attendees browsed through more than 220 vendors, selling everything from bubble makers, homemade jams, clothing, jewelry and handmade crafts and wooden items.

Temperatures climbed into the mid-to-upper 70s with sunshine, equaling "great weather," according to Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce director Tina Brunell.

"We couldn't have asked for better," Brunell said.

Roland Schmidt, also known as the "Bubble Man," has traveled from Wales, Wis., to Mercer for the event for more than 10 years. Schmidt sells bubble makers and demonstrates them for children and families.

"We always get the same spot," Schmidt said. "We do well up here. It's also our vacation. I spend the week enjoying life up here. We like this event a lot."

Vendors have already begun to sign up for next year. According to Brunell, there is a registration form online for vendors for next year. If they register by Oct. 15, they get first choice of locations, and the registration fee climbs after January.

When it comes to organizing the event, Loon Day seems to get bigger with more vendors and visitors each year. For Brunell, it's hard to describe.

"Beyond it being an amazing and fun event, there is no way how to describe how big this event is," she said. "There is such a wide variety of cool things to see."

The event has gotten so large that the population of Mercer explodes from 1,500 people to between 8,000 and 10,000 just for the annual celebration on the first Wednesday in August.

"Just come and see," Brunell said. "You won't be disappointed."

For more information, call the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce at 715-476-2389 or visit mercercc.com.