Mississippi River Excursions
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Thursdays & Saturdays, 9 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Memorial Day to Labor Day
Dubuque, Iowa
There’s no better way to understand the Mississippi than from the river itself. Create shared connections with each other and the river. Our expert guides will offer insights to the wildlife, ecology and living systems that make the river dynamic.

Invasive Removal
Friends of the Mississippi River
July-August
Various Twin Cities Area Parks
Join FMR for buckthorn removal and tending to the prairie at several parks in the Twin Cities area throughout the summer. Find out more and volunteer at fmr.org/participate/events.

River Queens: Weekly Paddling Series
Izaak Walton League, Will Dilg Chapter
Thursdays 6 - 7 p.m., thru September
Prairie Island Campground, Winona, Minn.
Ready to get on the river? The local Will Dilg chapter invites women to join a growing paddling community. Whether you bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one, all experience levels are welcome. Explore the backwaters with naturalists, storytellers, musicians, historians and other river lovers while building skills and deepening your connection to the Mississippi River.

250 Tuesdays
Wisconsin Historical Society
Tuesdays, now thru November 2, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
To commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, this program will feature rotating, history-inspired talks highlighting the Upper Mississippi River region. New topics are introduced each week. Families can enjoy special programming including a scavenger hunt.

Tug Fest
August 13 - 15
Port Byron, Ill., & LeClaire, Iowa
This is the only tug of war across the Mighty Mississippi! Ten teams pull with everything they have as they compete to take home the alabaster eagle trophy. This three-day event includes vendors, music, kids activities, a sweet corn eating contest, fireworks, a carnival and more.

Meteors on the Mound
Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation
Saturday, August 15, 8 - 11 p.m.
Horseshoe Mound Preserve
 Galena, Ill.
Glimpse the Perseid meteor shower from atop one of the highest points in the county, offering spectacular views from several different outlooks. There will be family-friendly activities including a presentation by an expert astronomer. Amateur astronomers will have telescopes onsite for participants to use, but you can also bring your own.

Fascinating Fungi
Mississippi Valley Conservancy
August 15, 10 a.m.-noon
Lower Hixton Forest 
La Crosse, Wis.
At this free event, an expert will talk about mushrooms and other fungi. Then we will go outside and search for what we’ve just learned about. We use iNaturalist to identify and upload images to a community science database.

Bluffs to Backwater Recreation Festival
August 21 - 23
Prairie Island Campground, Winona, Minn.
Celebrate the outdoors, community and connection on the banks of the Mississippi River with games, races, educational opportunities, live music, film, community paddles and more. Enjoy a summer-camp-like atmosphere with opportunities to explore the incredible Driftless Area around Winona. Free and open to all.