Cranfest Overview 2009

Well, another Cranfest has come and gone. We had some unfavorable weather this year (it was the first time it rained on our parade), but everyone still seemed to have a good time.

Coming soon to our website: We will have new photos and videos of this year's Cranfest on our website at www.cranfest.com. Be sure to check that out, as well as our facebook page!

Welcome to Cranfest 2009

Welcome Cranfesters! We hope you're ready for some great fun and some fabulous buys at one of the largest arts & craft/flea market shows around.

If you're here and you need help or information, please visit our information booth on Main Street in front of the bank. If you're a vendor, please visit the green vendor information booth down Main Street.

We hope you enjoy your time at Cranfest!

Cranfest in the News

Check out the article by the La Crosse Tribune: share

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Cranfest appears in Wisconsin State Journal

Check out that latest Cranfest article! share

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Cranberry Pretzel Salad

It's only one week til Cranfest, so start your cranberry festivities early with this tasty recipe!

Ingredients
3/4 cup melted butter
3 tablespoons light brown sugar, firmly packed
9 ounces packaged pretzels, crushed
6-ounce package cranberry gelatin
2 cups boiling water
16-ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
8 ounces whipped topping, thawed

Makes 12 servings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter, brown sugar and crushed pretzels in bowl. Mix well. Press onto bottom of 9x13-inch baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool. Empty gelatin into medium bowl and add boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Add cranberries and mix well. Chill until partially set. Combine softened cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over baked crust. Spread cranberry/gelatin mixture over cream cheese layer. Chill overnight. Cut into squares

The Countdown Continues...

Only 8 more days til Cranfest now, and some people are still scrambling to find lodging and other last details. If you're looking for local area information and the most up-to-date lodging info, visit the Tomah Chamber of Commerce at www.tomahwisconsin.com.

New Discover Wisconsin Videos

Want to learn more about Cranfest? Check out a new line of videos produced by Discover Wisconsin. You'll learn about attractions, history, cranberries and much more! Check out the videos at http://video.discovermediaworks.com/warrens_cran/player.htm

Cranberry Pancakes

Add some tartness to your breakfast with these cranberry-kissed pancakes!

Ingredients
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons salad oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cranberries, chopped

Makes 10 4-inch pancakes

Separate egg yolk from egg white. Beat egg white until stiff. Beat egg yolk with remaining ingredients in order listed and beat until smooth. Add beaten egg white to batter. Pour batter onto hot griddle. Turn pancakes as soon as they have puffed and are full of bubbles, but before bubbles break. Bake other side until golden brown. Serve with butter and maple or cranberry syrup.

Coming from Tomah? Take the Shuttle

Save money on parking by taking the Cranfest Shuttle from Tomah's Recreation Park. To find out more information, visit www.tomahwisconsin.com or call the Chamber at 1-800-94-TOMAH.

Cranfest Music 2009

While you are pursuing that elusive “most special gift,” we hope you will pause occasionally and listen to the music that is positioned along the walkways.

Some musical groups have their own booth area and are selling their CDs; others are just there for you to enjoy as you shop, such as the show choirs on the corner of Church and Main Streets. They will be performing on Friday and Saturday starting at 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The Crantastic Singers will perform at the same location at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday. They will also present their show inside Livingstone Fellowship on Main Street at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Following the 12:30 p.m. showing of the Crantastic Singers will be Family Variety Time. This program will include the following entertainment:

1 p.m. Bob Honel and Piano- Local “Fun Master” with sing-a-long old songs and his brand of piano music.


1:20 p.m. New Journey- Quartet music at its best!


1:50 p.m. St. Matthew’s Bell Choir- This group is made up of children ages 4 and up.


2:15 p.m. The Gospel Word Singers- This quartet has sung at every Cranberry Festival, and is still going strong.


2:35 p.m. Chatter Box- This country music band is tops with great vocals and instrumentals.

Saturday night, come see the Gospel Variety Hour at 7 p.m. following the Crantastic Singers’ program. Some of the featured groups include New Journey, Chatter Box, Gospel Word Singers, Open Door Baptist Worship Team and the Livingstone Worship Team.

Solos, duets and other assorted groups will bring you the best in gospel music!

If you have some time during your shopping and you want to sit and rest a bit, come in and enjoy. It’s free!

Celebration Cranberry Fruit Salad

Celebrate Labor Day with this fun fruit salad recipe!

Ingredients
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3-ounce package sugar-free cherry gelatin
3-ounce package sugar-free raspberry gelatin
3-ounce package cranberry gelatin
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup orange juice
1 cup cherry or cherry-apple juice
9 ounces canned crushed pineapple in juice, drained; reserve juice
16 ounces canned jellied cranberry sauce
1 cup burgundy wine
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
10 ounces frozen raspberries, undrained, tahwed
11 ounces canned mandarin oranges, drained

Makes 8-10 servings

Stir cinnamon and gelatins together in a small bowl. Heat cranberry, orange, cherry and reserved pineapple juice together to boiling. Slice jellied cranberry sauce in half vertically and then cut into 6-8 sliced. Add heated juices to gelatin mixture and stir until thoroughly dissolved. (An electric mixer may be used). Add jellied cranberry sauce and burgundy wine. Mix thoroughly. Add pineapple, celery, walnuts, raspberries and mandarin oranges. Stir to evenly distribute. Turn mixture into a large glass bowl or mold and chill until firm. Unmold to serve

Cranfest 24th Best Arts & Craft Show in U.S.!

Warrens Cranberry Festival again has received recognition as one of the best arts and craft shows in the United States. The festival ranks 24th on Sunshine Artist magazine’s annual list of the “200 Best” art and craft shows in the country.

Cranfest rose from its previous ranking of 41st on last year’s list. The festival has been recognized on the magazine’s list since 2000.

Sunshine Artist’s list is compiled from ballots submitted by its subscribers, who are asked to vote for their top-selling shows of the previous calendar year. For more information, visit www.sunshineartist.com or contact the festival office at 608-378-4200.

Cranfest Souvenirs

Searching for the largest assortment of Cranberry Festival logo wear and gifts conveniently located under one tent? Then look no further. The official Warrens Cranberry Festival Souvenir Sales Booth features the “berry” best of everything cranberry.

At the booth, you can find festival logo wear, 2009 buttons and patches and other collectibles featuring the Cranfest logo. Cranberry recipe books, including the new 2009 Cranberry Recipe Contest Winner’s Cookbook are available. There are also a wide variety of small inexpensive gifts, such as key chains, magnets, post cards and more, to take home as a remembrance of your visit to the world’s largest cranberry festival.

All our logo wear and gift items are original designs and cannot be purchased elsewhere. The sales booth has the friendliest staff on the fest grounds, and they will be glad to help you with all your purchases.

If you’re looking for official Cranfest merchandise, this is the place to find it! So stop by to say hello, find a few treasures and help support the festival that supports your community.