While Wausau may be best known for its amazing outdoor recreation, it also has a robust, beloved Art scene that truly makes our city's colors shine. Autumn is a time of transformation, of vibrancy and magic, and it perfectly coincides with the peak of Art season! Here is your guide to exploring all the masterful creations that Wausau has to offer.
Birds In Art
One of, if not the greatest, draws to the area during Fall is the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum's internationally renowned Birds in Art exhibit weekend. With their stunning plumage, beautiful songs, and delightful mannerisms, birds inspire us in endless ways. The annual exhibition celebrates avian wonders through fresh interpretations by some of the world’s most talented artists. It's a delight to witness birds taking flight right off the canvas! Perfect for all ages and families. And as always, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum is free to enter.
Want more birds? See our blog on birding!
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Wausau Festival of the Arts
The Wausau Festival of Arts has been Central Wisconsin’s largest outdoor arts festival since 1965. Each fall, more than 100 juried fine artists showcase and sell their work. Visitors can explore a wide variety of art, including fiber, pottery, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, glass, and more, making it a one‑of‑a‑kind shopping experience at the start of Wisconsin’s autumn season. The festival is a community celebration of art and culture, bringing diversity and visual wonder to our lives. Guests can meet artists, connect with their work, and enjoy programs that give back to the arts community.
Pete Sandker
A self-taught watercolor artist from Wisconsin, Pete Sandker's nature-inspired paintings seem to float and flow right off the canvas. His work, though primarily animals and insects, emotes a human feeling of longing and desire. Our team at VisitWausau is very big fans of his work, and you can find him at various art shows throughout Wisconsin. He is currently based in Wausau and won Best of Show at the 2025 Wausau Festival of Arts. He will be present again this year, and we highly recommend you check out his stunning work!
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Photo Credits: Pete Sandker
Center for the Visual Arts
The Center for the Visual Arts (CVA) is one of the leading cultural institutions in Central Wisconsin, with four professional gallery spaces featuring eighteen exhibits annually, a reputable school of art, and a juried gallery shop. In the Fall, the CVA presents Art by the Foot, an annual juried art show of small works, measuring one foot or smaller. These small works are the perfect addition to or start to your art collection. With 100 works by 60+ artists, there is a little something for everyone! Give the gift of Art this holiday season! Begin or continue your art collection! Support artist-run small businesses and community art with every purchase at the CVA.
The Grand Theater
For over 100 years, the land bounded by 4th and Jefferson, 5th and Scott Streets has been an arts block. It started with the 890-seat Grand Opera House built in 1899, located at the site of today’s Grand Theater. The Grand Theater is a cornerstone of downtown, and a true community gathering place. With over 300 events per year and serving a 52-county region, The Grand is the home for the best in the arts in North Central Wisconsin. After being closed for renovations, The Grand Theater is opening its doors this Fall to a stellar lineup of shows!
Fall Colors
Even the changing of the seasons love to show off their colors! Enjoy the marveling Fall foliage, which typically begins in mid-September and ends in early to mid-October. There's truly magic in the air in Wausau during this time of year!
Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art
The Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art (WMOCA) is a place where people from Northern Wisconsin can experience the work and ideas of artists – both living and deceased – to understand the historical, social, and cultural context of the art of our time. In the Autumn, the Annual National Juried Exhibition (ANJE) stands out as a flagship show for the museum, breaking from its usual focus on figurative realism. The exhibition opens its call to artists working across every style, subject, and medium, bringing together a wide-ranging and visually striking showcase of contemporary work from artists nationwide.
