The Shovelmen

One of the enduring missions of The Shovelmen is to connect those wanting to engage in community service with the many needs of our community such as those within the park system.

This morning Nick Hunter spent a few hours sanding off some recently applied graffiti on the Mary Morrow bridge and refinishing the wood. While never quite scarless, at least the public doesn’t need to read the profanity others want us see.

The Shovelmen are also providing a team to manage w**d growth in sidewalks in the main portions of town. This in addition to the project and maintenance work in other areas.

Offering encouragement to our team members is always welcome.

Beautiful evening

And then there were three……tables that is. The Shovelmen procured and placed two additional pedestal tables to join the one that has been next to Beaver Creek for many years. Thank you Al Jenkins and Jerry Kast for the concrete work. Also pitching in we’re Beau Burlingame, Bob Burke, and Fred Green. This and the stage constructed in the spring will help support the Creekside Concert series kicking off Friday, July 12. They will also be the tables inside three shelter igloos for Sparta Kriskindlmarkt that will be reserved for small gatherings by the hour.

Heidi Prestwood-Funkhouser delivered a very heartfelt message honoring the passing of Jim Cook to those gathered at the concert last night. Her words really capture the essence of Jim, his lifelong work in the community, and the fingerprints he left on all corners of it. Heidi’s kind words were followed by a moment of silence after which the crowd offered a hearty round of applause. Her words are captured in the picture.

3 Sparta ladies use friend's estate to cover remaining costs for all abilities playground SPARTA, Wis. (WKBT)-- Kathy Mathweg loved Sparta and in April, she passed away at 71-years-old after suffering a fall.

Wishing a very happy birthday to our dear friend and fellow Shovelman Al Jenkins!!! Thank you for your many contributions to our team and community!!! 🎂🥳

Please join us tomorrow at the Onalaska Public Library at 10am! Reinhard Mueller will be speaking about The Shovelmen and Sparta :)

In addition to inviting you to attend these free programs, we want to remind you that our winter reading challenges end this week 👇
🔥Hot Reads for Cold Nights ends today, so be sure to turn in your reading record today if you haven't yet.
❄️Youth Winter Mini Reading program ends on Thursday, February 29th, so get those BINGO cards turned in soon!

Wishing a very happy birthday to Reinhard Mueller today!!! The Sparta Community thanks you for all that you have done and continue to do here… you are at the very heart of the exciting momentum and direction our town is growing toward! We hope you have a wonderful day. Happy Birthday fellow Shovelman and friend Reinhard Mueller!

Wishing a very happy Birthday to Kerry Schumann, a very special Shovelman who completed another big trip around the sun on Valentine’s Day 2/14/24! Kerry, you have contributed so much to our Shovelmen team and to our community!!! Thank you so much for all that you do. Happy belated birthday, friend!!! 🙏🍃💪🤝🎉

We are so honored to announce that Sparta fine artist Marianne Rice is painting our likenesses as a gift to the Sparta Community. Here is a sneak peek at 3 of the 5 portraits she will create, which will take around 16 months to complete. She says she wants to commemorate us for time immemorial for the contributions of bridges and other structures, which we have happily volunteer built over the years, with the support of the city of Sparta. We are humbled and honored by this! She hopes that they will hang in some public space yet to be determined. As an exciting side note, Marianne has also begun an art club, which is meeting tonight from 6-9pm in Sparta! $10 covers your entry and then you may have access to a cozy studio with music, tea, and lively conversation. Please bring your own materials. All levels of art experience welcome, and any materials are just fine. Markets, pencil, charcoal, oils, gauche, and more have all been brought by visiting artists. Rice says, “Please bring your own supplies, portable easels, drawing pads, paints, pencils, charcoal etc. Oil painters using solvents, please use low odor mediums/solvent free gels and Gamsol odorless mineral spirits in a lidded container if possible.” The $10 goes toward the model’s sitting fee. Check out her website www.mariannericefineart.com for more info and to reach out to her for the exact location. Be sure to follow on Instagram ☺️
Sparta Free Library
Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce
Sparta Parks & Recreation
Monroe County Local History Room
Monroe County Herald
The Shovelmen

Wonderful story in the Monroe County Herald today, featuring a handful of many fabulous Kriskindlmarkt vendors and their experiences! There’s just one more market weekend left! Thank you so much for the story, Monroe County Herald! We can’t wait to see second part on Thursday, featuring the volunteers, wagon rides, and more! 😄

A neat story from someone that just discovered Kriskindlmarkt

Enjoying Some Old-World Holiday Fun at "Kriskindlmarkt" in Sparta Wisconsin A lifestyle blog for women over fifty featuring over fifty fashion, gardening, paper-crafting, arts and crafts, interior design, and grandchildren.

Willkommen to Kriskindlmarkt Enjoy Some Old-World Holiday Fun at Sparta’s Award-Winning Outdoor Christmas Market For three Fridays and Saturdays in December, the city of Sparta in west-central Wisconsin is transformed into an old-fashioned Christmas card. Visit at this time of year and you’ll find the city’s modest popul

Don't forget to stop by the library THIS Friday, December 1 between 9-4pm to pick up a Kriskindlmarkt Take and Make Craft bag!
While supplies last.

Kriskindlmarkt returns to Sparta with 70 vendors that change daily Read the latest La Crosse city and county news. Get breaking news, events and information on Wisconsin sports, weather, entertainment and lifestyles.

In case you were looking for something to do on Friday, here are your plans 😉.

Kriskindlmarkt has a LOT going on Friday night. 1924 will be popped up in Hut 11 on the Water Street Bridge.

Lots of activity will also be happening on Water Street including a fun run and a parade. You can join in the race by registering through Park Bank. Find all the details there.

Bring the family out to see the parade. Don’t worry about cooking dinner, just leave work, bundle up, grab the family, and head downtown Sparta. We will have the fun and food covered for you.
Sparta Kriskindlmarkt

Now is a great time to plan a weekend getaway at Justin Trails Resort 8 miles south of Sparta Wisconsin. Sparta Kriskindlmarkt a traditional European-style outdoor winter market in downtown Sparta Wisconsin won the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Local artisan vendors, food, and spirits can be found in more than 27 huts. It's like a Hallmark Movie! Kriskindlmarkt runs on Friday nights and Saturdays until Saturday, December 16th.

Fridays 4 - 8:00
Saturdays 10 - 8:00

Santa Scamper Family Fun-Run $10/person on Dec 1st

Kriskindlmarkt in Sparta is in full holiday spirit! Hear about it tonight on News 19 after ABC Saturday Night Football!

It finally came! What a wonderful opening day. Thank you to all that came, and a big thank you to the many, many volunteers that made this year possible. We had a glorious day and look forward to today and the next three weekends! Merry Christmas!

Sparta Area of Commerce hosts 9th annual holiday market SPARTA, Wis. (WKBT) -- The market has become a Sparta tradition dating back to 2015, which initially began as a much smaller idea.

Sparta's 9th Annual Kriskindlmarkt returns this Friday

Sparta's 9th Annual Kriskindlmarkt returns this Friday (WXOW) - For the next four weekends, downtown Sparta will transform into a winter wonderland.

The 9th Annual Kriskindlmarkt begins on Friday at 2pm! Thank you to everyone who has helped us to build and grow, as a market and a community, this year and over the years! We are so excited to experience the 9th Annual Kriskindlmarkt with you, on Fridays and Saturdays starting 11/24/23!
Follow Sparta Kriskindlmarkt for more info!

Wisconsin Has Its Very Own European Christmas Market, Kriskindlmarkt, And You’ll Want To Visit The charming town of Sparta hosts one of the prettiest holiday markets in Wisconsin. It’s called Kriskindlmarkt and if you love classic Christmas beauty, it’s a place you’ll want to visit this holiday season.