Plans underway for Colorama fall trail ride

CAROLINE — Camping sites are filling fast for the 31st annual Lions Colorama Fall Trail Ride weekend, which will be held Oct. 3-6. It is billed as Wisconsin’s largest trail ride, featuring more than 1,000 horses.

“We have 900 camp sites and only 99 of them are still available,” said Ron Krueger, president of the Caroline Lions. “We keep growing every year.”

That’s likely because of the annual tradition of camaraderie, fellowship and good food. Krueger said they have Colorama participants coming from Upper Michigan and Minnesota, as well as Missouri, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas.

The weekend celebration will kick off Oct. 3 with music by Brady Luke from 7:30-11:30 p.m. under the big tent. Admission is free. The Saddle Brook Band will be performing Oct. 4 in the tent from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Raffle tickets will be available throughout the weekend.

Breakfast will be served Oct. 5 from 7-10 a.m. Trail rides will depart between 10 a.m. and noon; lunch will be available on the trail. Other activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, a craft fair, fur traders’ rendezvous, lunch stands and many vendors. Vendors can register by calling Wayne Schwartz at 715-853-4028 or emailing w88schwartz@gmail.com. To register for the horseshoe tournament, which starts at 11 a.m., or the 1 p.m. bean bag tournament, call Mike Suehring at 715-250-2100. The entry fee is $20 for a two-person team. The dance in the evening will feature Saving Savannah from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.

The Lions’ pancake breakfast will start the Oct. 6 festivities, from 7-10:30 a.m. in the Lions building. Trail rides will begin at 9:30 a.m. with lunch again available on the trail.

Non-motorized entries are being sought for the annual parade, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Main Street in Caroline. To enter, call Ron Polzin at 715-754-2080.

“We have three categories for the parade, including most humorous, horse-drawn and beauty,” said Krueger.

Following the parade, an auction will be held to benefit the Lions Camp at Rosholt.

“A portion of the proceeds goes to help things in the community, and every year we do something to improve the Lions building,” said Krueger.

For auction information, call Jim Polzin at 715-754-5252.

Organizers are hoping for good weather and a good turnout. Those hoping for a campsite are encouraged to call soon; for reservations, call 715-851-5799. Information on the event is available at www.carolinelionscolorama.com.