Category: General

Saturday, June 28, 2025

from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Please join us for an Open House at the Copper Culture Museum at Copper Culture State Park in Oconto, WI. We want to share the newly refreshed building and exhibits with the community on Saturday, June 28, from 10am to 4pm.  The Park and the Museum are always free to the public.  There will be a refreshments tent and an Ancient Native American Artifacts Identification table in the front garden.  Area artifact collectors are invited to bring items from their collection for review.  The 125^th Anniversary of the Wisconsin State Parks system will also be celebrated. 

Archaeological findings about the Old Copper Complex (as it is now known to archaeologists) over the last 20 years have been incorporated into the new exhibits which focus on the lifeways of ancient people of the northeast Wisconsin thousands of years ago.  The burials at the Oconto Site are direct prehistoric ancestors of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.  According to American Archaeology, Spring 2025, Vol.29 No.1, new evidence supports the probability that the Copper Culture people were the earliest known metallurgists in the western hemisphere, but also one of the earliest, if not the earliest, in the world.  The Oconto (archaeological) Site is one of only a handful of similar sites in the Upper Great Lakes region and is the only one with a museum dedicated to telling the story of these prehistoric people.   

The Copper Culture Museum is open Daily 10am to 4pm, from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, and by appointment to small groups during the spring and fall.  The Museum is housed in the charming, intricately bricked farmhouse, built by Charles Werrebroeck over 100 years ago in the traditional, Old World Belgian style.  The beautiful Oconto milled maple floors have been preserved, and the double-sided fireplace has been thoughtfully enhanced using hand painted panels by local artist Bruce Retzlaff. The Museum is operated under the auspices of the Oconto County Historical Society. 

🎾 Exciting News! 🎾

6/2/2025

Sharp Park Tennis Court is officially installed and ready for action!

The City of Oconto staff is always working to enhance our community spaces and promote healthy, active living. We can’t wait to see friends and families making memories, rallying under the sun, and enjoying the beautiful parks this Summer.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just picking up the sport, grab your rackets, lace up your sneakers, and head over to Sharp Park to enjoy the tennis court!

Free Outdoor Movies Return to Joel’s Reel Inn — A Summer Tradition with Heart

OCONTO, WI — Summer nights in Oconto are about to get a whole lot brighter. Joel’s Reel Inn, located at 400 Holtwood Way, is once again hosting its beloved free outdoor movie series, bringing families, friends, and neighbors together under the stars for a season of classic films, themed fun, and community spirit.

More than just a movie night, Joel’s Reel Inn is a labor of love. Organized by Sue Anderson, the series is held in honor of her late son, Joel, as a way to keep his memory alive through laughter, togetherness, and community connection. “This is my way to remember Joel and give back to a community that’s meant so much to our family,” Sue shared. “It’s about joy, togetherness, and creating memories—just like Joel would have wanted.”

This year’s lineup is packed with family favorites and a couple of laugh-out-loud classics for adults:

2025 Movie Schedule:

• June 20 – Monster Trucks
• July 4 – Dennis the Menace
• July 11 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Christmas in July)
• July 25 – The Great Outdoors (Adult Night)
• August 1 – Moana 2 (Dress Hawaiian)
• August 8 – Pixels
• August 15 – Weekend at Bernie’s (Adult Night)
• August 22 – Goonies
• August 29 – Dr. Dolittle

(Rain dates are the following evening. All movies begin at dusk.)
*Alternate titles in case of technical difficulties: Mrs. Doubtfire, Heavy Weights, Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

Fresh popcorn and refreshments will be available for purchase at every showing—so come hungry!

The movie area at Joel’s Reel Inn isn’t just for public showings—it’s also available to rent for birthday parties, private events, and special gatherings, offering a one-of-a-kind outdoor entertainment experience.

New this year: Look for the event flag at Freedom Park, by the clock on Main Street (formerly at City Hall), signaling movie night is a go!

Follow Joel’s Reel Inn on Facebook for updates, weather announcements, and theme night details. Come for the movies, stay for the memories—and be a part of a summer tradition rooted in love, legacy, and laughter.

May 26, 2025

The Parade will be Monday, May 26^th, 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m. Starting at City Hall and proceeding down Main Street towards Evergreen Cemetery.

A Weather decision will be made Friday, May 22^nd – if bad weather we will move to the High

School at 10:30 a.m. and conduct the ceremony inside – starting at 11:00 a.m.

If bad weather and you are not sure – call John Nowak @ 920-401-9687 (Cellcom)

CITY OF OCONTO

Memorial Day 2025

Garbage Pickup Holiday Schedule

Monday, May 26th – No pick-up – City Hall Closed

Tuesday, May 27th – Garbage pick-up for residents North of the Oconto River or that normally get picked up on Mondays.

Wednesday, May 28th – Garbage pick-up for residents South of the Oconto River or that normally get picked up on Tuesdays.

Thank you and have a safe holiday weekend!

Bird City Wisconsin
Making our communities healthy for birds … and people
PO Box 487
Port Washington, WI 53704

May 09, 2025
Dear City of Oconto,
On behalf of myself and Bird City Wisconsin’s Steering Committee, I would like to congratulate the City of Oconto on achieving Bird City status in the Bird City Wisconsin program.
Bird City communities are at the forefront of efforts to forge a statewide coalition of citizens and public officials who recognize that birds are more than beautiful – they are significant. Bird City Wisconsin truly appreciates both all that you do to green your community as well as all of the effort that you put into demonstrating all of your community’s actions to us during the renewal process.
THANK YOU!
We ask that you share news of your renewal with local media. To make your job easier, we have included some general text about the program at the bottom of this letter. Feel free to use Bird City’s logo to promote your community – and let us know if you would like a digital copy. Please also consider other ways that we can help you achieve public recognition for your accomplishments, or any other way that we might be able to assist you. As always, feel free to contact us with your thoughts at birdcitywi@lmbo.org.
We celebrate your efforts to improve the quality of life of the people and birds that reside in your community. Thank you for helping to make Wisconsin healthy for birds… and people.
Sincerely,
Kelsey Bell
Program Director

About Bird City
Bird City Wisconsin was created in 2009 and began recognizing communities the following year. The program recognizes municipalities for the conservation and education activities that they undertake to make their communities healthy for birds… and people. Bird City Wisconsin is the first Bird City program and served as the model for the Western Hemisphere-wide Bird City Network, of which Bird City Wisconsin is a founding member.
To be recognized as a Bird City, a community must take actions across four categories (Habitat, Threat Reduction, Education & Engagement, and Sustainability) and officially recognize and celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. Bird City also offers High Flyer recognition for those communities that truly go above and beyond in their conservation and education programs. To become a High Flyer, a community must meet additional, and more involved, criteria.

(414) 533-5398 • www.birdcity.org/wisconsin

CITY OF OCONTO

The Oconto Utility Commission will be flushing water mains in all areas south of the Oconto River on Monday, May 19, 2025.

In all areas north of the Oconto River, West of and including Superior Avenue on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20 & 21, 2025.

In all areas north of the Oconto River, East of Superior Avenue, on Thursday and Friday, May 22 & 23, 2025. 

Due to certain water main connections, other areas could be affected, please check your water for discoloration before using laundry.

Oconto Utility Commission

Matthew Beekman

Utility Manager

The City of Oconto will be participating in No Mow May again in 2025. Due to some issues in the previous years, we will be requiring those wanting to participate to sign up at City Hall.

Please stop in City Hall, call 920-834-7711, or email admin@cityofocontowi.gov to get on the No Mow May Participation List.

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For more information on the benefits of No Mow May, please visit the links below:

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/endangeredresources/pollinators#:~:text=In%20Wisconsin%2C%20most%20pollinators%20are,in%20Wisconsin%20are%20not%20pollinators.

hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/whats-the-deal-with-no-mow-may/

beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/