Justin Vernon is heading home to Eau Claire, Wisconsin — and with a quick road trip, you could join him. On July 24 and 25, the Bon Iver front man will revive his independently run Eaux Claires Festival in his beloved hometown. It’s the first time the event has been held in eight years, moving over to the historic Carson Park stadium where Hall of Famer Hank Aaron made his professional debut with the Eau Claire Bears. That alone could be worth the trip — but then consider all the music.
In addition to stalwarts like Aimee Mann (performing “Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo”), Kevin Morby, Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore, Hotline TNT and Black Sabbath Cover Band Rehearsal (a tribute act featuring members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol and Dirty Projectors). There are also two exclusive premieres: Aaron & Fred (the collaboration of fest co-founder Aaron Dessner and British producer Fred again..) and Vernon’s own Bon Dylan project where he and his friends take on Bob Dylan’s songbook.
With Eau Claire less than five hours away from Chicago via a straight shot northwest on I-94, the festival’s revival is a good excuse to make a weekend in a growing part of the state of Wisconsin, just behind the capital of Madison.
Eau Claire County generated a record $480 million in total economic impact, a 4% increase over 2024’s $461 million and the county’s fourth consecutive year of growth, Visit Eau Claire reported on June 9, citing Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s 2025 economic impact data.
“The continued growth in visitor spending reflects the incredible momentum we are seeing in Eau Claire as a must-visit destination,” said Kenzi Havlicek, executive director of Visit Eau Claire. “This progress would not be possible without the collaborative spirit of our community and business partners who help create such a wonderful place to visit. From our thriving arts scene to the scenic beauty of our outdoor spaces, Eau Claire continues to draw thousands of visitors who are discovering all that makes this region so special.”
Nick Meyer, the publisher of Eau Claire’s culture and entertainment publication Volume One (who’s also longtime friends with Vernon) gives a rundown of what to enjoy while you’re in the Eau Claire area, from brewpubs and foodie-focused farms to after-show spots and the best outdoor trails near where the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers meet. Plus, for all the Bon Iver super fans, he gives all the Easter egg spots not to miss.
For more music
“We have a great music scene in town,” said Meyer. “It’s always been a really big jazz town, and it branches off from there with all kinds of music experimentation.” For music outside the festival, he recommends heading to Leona’s (406 Galloway St.), a new pizzeria/live music venue that’s “been a bright spot” for the community. For another sure-bet after-show spot, he says to check out The Joynt (322 Water St.), “a classic hangout for this kind of festivalgoer” that’s also open late, until 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 a.m. the rest of the week.
For bites and brews
About 20ish miles away in Mondovi, foodies will want to carve some extra time to make the trek out to a couple of farms. “One of the really great things around here are the pizza farms and the burger farms just outside of town,” Meyer said, suggesting Farm to Fork (S193 County Rd BB) for pizza and Together Farms (W93 Norden Rd.) for burgers. In the adjacent town of Chippewa Falls, Leinie Lodge (124 E. Elm St.) is another famous spot where you can tour a Leinenkugel brewery. “Chippewa Falls is a cool town to check out as well,” Meyer said. “There’s also Market on River (128 W. River St.) a food hall with a bunch of retail too.”
Back in Eau Claire, there’s also The Brewing Projekt, (1807 N. Oxford Ave.) a local craft brewery “in a really amazing building with a bunch of indoor and outdoor spaces to hang out,” as well as The Phoenix (402 Graham Ave.), the largest self-pour taproom in the state with craft, local and international beers as well as THC drinks and cocktails on tap.
For outdoor activities
“The downtown trail system here is great and I’d recommend it in the mornings before the music starts,” said Meyer of the 78 miles of interconnected pathways. Much of it runs along the riverbeds where kayaking and biking are popular (both options are available for rental). Eau Claire also has the largest outdoor rotating sculpture exhibit in the nation with pieces to see along downtown streets and at riverfront parks. Every May, the city rotates in 90 new sculptures.
For the full Justin Vernon experience
“There are lots of little pockets of Justin’s history around town,” said Meyer, who first met Vernon when he was booking talent for the Stones Throw dive bar and would often add Vernon’s early bands to the calendar. In 2016, Meyer, Vernon and some other friends opened The Oxbow Hotel (516 Galloway St.) — it’s sold out for the weekend, but you can stop by The Lakely craft cocktail bar and jazz venue inside for more lore.
“The original artwork of the [2011 self-titled] Bon Iver album cover is on the wall there, and there’s records available that were curated by Justin that people can take back to play in their rooms,” Meyer said, adding there’s an additional Bon Iver mural on Farwell Street. You can also pay a visit to 310 Lake St. to see the site of the “3rd and Lake House” made famous in the song “Holocene.” Or head to the Karlgaard Towers residence hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where Vernon wrote the song “Towers.”