Beloit Heritage Days 2025
The Beloit Heritage Days Passport will guide you on your history-hunting trek throughout Beloit as you explore free events & historic sites over the three-day celebration. This year’s theme is “Open Doors Beloit”. Enjoy free access to architectural treasures, cultural institutions, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours as organizations, churches, and more “open their doors” and welcome you in! This annual event is an exciting weekend of learning, hands on activities, tours, and other fun activities for the whole family.
Take the Beloit Heritage Days Passport to get it stamped at 4 events to earn a FREE Turtle Sundae compliments of Culver’s of Beloit!
To receive your Turtle Sundae coupon, take your stamped passport to one of these locations:
- Bountiful Beloit – 920 Wisconsin Ave., Beloit
- Tuesday-Saturday: 10 am. – 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Vintage Etcetera – 2526 Riverside Dr., Beloit
- Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 12-5 p.m.
- Villager Gallery & Framing
- Tuesday-Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Make sure to check out our calendar for all of the events taking place throughout the weekend.
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List of events accurate as of 7/17/2025
Friday, Sept. 5
Beloit College Powerhouse Guided Tour, Friday, Sept. 5, | 10 a.m. | Beloit College Powerhouse, 850 Pleasant St. Beloit
- Tara Girard, Powerhouse Director, will give you a guided 1 hr. tour of this spectacular conversion of a 1907 coal-burning power plant into a student center. See how architectural features and industrial equipment from the original struct
Beloit Historical Society Open House & Exhibits, Friday, Sept. 5 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Lincoln Center, 845 Hackett St. Beloit
- Explore three exhibits: Beloit architecture using miniature houses; Women’s Clubs of Beloit; and the 1850s Daisy Chapin one-room schoolhouse that was recently moved to our property. We’ll open the doors to our collections areas for visitors to get a rare “Behind the Scenes” tour. Enjoy various activities for all ages.
“Mural of Beloit’s History” Open Viewing, Friday, Sept. 5 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Beloit City Hall, 100 State St., 1st floor, Beloit
- Marvel at Wisconsin’s largest landscape painting (6×92′) completed in 1985 by renowned artist Martha Hayden. Many of the panels are now located in the conference room and not available for viewing.
Discover Beloit & Beyond at the Wisconsin Welcome Center – Beloit, Friday, Sept. 5 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Beloit Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center, I-39/I-90 WB/NB-Rest Area 22, Beloit.
- Enter our doors and start planning your fun! Our Visitor Center staff will point you in the right direction for exploring the Beloit area and beyond!
First Friday Gallery Reception, Friday, Sept. 5 | 5-7 p.m. | Beloit Art Center, 520 E. Grand Ave. Beloit
- The BAC occupies a wonderfully preserved 1912 building where you can enjoy three new art exhibits: “Crossing Paths: Traveling Together”; award-winning artwork by Clarice Chicks; and figure drawings and paintings by Abbey Pixler. Refreshments. Free event.
“Wisconsin Hometown Stories – Beloit” Film Screening, Friday, Sept. 5 | 6 p.m. | Beloit Public Library, 605 Eclipse Blvd. Beloit
- In this PBS Wisconsin documentary, Beloit’s rich history and community pride shines through in stories of industry, education, and migration. Special guests involved in this documentary will be in attendance for a Q&A session after the screening.
The 1914 at Visit Beloit Tour, Friday, Sept. 5 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Visit Beloit, 656 Pleasant St. Beloit
- Originally constructed in 1914 as St. Paul’s Catholic Church to serve Beloit’s Italian community, now Visit Beloit has completed a stunning renovation and opened a new event venue, “The 1914 at Visit Beloit”. Enjoy a short presentation by Celestino Ruffini, then a tour.
Saturday, Sept. 6
Downtown Beloit Farmer’s Market, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Downtown Beloit, State St. and E. Grand Ave.
- Your key to the freshest produce, delicious food and handcrafted items is the Beloit Farmers Market, one of the oldest and largest farmers markets in Wisconsin. Get your passport stamp at the Downtown Beloit Association’s booth at the intersection of State & Grand.
Discover Beloit & Beyond at the Wisconsin Welcome Center – Beloit, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Beloit Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center, I-39/I-90 WB/NB-Rest Area 22, Beloit.
- Enter our doors and start planning your fun! Our Visitor Center staff will point you in the right direction for exploring the Beloit area and beyond!
Heritage Days Quilt Show & Antique Sale, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | First Congregational Church, 801 Bushnell St. Beloit
- View heirloom and hand-stitched quilts from area artisans and private collections. The public is invited to bring quilts to display on Friday morning, Sept. 5. Select antiques will be available for sale. Questions? Contact Pat at 608-362-4821 or 214-686-0601.
Cemetery Walk at Oakwood Cemetery, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 10 a.m. | Oakwood Cemetery, 1221 Clary St. Beloit
- The gates of Oakwоoр Cemetery swing wide open for this walking tour where you’ll learn fascinating stories of Beloit’s oldest citizens. Your hosts John Kalkirtz and John Sabaka will meet you at the Chapel. Brought to you by the City of Beloit Parks and Recreation Division and Beloit Historical Society. Reserve your spot call: 608-364-2890.
Beloit Historical Society Open House & Exhibits, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Lincoln Center, 845 Hackett St. Beloit
- Explore three exhibits: Beloit architecture using miniature houses; Women’s Clubs of Beloit; and the 1850s Daisy Chapin one-room schoolhouse that was recently moved to our property. We’ll open the doors to our collections areas for visitors to get a rare “Behind the Scenes” tour. Enjoy various activities for all ages.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Open House, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 212 W. Grand Ave. Beloit
- Tour Beloit’s oldest standing church, built by early settlers in 1850. View our mid-nineteenth century glass and sculptures by renowned artist Vern Shaffer. Enjoy tea and treats and stroll along our garden walkways in this peaceful haven in the middle of our city. You are invited to join us for our worship service on Sun., Sept. 7 at 11:00 a.m.
Paleo Pop-up at the Logan Museum, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Logan Museum of Anthropology at Beloit College, at the corner of College St. and Bushnell St.
- The Logan Museum houses 350,000 cultural and archaeological objects from around the world. Join Curator Nikita Werner for a journey back in time featuring Paleolithic (Stone Age) collections that include some of the museum’s oldest and rarest human-made objects. Drop in for an up-close look at the tools and technology from this fascinating period of our shared human history. Free.
Bushnell Wheeler House Open House, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Bushnell Wheeler House, 542 Wheeler St. South Beloit
- Our open doors invite you to visit this historic treasure that is rarely open to the public. You’ll find fascinating displays of the history of the people and industries of the Stateline area. South Beloit Historical Society members will be on hand to give tours and answer questions. Delicious home-baked items, hand-made crafts and John Patrick’s books will be available for sale.
Rasey House Tours, Saturday, Sept 6 | 1-4 p.m. | Rasey House, 517 Prospect St. Beloit
- Our open doors will beckon you to visit this 1850 cobblestone house which is rarely open to the public. Learn about the fascinating history of the Rasey House, which is owned and lovingly maintained by the Beloit Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Castle Beloit Open Doors Tour, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 4-5 p.m. | The Castle at 501 Prospect, 501 Prospect Ave. Beloit
- Owner Levi Andersen will give you a behind the scenes tour of this former church (1906), now transformed into a vibrant event center. Get exclusive insights of exciting new developments and events coming soon! The building’s soaring spires and timeless beauty stand as a testament to the enduring power of art, music, and community. Refreshments served.
How Corn Changed Itself and Then Changed Everything Else, Saturday, Sept. 6 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Nature at The Confluence, 306 Dickop St. South Beloit
- Cynthia Clampitt presents the history of corn and how it transformed the Americas before First Contact; how it traveled the world after First Contact; and its lasting impact on our region. Corn-themed snacks, Learning Gardens and hands-on activities.View two new interactive indoor exhibits “First Peoples of Turtle Creek” and “We Once Lived Here: The Ho-Chunk of Ke-Chunk Village”. Space is limited, reserve your spot at natureattheconfluence.com.
Sunday, Sept. 7
Heritage Sunday at Beckman Mill, Sunday, Sept 7 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Beckman Mill, 11600 S County Rd. H, Beloit
- Walk back through time when you visit the restored 1858 Beckman Mill and Cooperage and Museum. Grinding, blacksmith and historic trade demonstrations, soldiers representing different eras of war, music, and classic cars on display. Food available for purchase. Free event, donations appreciated.
Discover Beloit & Beyond at the Wisconsin Welcome Center – Beloit, Sunday, Sept. 7 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Beloit Travel Wisconsin Welcome Center, I-39/I-90 WB/NB-Rest Area 22, Beloit.
- Enter our doors and start planning your fun! Our Visitor Center staff will point you in the right direction for exploring the Beloit area and beyond!
Heritage Sunday features a variety of demonstrations including: broom making, blacksmithing, wood carving, basket weaving, and more.
In addition to demonstrations, there is live music such as, concertina, violin, and banjo playing.
The museum and gift shop will be open, and there are special activities for kids including: butter making, digging for potatoes, blacksmithing, and corn shelling. Attendees can also enjoy horse drawn wagon rides and interacting with Civil War soldiers. There are also WWII and Vietnam living history displays, collector show cars, and other attractions.
Food and beverages will be for sale including, soda, water, and desserts. There is no admission charge, but donations are appreciated to help the Friends of Beckman Mill to continue their 30 year endeavor to maintain the buildings and educate about bygone times.
History of Beckman Mill
The showpiece of the park is the Beckman Mill, the restoration of which was completed in 1997 by the Friends of Beckman Mill’s volunteer work crew. It is operational with power being supplied by its original 1860s water driven Leffel turbine. In the event alternate power is needed, the mill can be operated by its vintage two-cylinder gasoline engine.
Tours are available Saturdays and Sundays May through September.
Beckman Mill Park
11450 S. Cty. Hwy. H, Beloit
P: (608) 757-5451
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