Pump House Executive director Allison Krzych in studio to talk about how everyone can get their hands dirty and their dance on at the 12th Annual Artspire festival happening Saturday at Riverside Park.

Artspire is free and happens from 10 a.m. to 7 pm. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the 70-plus artists, the bands, the Mexican Folk Art Collective and everything else will move into the La Crosse Center.

The highlight of the festival, Krzych helps describe, is everything surrounding the Mexican Folk Art Collective, which includes Ometochtli folk dancers and letting attendees create Alebrije.

People will be able to make — for free — these magical, mythical elemental creatures out of clay or wire. And that’s just one of many free exhibits where adults and children can get involved making art.

Along with previewing Artspire, we also asked Krzych how the event got started — which was an interesting story involving grant funding — and how it has evolved. 

Pump House Executive director Allison Krzych in studio to talk about how everyone can get their hands dirty and their dance on at the 12th Annual Artspire festival happening Saturday at Riverside Park.
<a href="https://artspire.thepumphouse.org/">Artspire </a>is free and happens from 10 a.m. to 7 pm. If the weather doesn&rsquo;t cooperate, the 70-plus artists, the bands, the Mexican Folk Art Collective and everything else will move into the La Crosse Center.
The highlight of the festival, Krzych helps describe, is everything surrounding the Mexican Folk Art Collective, which includes Ometochtli folk dancers and letting attendees create Alebrije.
People will be able to make &mdash; for free &mdash; these magical, mythical elemental creatures out of clay or wire. And that&rsquo;s just one of many free exhibits where adults and children can get involved making art.
Along with previewing Artspire, we also asked Krzych how the event got started &mdash; which was an interesting story involving grant funding &mdash; and how it has evolved.&nbsp;

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

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WIZM’s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin.
Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at wizmnews.com and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities. Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin. Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">wizmnews.com</a> and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities.&nbsp;Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

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How we can get our hands dirty at Saturday's Artspire in La Crosse with  Allison Krzych 

A group of prominent northsiders are proposing what they’re calling a long-term investment in the community at the Northside Community Library building.  

Speaking exclusively on La Crosse Talk with Sean Dwyer on Monday morning were Scott Neumeister and Chris Weiss. 

Their group is proposing a public/non-profit partnership that would keep the building open for a variety of uses.  

Neumeister said the space would contain a number of different elements that the community could access.  

“We want to have a museum type in there, a little section where we celebrate our history. We’ll still continue to have a smaller functioning library. We want to have computers, free wi-fi access, and a community gathering space. And it’s important for this to continue to be something the community can utilize. And we’re going to fight all we can to keep it that way.  

Neumeister clarified that any kind of library would be separate from the city’s library but may work on some kind of cooperative book sharing arrangement at some point.   

Both said they’ve been meeting for months with the mayor and other city officials on ways to keep the building available to the community.  

Weiss said they’ve created a board and foundation with members from the business, non-profit, political, and leadership communities that’s already gathering funding. 

 “We have an initial capital fund. We have a sustaining operating fund, and then eventually we’d like to create an endowment that would be, you know, keep this thing in perpetuity,” Weiss said.  

When asked, Neumeister said this isn’t just about northside versus southside.  

“This isn’t just about the north side. It affects the entire city. As one of my other jobs in life is being a real estate agent, people are moving away from our city. And we need to drive people back here. We need to give them opportunities. Young families, whether it's the south side or the north side. We can’t tear apart our neighborhoods and lose anchors like this. We need to come together as a city and work together and save these kinds of things.” 

A group of prominent&nbsp;northsiders&nbsp;are proposing what&nbsp;they&rsquo;re&nbsp;calling&nbsp;a long-term investment in the community at the Northside Community Library building.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Speaking exclusively on La Crosse Talk with Sean Dwyer on Monday morning&nbsp;were&nbsp;Scott Neumeister and Chris Weiss.&nbsp;
Their group is proposing a public/non-profit partnership that would keep the building open for a variety of uses.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Neumeister said the space would contain&nbsp;a number of different&nbsp;elements that&nbsp;the community could access.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;We want to have a museum type in there, a little section where we celebrate our history.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ll still continue&nbsp;to have a smaller functioning library.&nbsp;We want to have computers, free wi-fi access, and&nbsp;a&nbsp;community&nbsp;gathering&nbsp;space.&nbsp;And&nbsp;it&rsquo;s&nbsp;important&nbsp;for this to continue to be something the community can&nbsp;utilize. And&nbsp;we&rsquo;re&nbsp;going to fight all we can to keep it that way.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Neumeister&nbsp;clarified that any kind of&nbsp;library would be separate from the city&rsquo;s library&nbsp;but may work on some kind of cooperative book sharing arrangement at some point.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Both said&nbsp;they&rsquo;ve&nbsp;been meeting for months with the mayor and other city officials on&nbsp;ways to&nbsp;keep the building available to the community.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Weiss said&nbsp;they&rsquo;ve&nbsp;created a&nbsp;board and foundation with members from the business, non-profit, political, and leadership communities&nbsp;that&rsquo;s&nbsp;already gathering funding.&nbsp;
&nbsp;&ldquo;We have&nbsp;an initial&nbsp;capital fund. We have a sustaining operating fund, and then eventually&nbsp;we&rsquo;d&nbsp;like to create an endowment that would&nbsp;be, you know, keep this thing in perpetuity,&rdquo; Weiss said.&nbsp;&nbsp;
When asked, Neumeister said this&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t&nbsp;just about northside&nbsp;versus southside.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;This&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t&nbsp;just about the&nbsp;north side. It affects the&nbsp;entire&nbsp;city. As one of my other jobs in life is&nbsp;being&nbsp;a&nbsp;real estate agent, people are moving away from our city. And we need to drive people back here. We need to give them opportunities.&nbsp;Young families, whether&nbsp;it's&nbsp;the south side or the north side. We&nbsp;can&rsquo;t&nbsp;tear apart our neighborhoods and lose anchors like this. We need to come together as a city and work together and save these kinds of things.&rdquo;&nbsp;

North side group has plans for library building

IrishFest and St. Patrick's Day Parade and celebration is coming.

IrishFest and St. Patrick's Day Parade and celebration is coming.

Shamrock Club talks all things IrishFest 2026

Most of us tune up our vehicles in the Fall, but Spring is a good time to give your vehicle maintenance.

Most of us tune up our vehicles in the Fall, but Spring is a good time to give your vehicle maintenance.

How we can get our hands dirty at Saturday's Artspire in La Crosse with Allison Krzych

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