TENDING TO A CROP OF PERFORMANCES. The Enchanted Barn has consistently won Wisconsin Bride’s Best of Awards for Best Outdoor Venue, but is also a regular concert venue thanks to Chris Kroeze.

The Enchanted Barn in Hillsdale, Wisconsin – a short drive from the Chippewa Valley – is not just a fantastic wedding destination; it’s a destination for a memorable live music experience.

“The music venue inception’s credit is due in a large part to Chris Kroeze, who was the wedding venue’s house musician for many years.” – Lorin Hamilton, owner of The Enchanted Barn

The Enchanted Barn is a nationally known wedding venue, having consistently won Wisconsin Bride’s Best of Awards for Best Outdoor Venue. It was also chosen by Martha Stewart Weddings as one of its Top 11 Rustic Venues, while Destination and Honeymoon Abroad magazine named it Best North American Venue. Its transition to a live music venue, according to owner Lorin Humphrey, was inspired by the success of a certain Barron County-based singer. “The music venue inception’s credit is due in a large part to Chris Kroeze, who was the wedding venue’s house musician for many years,” Humphrey said. “Chris loved to perform at the barn, and suggested having some concerts.” Three concerts were held at the Enchanted Barn before Kroeze gained national fame as runner-up on The Voice in 2018. “He and other performers have always commented on the great acoustics at the barn,” Humphrey said.

The shows have continued and are offered year-round in the heated barn as part of the White Rocks Signature Events series. Humphrey said different musical styles are welcome, but often the shows are acoustic. All performers and performances are listed on the Enchanted Barn’s website, and new shows are added frequently. Some performances are scheduled, and others are offered on a pop-up basis, but you can sign up on the website for notifications.

At this time, Kroeze does not have any scheduled performances at the Enchanted Barn. However, Humphrey said, he and Kroeze have discussed the possibility of solo acoustic guitar performances once every three months. “Folks can ‘get in line’ or get on the sequential waiting list, so they will be priority to get the booking link first when the date is published,” Humphrey said. Other artists who have performed and are expected to return include Joyann Parker, Michael Shynes, Sarah Grace and the Soul, Natalie Murphy (fiddle player in Kroeze’s), and standup comic Dusty Slay.

Performances at the Enchanted Barn include food and beverage options for guests in addition to the entertainment. “(Shows) typically start about 4:30, featuring our artisan brick oven pizza and your favorite beverages, followed by the feature concert in the upper level of the historic post-and-beam structure,” Humphrey said. Both reserved and general admission tickets are available.

The easiest way to get to the Enchanted Barn from the Chippewa Valley is to take Interstate 94 west to Menomonie, then to go north on Highway 25 about 35 minutes to 6 1/2 Avenue. Take a right, and the Enchanted Barn will be 1 mile down on the right at 1543 6 1/2 Ave. Learn more at theenchantedbarn.com.