Best of the Chippewa Valley

Reader Polls

The Best of the Chippewa Valley 2022

The Best of the Chippewa Valley 2023

The Best of the Chippewa Valley 2024

« Back to Best of the Chippewa Valley 2022

Arts & Entertainment

top picks for music, events, arts, and theater

Poll Questions in this Category

Best All-Ages Hangout

Irvine Park Zoo and Nature Area (125 Bridgewater Ave., Chippewa Falls) continues to be a hot bed for wholesome family fun, earning the top place in this year's poll with its zoo...

Best Art Exhibition From the Past Year

Art is an essential part of life and culture in the Valley and beyond, and the Pablo Center’s exhibit “Exploring the Native American Exhibit through the artwork of...

Best Art Gallery

Creating and viewing art is therapeutic for many, and it’s been wonderful to see art thrive in the Valley. Artisan Forge Studios (1106 Mondovi Road, Eau Claire) remains the...

Best Bluegrass Band

Grab your banjo and get to pickin’: Bluegrass is alive and well in the Chippewa Valley. Leading the charge are Them Coulee Boys, whose latest record, Namesake, is so popular...

Best Blues Band

Your significant other leaving you, losing your job, or your pet passing away all make for great blues song ideas. The...

Best Cover Band

Finding a decent cover band is common enough, but finding a stellar one is truly uncommon. In first place for best cover...

Best Drag Performer

A killer drag performance is anything but a drag, and Jem Stone always delivers a captivating show for any audience...

Best Electronic Musician(s)

Making electronic music is more than just plugging in a laptop and hitting “play” – it takes years of...

Best Event of the Past Year

For more than 35 years, the Irvine Park Christmas Lights in Chippewa Falls have lit up area residents’ lives every...

Best Folk Performer(s)

Them Coulee Boys were the first name that came to readers’ minds this year when it came to best folk performer...

Best Free Entertainment Option

Dozens of local bands and artists take the stage during Volume One’s Sounds Like Summer Concert Series in Phoenix...

Best Hard Rock/Metal Band (original)

Throw up your metal horns, because these local metal artists are coming straight for your eardrums. Readers agreed that...

Best Hip Hop Artist

To whom it may concern, we’ve found the best hip-hop in the Chippewa Valley. Noah Estrada catapulted himself into...

Best Individual Musician

Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young, Slash, and Steve Perry are all individual musicians whose flare for their instruments have...

Best Jazz Band

Chippewa Valley jazz lovers voted the Sue Orfield Band as the best jazz group of the past year, adding another piece of...

Best Local Album Released In The Last Year

Grief is one of the most basic, most heart-wrenching human emotions, which is probably why readers related to Jim...

Best Local Book Released In The Last Year

If you’re looking for some satisfying and challenging reads, a number of great books by Chippewa Valley authors...

Best Local Musical

After being closed down for much of 2020, theater was back in 2021. The Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild’s production...

Best Local Play (non-musical)

The CVTG opened its 40th year with the hilarious Arsenic and Old Lace at The Oxford. The charming Brewster sisters have...

Best Movie Theater

When it comes down to offering a great cinematic experience for a fair price, Micon Cinemas is your go-to pick. With two...

Best Music Festival

Readers voted the Blue Ox Music Festival (5024 Crescent Ave., Eau Claire) as the best music festival in the Chippewa...

Best Musical Performance (touring or local)

A solid performance will stick in your head longer than that annoying shark song your kids wouldn’t stop talking...

Best New Band / Artist

2021 saw the debut of a plethora of memorable new musical acts in a variety of styles in the Chippewa Valley. Readers...

Best New Mural

This fall, a beautiful mural titled “Sanctuary” was created on the Graham Avenue-facing wall of The Fire...

Best Overall Band

Among the top honors in the music section of the Best Of poll every year is that of Best Overall Band, and the top three...

Best Place for Live Music

Without quality venues, musicians would have nowhere to showcase their art. It would be like Vincent Van Gogh without...

Best Public Art Installation (non-gallery)

Sculpture Tour Eau Claire once again took first place as Best Public Art Installation, as this annual exhibit promotes...

Best Scenic Photographer

If these three photographers have one thing in common, it’s the ability to capture the true beauty of this area...

Best Stand-Up Comedian

The Chippewa Valley is home to a ton of hilarious folks, but one of the funniest local comics is Hannah Kabelitz, who...

Best Touring Theatrical Production

The Pablo Center dominated this year’s touring theatrical performances by offering a great variety of shows. In...

Favorite Local Author

It’s no surprise to see these three immensely talented gentlemen atop the Favorite Local Author list this year...

Favorite Local Visual Artist

There are so many extraordinary visual artists locally. Yet the votes are in, and readers’ No. 1 is Christy Ann...

Next:

Best of the Holidays

Next Category »

Staff • Contributors • Careers

Have questions? Email us: • editorial@volumeone.org(Editorial,) • web@volumeone.org(Website,) • manager@thelocalstore.org(Store,)

Terms of Use / Privacy Policy | ©2002-2024 Copyright Volume One Magazine