Siri Undlin, the leading vocalist and songwriter of Humbird, described her new hometown of Eau Claire as a place defined by a sense of “expansive belongingness.”

That quality was on full display when she and other nationally recognized performers came together at the Masonic Temple (616 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) to connect and celebrate the return of the Eaux Claires festival, during the pre-fest Eaux Claires Opening Ceremony.

The gathering on Thursday, July 23, offered a poignant greeting to both the local community and those who journeyed from afar for the festival. Presented by Eau Claire’s Farewell Transmission Radio of Converge Media, the evening surged with a distinctive “kickoff energy,” as nationally-acclaimed musicians, a diverse array of visual artists and vintage vendors alike came together.

As attendees stepped through the Masonic Temple doors, each received a brochure-sized “zine” – a daisy picker's guide – ahead of Eaux Claires. In this limited edition of The Outfielder, curated with the support of Heron Press' Elizabeth De Cleyre of Eau Claire, readers gained a glimpse into what the festival represents: unique collaborations centered around community.

Designed by Cereal Box Studio of Cincinnati, Ohio and printed by BearBear of Milwaukee, both co-owners Diana Chu and Ben Grzenia came to town with additional merchandise for the festival weekend – including a specially-made risopgraph print with recognizable local iconography mirrored by the pamphlet.

Excerpts from "The Outfielder: A Daisy Picker’s Guide to Eaux Claires"

"The crowd would talk about what happened in that instant for generations to come: the ball, the glove, and Catcher, the moment he caught it, disappeared. Just gone, as quick and complete as an old motel television when you snap it off..." – Siri Undlin of Humbird in "The Pitch"

"With the festival under new owners and organizers, hosted in a new place, could it recapture those experiences in the woods by the river? Or will they drop the fly ball? Fumble at the 50-yard line? Mix sports and farming metaphors?" – Elizabeth De Cleyre of Heron Press in "rewilding, rewilding, rewilding."

"You can get a veggie burger pretty much anywhere, but dude have you tried this one at the Log Jam? The secret is steak seasoning." – Evan Minsker of see/saw in "Vegan eats in dairyland," referencing a Menomonie restaurant

Among the performing musicians included artists from Eaux Claires seasons past and artists local to the Chippewa Valley scene, from re-worked traditional ballads by Sam Amidon – a veteran of Eaux Claires festivals past – to Eau Claire native Trever Hagen’s anything but conventional trumpet renditions.

During songs performed by Humbird and Setting – each with their own connections to the Valley through respective local percussionists, Shane Leonard and Joe Westerlund – it was hard not to get up and dance along with the rhythm of sounds and stories.

Unsurprising to previous Eaux Claires fest attendees, the Opening Ceremony invited folks to take a chance on surprise collaborations and musical performances.

“Friends and neighbors, that's where it's at. Friends and neighbors, that's where it's at,” Amidon sang, inviting attendees to sing along. “Friends and neighbors, that's a fact. Friends in hand, that's the goal…”

Just down the stairs from the Masonic Ballroom, where music came to life, hundreds of all-ages visitors stopped by the free-to-attend vintage and vendor markets, curated by the Eau Claire Makers Market and Seven Suns Vintage.

Here, too, visual arts and conversation came to life through garments from generations past, stories within each jacket, bolo tie, blouse and vintage baseball jersey.

Savannah Smith, owner of Seven Suns Vintage, curated the vintage landscape to reflect the “best of the Midwest” as she welcomed the fresh brick-and-mortar presence of GSB Thrifting, joined by a diverse cohort of curators from Minneapolis, Minn., Milwaukee, La Crosse and other corners of Wisconsin.

Local makers of the Chippewa Valley vended as well, including Kal Norton, Lu Markquart of Lupine Pottery, Kayla Nyre’s notable “pothead” designs, Greyson Noltner of Greyson Grey Art, among others.

Whether you departed with a new festival wardrobe, new songs to sing with loved ones (or perhaps the newest issue of Volume One) an undeniable spirit of curiosity permeated the air for the upcoming festivities slated to begin Friday, July 24, across the storied grounds of Carson Park.