Downtown Wausau’s Umbrellas Offer Message of “Hope and love.”
The umbrellas are back for the summer in downtown Wausau, but instead of the multi-colored display of past years, this year features blue and white umbrellas as a way to honor health care heroes, essential workers and those who have died during the pandemic. “The blue umbrellas are in the shape of a mask to pay tribute to health care and front line workers who have sacrificed so much to help others during these incredibly challenging times,” said Mark Craig, General Manager of Compass Properties. “The white umbrellas are in remembrance of those who lost their lives to COVID-19. It’s a message this year of hope and love.”
The 2020 Umbrella display is sponsored by the City of Wausau, the Wausau River District and Compass Properties. The umbrellas, which were hung by the city of Wausau’s electrical crew, went up earlier than usual this year so they could be displayed in time for downtown Wausau’s Dining in the Street series, which starts on June 24th and runs through August 26th.
Restaurants will expand dining outdoors to abide by social distancing requirements while maintaining a fun, summer atmosphere. The 300 and 400 blocks of Third Street will be closed for the event. Dining on the Street will also give local musicians a chance to showcase their talents for the community, bringing two artists live each week. “Dining on the Street is a huge reminder that main street is open again, and all of the businesses are in this together,” said Tyler Vogt, an owner of Malarkey’s Pub & Townies Grill. ” It’s a great way to save some of the summer activities while keeping social distancing in mind.”
History
Each year, hundreds of umbrellas form a colorful canopy over 3rd Street in downtown Wausau, giving pedestrians some nice shade and something unique above them to see and photograph. The popular umbrellas, which now are a prominent part of the Third Street Lifestyle Center logo, were the brainchild of Compass Properties’ Mark Craig. Mark was inspired by the colorful floating umbrellas that bathe the streets of Agueda, Portugal during its annual Agueda Festival each summer . He thought a display based on the idea might work for downtown Wausau.
Compass Properties enlisted the help of Rob Eriksen of Wausau Canvas Company and Liz Field of the Downtown Wausau River District to create plans for the umbrella display, back in the summer of 2015. Once the umbrellas were ordered, Ericksen helped connect each umbrella to a wire canopy, which the city of Wausau installed to hang Christmas holiday decorations.
“The floating umbrellas are a way to celebrate the uniqueness of the downtown Wausau area and all the wonderful businesses and organizations that make it such a special place to work, shop, live and play,” Mark said. “We’re really pleased how it’s caught on, from people stopping me on the street to make a positive comment, to the many photos and comments we see in articles and social media. It seems folks really like the umbrellas.”
For the past few years, the umbrellas remain over Third Street until the city’s holiday decorations replace them. However, Downtown Wausau’s signature umbrellas came tumbling down last November, under the weight of a heavy snowfall. A gust of wind lifted the canopy in the air, and the colorful umbrellas came crashing down. According to an eye witness, “it was pretty cool to see.”
Despite the temporary setback, the umbrellas are about to return, perhaps with some new colors and lights. In the meantime, check out some of the buzz created by our colorful downtown Wausau signature umbrellas.
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