Great taste in spirits and art
A trail runs through Baraboo, connecting art with craft beverages.
This community’s artistic roots date back to the Ringling Brothers, who launched the “Greatest Show on Earth” from Baraboo a century ago. Their circus’ success allowed the eldest brother to build the Al. Ringling Theatre downtown and present this palatial playhouse as a gift to his hometown.
The theatre continues to host shows today, and Baraboo has built a bustling arts scene around it. Meanwhile, the community’s “Spirit Trail” is attracting traffic as craft breweries, wineries and a distillery have opened. Sorry, cheese connoisseurs, but nothing pairs better with wine than a stage show.
The arts in Baraboo
The theatre is the centerpiece of Baraboo’s arts community, bringing crowds downtown for concerts, plays and musicals year-round.
Its longest-tenured tenant is the Baraboo Theatre Guild, a community group that has graced the Ringling stage for more than a century. BTG will present two plays and a musical at “the Al” in 2026.
Professional performers also come to the Al. When built, the theatre provided an opportunity to perform during a stopover halfway up the rail line between Chicago and Minneapolis. Today, the theater brings in traveling stage shows and concerts from around the U.S., with artists ranging from classical orchestras to comedian Charlie Berens.
The Ringlings’ legacy also lives on at Circus World, a historic site built around the circus’ onetime winter quarters. Twice a day in the summer, Circus World presents an unparalleled big top show.
Nearby communities also feature thriving venues. The CAL Center in Reedsburg hosts traveling professional shows when it isn’t showcasing local performers. Legacy Dinner Theater in Wisconsin Dells presents a string of tribute concerts, but is best known for its home-grown dinner theater productions, from “Sneaky Pete’s Wild West Show” to the “Monster Mash Spooktacular” to “Christmas in the Dells.”
Beyond the performing arts, the Baraboo Area is home to Spirit Lake Arts, which presents the juried ArtJune festival each summer; the Baraboo Public Art Association, which places sculptures and paintings throughout the community; and Little Eagle Arts Foundation, which highlights the work of indigenous artists.
The Spirit Trail
Craft beverages have enjoyed a renaissance here. A decade ago, a local couple planted vines outside their home in the Baraboo Hills with plans to open Baraboo Bluff Winery. This gem pairs its flavors with a panoramic view of the bluffs.
Not long after, Driftless Glen Distillery brought award-winning spirits and gourmet meals to the riverfront next door to Circus World.
Before you knew it, the Al. Ringling Mansion was transforming its banquet hall into a craft brewery. And to the south, next to the entrance to Devil’s Lake State Park, Tumbled Rock Brewery and Balanced Rock Winery were gaining a foothold.
Last year, new owners bought downtown Baraboo’s wine bar, rebranding it with an Italian theme and renaming it Gina Jenny’s.
Each stop on the Spirit Trail adds to Baraboo’s bouquet, a flavor best savored with a side of art.
