Here are a selection of brief news items pertaining to arts, entertainment, culture and other fun things to do in your spare time:

Adult kickball tournament to aid BBBS

Big Brother Big Sisters of the Coulee Region will host a double elimination co-ed adult kickball tournament on Saturday, June 28, at Onalaska Community Park, 515 Quincy St.

Teams consist of eight to 12 players and all participants must be at least 18 years old. The cost is $20 dollars per player, which includes a T-shirt, at least two games of kickball and one entry for door prizes.

There will be concessions at the event as well as raffle drawings. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Coulee Region.

For more information or to register, log onto www.bbbsofcr.org/kickinitforkids.html or call 782-2227.

Monthly Brice Prairie art fairs planned

The La Crosse Society of Arts & Crafts plans a Season of Art this summer, consisting of a series of art fairs to be held the first Saturday of each month from June to September.

These outdoor art fairs run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be on Brice Prairie on the shore of Lake Onalaska at 7203 North Shore Drive (look for the white barn).

The June 7 fair, which is expected to draw about 20 vendors, will feature music by Peter Phippen.

Alice Cooper joins Scorpions for Fort McCoy show

Alice Cooper will join the Scorpions as co-headliners at a Saturday, Aug. 9, performance at Fort McCoy. An opening act is still being sought.

A ticket kickoff will be held June 27, with tickets for $30 that day only. Locally, tickets will be available at the Kwik Trip stores on Highways 16 and 35 in Onalaska and on Rose Street in La Crosse.

Tickets also will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Fort McCoy’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Web site http://www.mccoymwr.com or by calling the MWR events line at (877) 864-4969.

Tickets from June 28- Aug. 8 will cost $35, and tickets the day of the event will cost $40. Ticket sales are subject to ticket availability.

Up-to-date information about the concert will be posted to the MWR Web site or by calling the MWR events line.

Norskedalen plans family fest

Norskedalen’s Midsummer Fest, a Scandinavian-style celebration with fun, food and activities for the whole family, will be held the weekend of June 20-21 at Norskedalen, three miles north of Coon Valley on Highway PI.

The festivities kick off Friday with a bonfire and program at 8:30 p.m. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, including demonstrations, pioneer baking, trolls, alpacas, fjord horses, wagon rides, petting zoo, children’s games, food and refreshments, the Coulee Region Rosemalers Show, music and more.

For more information, call (608) 452-3424 or log onto www.norskedalen.org.

Orchestra plans outdoor pops concert

Continuing a tradition started a few years ago, the Holmen High School Orchestra will give an outdoor pops concert on Monday, June 2, on the grass outside the high school facing McHugh Road starting at 6 p.m.

People can park in the bus dropoff area and are encouraged to bring a picnic supper to enjoy with the music.

Any orchestra alumni who want to dust off their instruments to come and perform at the concert are welcome, whether it’s just one number or the whole thing.

Interested alumni can contact orchestra director Troy Birdsong at birdsong@holmenorchestra.com to get music and more information.

Historical societies plan presentations

The historical societies in Holmen and Onalaska have programs coming up in conjunction with their regular meetings.

Ken and Kathy Casberg will give a talk on the Holmen concrete block factory at the June 4 Holmen Area Historical Society meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at Holmen Village Hall. Ken’s father, Kendall Casberg, worked at the factory. If the weather cooperates, the meeting will adjourn to walk to one of the homes near Village Hall that was constructed of the blocks made at the factory.

The Onalaska Area Historical Society will feature a talk by marathon runner John Blanchar of La Crosse at its June 10 meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. at Onalaska United Methodist Church, 212 Fourth Ave. N.

Blanchar has run marathons in all 50 states and all seven continents, including one last year in Antarctica, in which he finished fourth out of 145 runners.

The OAHS meeting will feature a potluck supper. People are asked to bring table service and a dish to pass.

Both historical society meetings are open to all.

Gary Sinise coming for June 7 show

Emmy Award-winning actor Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex as part of the Veterans Memorial Ride.

The Remainders will open at 7 p.m., and a program will begin at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for general admission, $45 for preferred seating in the grandstand and $125 for VIP seating and parking. To purchase tickets, go to the event Web site at www.vetsride.com and click on the Ticketmaster logo.

This concert will be the last event in the stadium before it is torn down to make way for a new stadium.

Sinese plays bass in the band, which focuses on classic rock and R&B covers.

Sinise’s concert is part of the Veterans Memorial Ride, which will include thousands of motorcycle riders who will converge on La Crosse, gathering first at the National Guard Armory in Onalaska, at 3:30 p.m., leaving there at 4:30 p.m. led by former Gov. Tommy Thompson, and arriving at the field at 5 p.m.

Sinise, who stars in “CSI: New York” and played the part of Lt. Dan in “Forrest Gump,” is a long-time veterans advocate. This ride and Sinise’s concert will be the kickoff for what is to become an annual fund-raising event in La Crosse to raise money for the Hall of Honor for Veterans at UW-L.

Fort McCoy fish contest runs to Sept. 1

Pine View Recreation Area Campground at Fort McCoy will host its annual fishing contest through Sept. 1.

The contest is open to the public. All fish must be caught in Fort McCoy waters, registered at the campgrounds office, building 8053, within 24 hours and can't be frozen.

Anglers must follow all applicable Fort McCoy and state regulations and possess state of Wisconsin and Fort McCoy fishing licenses/permits. Personnel can purchase all of these items at the Pine View Campgrounds office.

Participants in the Fort McCoy fishing contest can enter fish in one of six categories: largemouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie, catfish, bullhead and bluegill. Prizes will be awarded by weight and limited to one per person. A first- and second-place prize will be awarded in each category.

For more information, call Pine View at (608) 388-3517.

Annual biggest baby shower set for June 8

Franciscan Skemp’s seventh annual Biggest Baby Shower EVER will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8, in the employee parking ramp on 10th Street between Market and Ferry streets. The shower is co-sponsored by Magic 105.

In addition to informational displays by Franciscan Skemp, participants can shop local vendors, win prizes and enjoy refreshments and children’s activities. Infant car seat checks will be available on a limited basis.