The weather will be cool but hearts will be warm when the 12th annual ATV/UTV charity ride returns to Langlade County this weekend.
The ride is hosted by the Kettle Morraine ATV Association in conjunction with the local club and the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association to benefit Make-A-Wish Wisconsin.
Volunteers for the Make-A-Wish Ride installed the promotional sign at Antigo Yamaha on Wednesday afternoon. From left are Don and Faye Emley, City Administrator Mark Desotell, Keri Beck of the Langlade County Economic Development Corporation, Gordon and Lisa Neve representing the Antigo Area ATV/UTV Club and Joe Yakey of Antigo Yamaha.
The preliminaries actually got underway with morning, with groups riding in the Crocker Hills and Augustyn Springs area. Lunch was at Lil' Hummers in Pearson with tonight's dinner at Game On.
The fun continues Friday with groups trailering their four-wheelers and side-by-sides from North Star Lanes at 9 a.m. to Parrish for riding on the Parrish Trail system. Dinner will be at North Star Lanes with 10 percent of proceeds to Make-A-Wish.
The big ride is Saturday, with riders leaving from North Star at 9 a.m. and riding into the Crocker Hills and Augustyn Springs. Lunch will again be at Lil' Hummers. Cost is $25 per person and $50 per family or an equivalent or larger amount in pledges.
The tour will be followed by a dinner at North Star, courtesy of Country Financial, for registered participants. The public is welcome to join in for raffles for gift baskets donated by clubs and individuals along with major prizes for the top three pledge donors, including two gas pressure washers and a portable generator.
The ride is a cash cow for Make-A-Wish. The first year it came to Antigo, it raised $27,500. That number swelled to $35,000 in 2018.