This Friday marks the reopening of the Wisconsin Dells Tommy Bartlett Water Show, the Vegas-on-waterskis spectacle that’s been drawing crowds since 1952 . (As you may recall, the show was closed last summer after flooding burst a dike that drained Lake Delton.) Get in the spirit with this human pyramid video, and relive old times with this vintage 1967 clip.Â

Q: My husband and I are planning a weekend in Madison. Any suggestions about what to do?

A:  The Wisconsin capitol is one of our favorite midwestern getaways. Home to both the University of Wisconsin and the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, Mad Town mixes the high brown with the down-home. We suggest starting your trip with a crash course in Wisconsin humor by attending a live performance of Michael Feldman’s radio program Whad’Ya Know. We especially recommend the shows that are held at the  Monona Terrace Convention and Community Center, a gorgeous lakeside complex inspired by the designs of native son Frank Lloyd Wright. Other must-dos  include the Dane County Farmers’ Market held at the Capitol and a visit to the U of W’s Aboretum. And what self-respecting traveler could visit the epicenter of America’s dairyland without a stop at an ice cream store? There are no shortage of options, but we particularly love Babcock Hall Dairy Store, where the university’s Department of Food Science peddles its yummy inventions.

What are your favorite things to do in Madison?

Get a head start on St. Patrick’s Day with Milwaukee’s annual parade, which takes place this Saturday at noon. The celebration features Cleveland bagpiper John Coleman, who enjoyed 40 seconds of fame when he was suspended from his bagpiper unit for waving at President Obama during the inaugural parade.

If St. Paddy’s isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other reasons to check out Wisconsin’s largest city, including a visit to architect Santiago Calatrava’s magnificent Quadracci Pavilion at the Milwaukee Art Museum. For more tips, click here for the Star Tribune’s weekend guide.