Coordinated by the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce and supported by the City of Portage Tourism Commission, Canoes on Parade is a free public art event, with 15 canoes now on display. Maps are available at the Portage Chamber office, the Portage Public Library, and Bliffert Lumber, City Hall, Portage State Bank, Culver’s, Aspirus, Festival Foods, Edgewater Home & Garden, or by clicking the link below.

Why canoes? Portage means “to carry.” Native people would portage their canoe over this narrow strip of land between the Fox River and Wisconsin River to hunt, fish, travel and trade.

Look at these canoes, transformed into works of art by local artists placed on display at various locations, including near the Ice Age Trail in downtown. Check out the canoes and the murals just off the trail.

See all the canoes currently around town. Click Here for printable map.