Frequently Asked Questions

Rally for the Valley is a free community event and tornado-recovery fundraiser taking place in Downtown Menasha on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The event will bring together live music and comedy, local makers and businesses, food and beverages, community resources, storytelling and opportunities to support ongoing recovery from the July 27 tornado.

Rally for the Valley takes place Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 2:00–10:00 p.m. in Downtown Menasha, Wisconsin. The event will utilize Main Street and surrounding downtown spaces. A detailed event map will be published closer to the event.

Yes. Rally for the Valley is intended to be a community-wide, family-friendly event with programming and activities for a range of ages.

Rally for the Valley will feature live music, comedy and other entertainment throughout the day, including Charlie Berens. You can see the full lineup HERE

Come prepared to spend the day outdoors in Downtown Menasha. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Portable/folding chairs and blankets are allowed, but large umbrellas, tents and canopies that could obstruct views or create safety issues are prohibited.

Rally for the Valley supports three local nonprofit organizations helping Fox Cities neighbors recover from the July 27 tornado: LEAVEN, Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity and Pillars. Each organization addresses a different part of recovery, from emergency and basic needs to home repair and long-term recovery to housing stability and shelter. Donors can choose which organization—or organizations—they wish to support and give directly to them.

Yes—makers/vendors, community organizations, food/beverage, storytelling and other delightful and unexpected activities are planned.

Rally for the Valley is being organized by a small but mighty volunteer committee of proud Wisconsinites, near and far. The event is hosted under the nonprofit umbrella of Hear in the Fox Cities, which provides the organizational, fiduciary and administrative home for the production of Rally. You can learn more about us HERE. (Scroll down, we’re shy!)

Yes! Rally for the Valley is free and open to the public.

Admission is free. We strongly encourage attendees to RSVP in advance so organizers can better anticipate attendance and plan for staffing, sanitation, food and beverage service, safety and other event needs.

Totally! We strongly recommend and request that you do RSVP, but an RSVP is not required for entry.

No! If you have special accommodation needs, we request that you be in touch to let us know ahead of time, but this event is free and open to the public!

Parking and transportation information is still being finalized but we’ll have options for you! Because Rally for the Valley will occupy a significant portion of Downtown Menasha and is expected to draw a large crowd, attendees should anticipate walking several blocks from parking areas or taking advantage of some park-and-ride options that are still in development

A detailed parking and transportation map will be published soon!

The event is planned for Main Street in Downtown Menasha, including the area between Racine Street and the vicinity of Menasha City Hall/Tayco Street. Mill Street and Marina Place and the surface parking lots just south of Main St. are also within the event footprint.

Yes, the event takes place primarily on public streets and downtown outdoor spaces, and there will be accessible restrooms and a designated accessible viewing area for the main stage. For more questions re: accessibility, please check out our dedicated page HERE.

We are committed to making this a fun, free event for all. If you have specific needs, please reach out to a member of our team so that reasonable accommodations can be made. Please email: rallyforthevalleywi@gmail.com for further assistance.

Yes. Rally for the Valley is planned to include food and beverage vendors throughout the event.

Yes, alcohol is available for purchase via Stone Arch Brewpub and local bars and restaurants. Please make sure to bring a valid government-issued photo ID for alcohol purchases. Wristbands will be required.

Yes, attendees may bring personal food and sealed/non-alcoholic beverages, but outside alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.

Yes. Complimentary $10 meal vouchers will be available for individuals and families directly impacted by the July 27 tornado who could use a little extra support. Eligible households may receive one $10 meal voucher per household member attending the event, up to $50 per household. No income verification or documentation of tornado damage is required. Vouchers can be used with participating Rally for the Valley food vendors and will be available while supplies last.

Pickup location: The Volunteer Fox Cities Booth at Rally for the Valley

Yes, the event will proceed in ordinary rain or cool weather, with programming delayed, modified or canceled when conditions present a safety risk.

We are working with public-safety officials to monitor weather conditions and may delay, suspend or cancel programming if conditions become unsafe. Weather and emergency updates will be communicated through the Rally for the Valley website, social media channels and on-site announcements.

Safety, security and medical planning are part of our event production; we will have more details about where you can find those services during the event shortly.

Weapons, outside alcohol, illegal substances, fireworks, glass containers, drones, large tents/canopies and anything on-site organizers or public-safety personnel determine could pose a danger are prohibited. Please use good judgement and help us make this event a safe, fun and family friendly event!

You choose. Rally for the Valley supports three local nonprofit organizations helping with tornado recovery: LEAVEN, Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity and Pillars. When you choose an organization to support, you’ll be directed to that nonprofit’s own donation page to complete your gift directly.

Recovery isn’t one kind of work. Our nonprofit partners address different needs across the recovery process—from meeting emergency and basic needs to repairing damaged homes and supporting housing stability. Together, they give donors the opportunity to support the kind of recovery work that matters most to them.

Absolutely. You can make separate donations directly to any—or all—of the three nonprofit beneficiaries.

The nonprofit you choose. When you click a donation link on the Rally for the Valley website, you’ll leave our site and complete your contribution directly through that organization’s donation page. Rally for the Valley does not process beneficiary donations.

Donations are made directly to the nonprofit you select and are processed and acknowledged by that organization. Please refer to the receiving nonprofit for information about tax deductibility and donation receipts.

No. Anyone can support our nonprofit recovery partners, whether or not they attend Rally for the Valley.

No. Hear in the Fox Cities serves as Rally for the Valley’s nonprofit event host, providing the organizational, fiduciary and administrative home for the production of the event. Hear in the Fox Cities is not one of Rally’s tornado-recovery beneficiaries. Charitable donations supporting tornado recovery are made directly to LEAVEN, Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity or Pillars.

There are lots of ways to show up. You can volunteer at Rally for the Valley, participate as a vendor or community partner, support the production of the event, share your tornado story, or connect directly with our nonprofit recovery partners about additional ways to help.

Vendor applications are open to artists and makers, nonprofit organizations involved in tornado response or recovery, and businesses affected by the July 27 tornado. Priority will be given to applicants directly impacted by the storm. Interested vendors can apply through the Vendor Application on the Rally for the Valley website.

Rally for the Valley will require a significant volunteer team before, during and after the event. Opportunities include setup and teardown, guest assistance, traffic and parking support, communications, waste and recycling, beverage operations and other event-support roles. Volunteers can sign up through the Volunteer page.

Yes. Businesses, clubs, service organizations, friend groups and other community groups should be encouraged to volunteer together, although organizers cannot guarantee that every member of a group will receive the same assignment.

The vendor application and volunteer sign-up and interest forms have a lot of additional information embedded within them. Please fill one out to the best of your ability, and if you are selected or assigned to one of these roles we will be in touch to follow up and answer additional questions. Rally for the Valley can also be reached through our inquiry form for any questions that can’t wait. Thank you!