Council approves cooperative agreement with Visit Marshfield to run 2026 Wenzel Plaza concert series
February 25, 2026 | Marshfield, Wood County, Wisconsin
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The Marshfield Common Council voted Feb. 24 to approve a cooperative services agreement with Visit Marshfield to operate the 2026 Wenzel Plaza concert series and related events programming.
City administrator Steve Bargue and Parks & Recreation director Justin Caspersen described two short-term options for 2026: contracting with a vendor called "Adventures" (staff described a proposal in which Adventures would arrange and sign bands and would be paid 15% of a $20,000 concert budget, which staff described as a $3,000 payment for their work) or moving forward with a cooperative arrangement in which Visit Marshfield and former events coordinator Nikki Anderson would work together with city staff to deliver roughly eight Friday concerts.
Matt McLean of Visit Marshfield told the council Visit Marshfield would continue fundraising and solicit sponsorships; he said sponsorship funds would be used to pay bands and related costs. Steve Bargue told council a three‑year summary showed roughly $37,000 raised through Nikki Anderson's efforts from 2023–2025, about $12,000–$13,000 per year.
A motion by Alderman Tompkins to approve the cooperative services agreement with Visit Marshfield passed by council vote. Council also approved a separate motion to post (open) the former events and programming coordinator position to fill it; staff explained human-resources posting and hiring would be handled by administration, and that a state 'innovation' grant option was examined but likely unworkable on the 2026 timeline.
What happens next: Visit Marshfield and city staff will implement the cooperative service approach for 2026 programming; council authorized posting the long‑term position so the city may proceed with recruitment for future years.
Direct quotes from the meeting: "They would spend the $20,000 on the concerts that we plan to, and then they will get 15% of that. They would be paid $3,000 for their work," Steve Bargue said when describing the Adventures proposal. "We'd hope to raise 15 to 20,000 [in sponsorships]," Matt McLean said when asked about fundraising.
City administrator Steve Bargue and Parks & Recreation director Justin Caspersen described two short-term options for 2026: contracting with a vendor called "Adventures" (staff described a proposal in which Adventures would arrange and sign bands and would be paid 15% of a $20,000 concert budget, which staff described as a $3,000 payment for their work) or moving forward with a cooperative arrangement in which Visit Marshfield and former events coordinator Nikki Anderson would work together with city staff to deliver roughly eight Friday concerts.
Matt McLean of Visit Marshfield told the council Visit Marshfield would continue fundraising and solicit sponsorships; he said sponsorship funds would be used to pay bands and related costs. Steve Bargue told council a three‑year summary showed roughly $37,000 raised through Nikki Anderson's efforts from 2023–2025, about $12,000–$13,000 per year.
A motion by Alderman Tompkins to approve the cooperative services agreement with Visit Marshfield passed by council vote. Council also approved a separate motion to post (open) the former events and programming coordinator position to fill it; staff explained human-resources posting and hiring would be handled by administration, and that a state 'innovation' grant option was examined but likely unworkable on the 2026 timeline.
What happens next: Visit Marshfield and city staff will implement the cooperative service approach for 2026 programming; council authorized posting the long‑term position so the city may proceed with recruitment for future years.
Direct quotes from the meeting: "They would spend the $20,000 on the concerts that we plan to, and then they will get 15% of that. They would be paid $3,000 for their work," Steve Bargue said when describing the Adventures proposal. "We'd hope to raise 15 to 20,000 [in sponsorships]," Matt McLean said when asked about fundraising.
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