RIVER FALLS – Ava Redmond, 2022 graduate of River Falls High School and current UW-Eau Claire Music Education major, has been selected as a performer of the prestigious Kids from Wisconsin, a popular musical group that tours and performs to over 120,000 each summer including twice daily at the Wisconsin State Fair.  

Redmond was chosen from hundreds of Wisconsin’s finest young musicians who competed in state-wide auditions. She will be part of the group which includes 22 singer-dancers along with a 14-piece augmented stage band that will put on a fully staged Broadway caliber production across Wisconsin.  “I’m honored to tour with Kids from Wisconsin this summer! We’ve put together a high-energy, professional show and are excited to share it with you at our free performance on Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. at UWRF Amphitheater in River Falls. Please come out to enjoy music and the performing arts - there’s no better way to spend a summer evening in Wisconsin!” Redmond said.  

2024 celebrates 56 years of Kids from Wisconsin performances and high energy production. Participating in this professional, one-of-a-kind experience has positively affected the lives of 1,100+ alumni and the 10 million audience members that have been inspired by the Kids from Wisconsin shows for more than five decades.  

Redmond will celebrate her hometown show at 7 p.m. Friday, July 19 at UWRF Melvin Wall Amphitheater - this is a free community performance. All show locations can be found on the Kids from Wisconsin website (www.kidsfromwi.org). Having a hometown KID in any community is an excellent tribute to your communities’ performing arts programs and social capital.  

Redmond is being sponsored by River Falls Community Arts Base (CAB). The Hometown KID Sponsors help bridge the gap between a tuition- free, professional performing experience and the cost to prepare, house and transport a Hometown KID for the summer.  

The KFW creates a world-class production by the most talented young musicians and dancers in Wisconsin. Performers aged 15-20 are chosen each year from every corner of the state. The performance is a professional, fully staged show designed for a multi-generational audience. They are a mainstay at the Wisconsin State Fair which gave them their start in 1969 and are still going strong today as a robust non-profit youth arts organization. 
In addition, teaching artists provide year-round music education through core music curriculum created by the KFW that engages students (grades K 3-8) in the underserved neighborhoods of Greater Milwaukee.  

The Chill on the Hill summer concert series is created to provide a welcoming, relaxed summer music experience on the UW-River Falls campus. The series is made possible thanks to support from the City of River Falls Municipal Utilities, the River Falls Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau and the UW-River Falls Foundation. Concert guests are encouraged to experience the vibrant River Falls downtown for food and accommodations before and after the shows.  

New in 2024, Chill on the Hill is also partnering with the River Falls CAB to provide a new venue for three of their weekly musical acts. Special appreciation also goes to the UWRF partners in University Advancement and Alumni Relations, Career Services, Student Involvement, and University Communications and Marketing who are providing additional resources in support of the series. 
Concertgoers are encouraged to get here early to get a good seat. The venue opens to concertgoers starting at 6 p.m. Feel free to bring your own chair or blanket to sit on. If you want to bring your pet, all pets must remain on a leash. 
Grilled food, ice cream, and beverages, including local beer and wine, will be available for purchase at every Chill on the Hill event. Personal picnics and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed, but carry-in alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. Food and beverages will be available starting at 6:30 p.m.  

Parking: 
Beginning May 13, a section of Third Street from just south of the B Lot to the Ag Science Building will be closed for the entire summer to allow work crews to complete utility work. People attending Chill on the Hill shows should take Sixth Street as the main route to campus because of street construction. 

Parking is free for the summer concerts. We suggest concertgoers park in the N Lot behind Hathorn Hall https://www.uwrf.edu/AboutUs/Explore 

Please park in designated parking spaces only. Do not park on the grass or in a fire lane. Violators will be subject to a fine. 

Questions? Call 715-425-3911 if you have any questions or want updates on the weather and venue. 

Submitted by Kids from Wisconsin