Upcoming Events
Documentary Screening: 25 Weeks: A Wisconsin Pizza Harvest
Join us at the DeKoven Center for a free public screening of a documentary by Racine filmmaker Charlie Tennessen. 25 Weeks: A Wisconsin Pizza Harvest tells the story of the 2020 wheat harvest at Anarchy Acres, a small Wisconsin farm working to revive rare 19th-century wheat cultivars preserved in seed banks. Through careful stewardship of the land—including the help of a team of miniature donkeys—the farm explores sustainable practices and the deep connection between food, farming, and community. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. in Assembly Hall at the historic DeKoven Center. Guests are welcome to bring their own food—especially pizza—as we gather to enjoy this engaging 56-minute documentary about food, farming, and the rhythms of life on the land. More details can be found here.
Community Blood Drive
The DeKoven Center will host a Community Blood Drive with Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We invite neighbors and friends to visit our historic lakeside campus and help support patients across our region through the simple act of blood donation. Each donation plays an important role in providing lifesaving care for those in need. Sign up for an appointment here.
Christmas at DeKoven
Join us for Christmas at DeKoven on Sunday, December 6, 2026, when our historic lakeside campus will once again be transformed into a festive winter wonderland. Guests are invited to stroll the grounds, enjoy seasonal music, warm food and drinks, and explore a holiday market filled with artisan vendors and handcrafted goods. The day will also feature a live nativity and other family-friendly moments that celebrate the spirit of the season. It’s a special time to visit the DeKoven Center, gather with friends and neighbors, and experience the beauty of our historic campus during the holidays. More details will be shared soon.
Christmas at DeKoven
Christmas at DeKoven was held on Sunday, December 7, 2025 and our historic lakeside campus was transformed into a sparkling holiday market filled with music, delicious food, artisan vendors, and seasonal fun for all ages. From a live nativity and gingerbread house competition to festive entertainment and cozy treats, this tradition offered a joyful way to celebrate the season with family, friends, and community. More details can be found here.
DeKoven Day
The DeKoven Center hosted its annual DeKoven Day celebration on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. James DeKoven—one of the most respected leaders of the Anglo-Catholic Movement and a major influence in shaping the modern Episcopal Church. This year’s event featured a special focus on the newly released biography by John E. Magerus, James DeKoven: Biography of a Famous Yet Forgotten Man. The day began at 1:00 p.m. with a Eucharistic service in St. John’s Chapel, followed by a reception and book signing in Taylor Hall featuring author John E. Magerus. Admission was free, and copies of the book were available for purchase. More details can be found here.
Retro Racine Vintage Market
After a successful first year, the Retro Racine Vintage Market returned to the DeKoven Center on Sunday, August 10, 2025, filling the Great Hall, Assembly Hall, and surrounding grounds with vintage finds and nostalgic charm. The event brought together vendors offering vintage clothing, antique décor, collectibles, accessories, and one-of-a-kind treasures, all set within the historic beauty of the DeKoven Center overlooking Lake Michigan.
Presented by What’s Up Racine and The Kitsch Inn, with support from the DeKoven Center, the market invited guests to browse retro goods, enjoy food and drinks, and spend a relaxed afternoon exploring the campus and connecting with the community. More details on this event can be found here.
60th Annual Starving Artist's Fair
The 60th Annual Starving Artist’s Fair was held at the DeKoven Center on Sunday, August 3rd, 2025 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Celebrating six decades of creativity and community, the fair is southeastern Wisconsin’s largest juried art fair and featured more than 130 artists along with live music, art demonstrations, food, drink, and fun family activities. More details on this event can be found here.
Summer Third Coast Quilt Retreat
The Summer Third Coast Quilt Retreat was held Thursday, June 12th through Sunday, June 15th, 2025. Guests were invited to escape to the DeKoven Center for a dedicated quilting weekend. Free from distractions, they immersed themselves in their craft. Spacious crafting areas were set up with cutting, ironing, and design boards, allowing quilters to focus on finishing their projects. Participants enjoyed comfortable accommodations, delicious meals, and the serene beauty of our Lake Michigan campus—the perfect backdrop for a relaxing and productive quilting getaway. More details can be found here.
Women's History Month
The DeKoven Center joined the community in celebrating Women’s History Month this March. Guests were invited to visit our permanent outdoor monument board exhibit honoring the pioneering nuns of the Community of St. Mary, Western Province. This historic Episcopal women’s monastic community, founded in 1865, was dedicated to advancing women’s education and healthcare. The exhibit was part of the "Continuing Our Legacy" celebration held throughout Kenosha and Racine Counties. Learn more about this meaningful addition to our grounds here.
Documentary Screening: "Lakefront: The Third YMCA"
DeKoven Center hosted a free screening of “Lakefront: The Third YMCA” on Thursday, February 27th, 2025. Attendees gathered at DeKoven Center's Assembly Hall to view this thought-provoking documentary by local filmmaker Charlie Tennessen. The film examined the rise and fall of Racine's lakefront YMCA, a once-thriving center that served a million visitors a year. Featuring interviews with community members like Racine Public Library Executive Director, Nick Demskey, the film explored the impact of this transformation and asked: What lessons could we learn from the past to create a better future for Racine? Doors opened at 6 PM, with the film beginning at 6:30 PM. This event was free and open to the public, and donations were gratefully accepted. People came together to celebrate Racine's stories and discuss how to build a stronger community. More details can be found here.
Sketchy Friends Retreat
The Sketchy Friends Retreat was hosted from Thursday, February 27th, to Sunday, March 2nd, 2025. This wintertime sketch event offered a cozy place to be with sketch friends for a 3-night stay, 4 classes, and 6 fun and unique sketch opportunities! The instructors were Patti Fallon - Sketching with Paint Markers, Kris Von Stockum – Mixing Up the Composition, and Rachael Pasch Grossman – Sketching with Gouache. Participants learned new techniques and visited local iconic restaurants to practice… including the famous Well’s Bros Pizzeria and Hob Nob Supper Club. More details can be found here.
Fall Third Coast Quilt Retreat
The first Third Coast Quilt Retreat took place on Thursday, November 21st-Sunday, November 24th, 2024. Guests were invited to join us at the DeKoven Center and put their cares and chores behind them and take a weekend away to do what they love … finish a quilt or two! More details on this event can be found here.
Preservation Racine 47th Annual Tour of Historic Places
The 47th Annual Tour of Historic Places, presented by Preservation Racine, took place on Sunday, September 29, 2024, inviting visitors to explore some of Racine’s most notable historic buildings and architectural landmarks. This annual event offers a unique opportunity to step inside spaces that reflect the city’s rich heritage and craftsmanship.
As part of the tour, guests were welcomed to the DeKoven Center, where Taylor Hall and St. John’s Chapel were featured stops. Visitors had the chance to experience these historic spaces firsthand and learn more about their place in the long story of Racine’s architectural and cultural history. More details on this event can be found here.
DeKoven Center Summer Retreat
DeKoven Center Summer Retreat took place Monday, August 26th-Thursday, August 29th, 2024. Chris Arnold and Tyler Richards, two Episcopal Church priests from northeastern Wisconsin, offered meditations on the Holy Eucharist as a sacrament of union with Christ and the healing of the world. Opportunities included Morning and Evening Prayer, Compline, Eucharist, Centering Prayer, the Rosary, and one-on-one spiritual direction. Find rest for your souls in the summer. More details on this even can be found here.
Retro Racine Vintage Market
The first Retro Racine Vintage Market was held across the DeKoven Center grounds on Sunday, August 25th. 2024 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. This event invited visitors to pursue a carefully curated selection of vintage goods, antique treasures, and the best of what the Belle City has to offer! More details can be found here.
59th Annual Starving Artist's Fair
The 59th Annual Starving Artist’s Fair was held at the DeKoven Center on Sunday, August 4th, 2024 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The fair is southeastern Wisconsin’s largest juried art fair and featured more than 130 artists along with live music, art demonstrations, food, drink, and fun family activities! More details on this event can be found here.
Women Within Weekend Retreat
The Women Within Weekend Retreat was held April 5th-7th, 2024 at the Taylor Hall Retreat and Conference Center. Woman Within Central USA invites women to explore how their lives could be different and to reaffirm their wholeness as women over the weekend.
Easter Saturday Vigil
An Easter Saturday Vigil was held on Saturday, March 30th, 2024 in the historic St. John’s Chapel. Service began at 6:00pm. All were welcome to join this combined service of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church, Journey in Faith Lutheran Church, and Resurrection Lutheran Church.
DeKoven Day
DeKoven Day was celebrated on Friday, March 22, 2024 at The DeKoven Center. Observing this Feast Day of Blessed James DeKoven has been on of DeKoven Center’s longest traditions. More details on DeKoven Day can be found here.
The Word in the Wilderness Lenten Retreat
The Word in the Wilderness Lenten Retreat was held February 15th-17th, 2024 . Participants were invited to begin their journey into the wilderness of Lent with Father Chris Arnold and Mother Pippa Lindwright. Participants made space for Lent as a time of refreshment, self-examination, and dedication to the love of God.
The Manross Lecture
The Manross Lecture, co-sponsored by the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church and DeKoven Center, was held Saturday, June 17th, 2023 in Assembly Hall. There were two presentations made, one on James DeKoven and the other being the Manross Lecture. Watch presentations here.
Summer Quiet Retreat
The Summer Quiet Retreat was held July 11-14, 2022. This retreat was for those who deeply appreciate the Christian tradition of deep, private, silent prayer. The retreatants contemplated the presence of God within us, explored the interior spiritual journey that silent prayer nurtures, looked at how we might participate in the larger movement of meditative prayer, and searched for a personal spiritual path. Each day included guided meditations, guided prayer sessions, Eucharist, Evening Prayer, Compline and meals.