TomT,

They won't be open.  Rutabaga closes it's doors something like several days (a week?) before Canoecopia to prep for all the stuff going on with that production.  Essentially, they box up and move the entire store over to the convention center and that literally becomes their store.  Same for a couple days after. 

Last year, to kill some time before the show opened, I stopped by local spirits maker Yahara Bay Distillery.  Neat place and they do give free samples.  They have some good products, FWIW.

pd