The Sturgeon Spectacular presented by Alliant Energy is just over 2 weeks away. For this year’s winter celebration, we have modified event plans to promote physical distancing and we encourage everyone to wear a mask when in closer contact with another.  Most of the events are scheduled outdoors with lots of variety of activities and events for all ages to enjoy, spread through downtown Fond du Lac. A special thanks to Alliant Energy for their title sponsorship, Destination Lake Winnebago Region for their contribution and marketing support, as well as Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts (THELMA), City of Fond du Lac, Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership, among countless others for their contributions and partnership year after year.  Without all your support, this wouldn’t be possible!

Location:             Downtown Event Hub located on Sheboygan Street (near THELMA & Fond du Lac Public Library) & More Events at various downtown locations (including but not limited to Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grille, Coliseum Sports Bar & Grill, 18 Hands Ale Haus, Fat Joe’s Burgers & Brew) Parking available in Macy Street Ramp (entrance just south of Division Street on Macy) or US Bank Parking lot (Just south of Sheboygan, enter on Portland Street from 1^st Street) Thank you to US Bank.

Dates/Times:      Friday, February 12^th (Events start at 1pm and go through 10pm)
Saturday, February 13^th (Events start at 8am and go through 10pm)
Sunday, February 14^th (Events start at 10am and go through 2pm)

Here are some things for you and your family or friends to enjoy this year.  Feel free to share with anyone you feel could use a day out of the house!   We’re encouraging everyone to mask up, bundle up, and check out all that we have in store the 2^nd weekend in February.

On Saturday, February 6^th (one week before the festival kicks off) check out this cool activity for all ages…

• Fond du Lac Public Library Take and Make Project (Available for pick-up starting Saturday, February 6^th)  More details here.

Get in the spirt (or spirits) on Wednesday night, February 10^th (before the real celebration kicks off)…

• Top Shelf Entertainment at Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grille (Trivia starts at 8pm)  More details here.

The fun officially begins on Friday, February 12^th with…

• Sturgeon Specials presented by Society Insurance – This year, there are countless restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels offering dining, retail, drink, and special hotel room rates.  This is a perfect opportunity to try a new restaurant/bar, or check out a shop in Downtown Fond du Lac.  For details on Sturgeon Specials, click here
• Don’t forget the Spear the Beer Specials with the Official beer of Sturgeon Spectacular – Lakefront Brewery (presented in part by Lee Beverage).  15 locations will be offering a beer or drink special all weekend long.  For locations, click here.
• Come see The Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Championship presented by Eden-Valders Stone – Watch the best sculptors from the state and a couple national champions show their skill and craft on HUGE (6 ft x 6 ft x 8 ft tall) snow blocks.  Competition starts at 1pm on Friday and runs continuously until 1pm on Sunday when the judging will begin.  A special thanks to Sunburst Winter Sports Park for their support over the years, along with Baumhardt Trucking, Annie’s Fountain City Café, Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grille, Eaton’s Fresh Pizza, Festival Foods, and Dreifuerst & Sons Moving & Storage for their contributions.  More details here.
• Live Entertainment on THELMA’s outdoor plaza – Heat lamps with an opportunity to grab a cold/hot beverage inside the Gallery and enjoying music while keeping warm under heat lamps or dancing.  Bar opens at 4pm on Friday afternoon.
• Ceremonial Running of the Sturgeon and street displays will take place on Sheboygan Street, starting at Main Street (Friday, starting at 6pm).  More details here.
• Stay warm by the Custom Firepits provided by Manowske Welding!

Saturday is jam packed with fun activities for all ages and interests, with more fun continuing on Sunday.

• Learn to Curl presented by Horicon Bank (8 – 9am, next to THELMA) – See what all the fuss is about with the intriguing sport of curling.  Free event, for all ages!
• Register now at www.hometowntickets.com for the Downtown Curling Funspiel presented by Horicon Bank (9am – 6pm), Additional matches or open curling on Sunday, based on # of teams signed up.  More details here.
• Downtown Snow Land presented by Ahern open from 10am – 4pm on Saturday, and 10am – 2pm on Sunday with assistance from The ARC of Fond du Lac.  The Big Hill, Photo Ops, and other fun activities for kids of all ages.
• Learn to Snow Sculpt Class presented by THELMA (Saturday, 1 – 2pm) – Sign up here.  Family Snow Sculpting Competition presented by Ahern to follow (2 – 4pm), need not participate in the Snow Sculpting class to try your hand at sculpting snow.  Compete as a family or individually.  More details here.
• Downtown Fond du Lac Chili Crawl presented by Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership – (Saturday, 11am – 2pm), $10 Tickets still available at Hopper’s Silk Screening & All-star Trophy – while supplies last.  More info here.
• Downtown Ice Sculpting Competition presented by Grande Cheese – Watch talented sculptors in action at various locations in downtown Fond du Lac (Saturday, 11am – 3pm).  Details and locations here.
• Winter Cornhole Tournament presented by Lakefront Brewery & Lee Beverage – Registration is full, but you can see some of the best bag throwers in the region at Coliseum Sports Bar & Grill (Saturday, 11:30am – 4pm)
• Sturgeon Olympics presented by C.D. Smith.  Register now at www.hometowntickets.com ($20 per team of 4) for the first ever Sturgeon Olympic Games (Saturday, 2 – 5pm).  With support from the Young Professionals of Fond du Lac, try some of the zaniest challenges you’ll ever see and win real medals! (No preregistration necessary for youth challenges for all ages, 11am – 1pm on Saturday, and open challenges for all ages, 10am – 2pm on Sunday)  More details here.
• A.C.E. Academy Shanty Raffle, in partnership with the ACE Academy of Fond du Lac, C.D. Smith & Foot of the Lake Fishing Club.   Get your tickets before they’re all gone.  Tickets ($10/each on sale now at Hopper’s in Fond du Lac, as well as the Waucousta Food Mart, and B&B Express on Hwy 23, and through members of the Foot of the Lake Fishing Club.  Live drawing will be held at 2pm at the Shanty (located at Sheboygan Street/Portland Street intersection).  Proceeds go toward the ACE Academy of Fond du Lac, with a portion going to the Foot of the Lake Fishing Club.
• Live Outdoor Entertainment at THELMA. Curling Lounge Bar on THELMA Plaza will be serving hot & cold beverages.  See everything going on this weekend at THELMA and more, here.
  • Live Radio Remote with Sunny 97 and Radio Plus (Saturday, Noon – 2pm)
  • She’s Right, I’m Left (Saturday, 2pm – 4:30pm)
  • Kovalence (Saturday, 5 – 7pm)
  • Liquid Brunch w/ Kyle Megna & Ross Catterton (Sunday, 11am – 2pm)

Sunday, the fun continues!

• Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Competition presented by Eden-Valders Stone continues!  Judging at 1pm / Awards at 2pm
  Open Curling presented by Horicon Bank – based on completion of the Saturday tournament… (Sunday, 10am – 2pm) – Location: next to THELMA.  Here’s another chance to try curling if you’ve always wanted to!
• Open Sturgeon Olympics Challenges – Try some or all of the challenges from the Sturgeon Olympics with the same amount of fun without the time commitment.  Open to all ages. (Sunday, 10am – 2pm)
• Fattitude Fat Tire Bike Race presented by Attitude Sports (Sunday, 10am – 2pm).  Registration and more details, here.

Don’t forget to get your new Sturgeon Spectacular t-shirt or hooded sweat shirts at Hopper’s Silk Screening & All Star Trophy or stop at our Information booth inside THELMA to pick up limited sizes ($15 – T-shirt / $25 – Hooded Sweatshirt).  A limited run of Sturgeon Spectacular Stoneware Steins (Commemorative Stein – $25/each, Due to limited supply, Limit one per customer) will be available Friday only inside THELMA lobby starting at 4pm – while supplies last.

And why not make a night or event a weekend of it by reserving your room at the Official Hotel of Sturgeon Spectacular, the Hotel Retlaw, located in the heart of downtown Fond du Lac, a short walk from all the festivities!  See special room rates from participating hotels here.

Fond du Lac Festivals would like to thank our wonderful sponsors, especially Alliant Energy, along with countless partners for helping us serve our mission of creating safe, family-friendly festivals and special events time after time.  We are able to fulfill our mission of supporting other local nonprofits in our community and surrounding communities.