OVER THREE MILLION LIGHTS. That’s crazy! And beautiful. And festive. And there’s a lot more to see at the La Crosse Rotary Lights, that holiday special event that runs November 24th through December 31st at Riverside Park. The parade kicks everything off at 6pm on the 24th, with the opening ceremony immediately following. Santa will be on hand to throw the switch turning on all these lights (and probably momentarily dimming some others across town – that’s gotta be a huge power draw!), too. Helicopter rides are back this year, too!
Among the splendor is a 140- foot Christmas tree and plenty of animated light displays. Live nativity presentation on weekends until Christmas, although the number of participants will be limited this year. Santa, after opening the festivities, will continue to be there for you and the kids until December 23rd.
Here’s how it works if you choose to drive through it: The line forms down State Street and continues to the North on 2nd Street. On busy nights, the line will back up onto 3rd Street/Copeland Ave/U.S. 53. Roads will be blocked so that you cannot enter from State Street, northbound on Second Street, or from Vine Street. You can tune your car stereo to their local Christmas channel for good musical accompaniment while joining the caravan of onlookers from the comfort – and heat – of your car.
If you prefer to walk or take a carriage ride through the display, you do not need to wait in line. There is usually street parking available near the park or there are several parking ramps within walking distance. Get Parking Ramp Information HERE. Horse-drawn carriages are available most weekends and run $20/couple or $30/family. No Tuesday night hayrides this year, but you can still get free s’mores at the fire pit, where supplies will be individually packaged.. You’ll also still be able to experience the helicopter rides for an amazing view! New additions from last year that they’ve kept include a brand new sleigh for photos, heated restrooms available on both the north and south ends of the park, and the hologram display.
Remember, Santa shows up nightly from 5 – 8 pm until December 21st (of course, he has to hurry back to the North Pole right after that and get his sleigh ready for that worldwide trip) and there’s no sitting on his lap.
Weather permitting, the Chad Erickson Ice Rink is available for skating, Monday through Friday 5pm-8pm, Saturday Noon to 8pm, and Sunday Noon to 6pm. The warming hut and skate rental are back, and of course you can bring your own skates! A heated igloo will be available if you need to warm up and/or change. You can call (608) 784-9993 to check on Skating Rink Status and information; voicemail messages are updated daily.
New this year is All Abilities Night on Monday, November 27th. They will be adjusting the lights and music to accommodate individuals that may not have been able to experience the show in the past due to flashing lights and loud music.
The hours for La Crosse Rotary Lights are 5-10pm daily. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the hours are 5-9pm; New Year’s Eve, it will stay open until 1 am; meaning technically La Crosse Rotary Lights lasts into January 1, 2024.
The whole La Crosse Rotary Lights admission and experience is free of charge, but Rotary Lights does welcome donations; monetary or non-perishable food item donations are strongly encouraged. Get the full Schedule of Events here!
La Crosse Rotary Lights Address:
Riverside Park (just off U.S. 53)
410 Veterans Memorial Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601
(608) 784-9993 Website
Lake Geneva celebrates winter like no other place. Winterfest is a brouhaha of shopping, dining, music, magic, refreshments, and activities including thrilling helicopter rides over the town and lake. It’s capped off, of course, by the amazing designs and creativity of the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition – right along the lake at the Riviera – where fifteen teams of the most talented snow sculptors and artists from around the country gather to compete for a national title. The entire competition is open to the public, so Winterfest attendees can actually watch the artists at work!
Be here to witness these teams at work during an epic 72-hour competition where their artistry is put to the test in creating remarkable, larger-than-life snow sculptures.
In addition to the snow sculpting competition, you’ll find more wintery fun during Winterfest week, including the 4th annual Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk, Bonfires on the Beach, Fire & Ice Bar, a Cocoa Crawl and many more events, activities and specials around Lake Geneva and the surrounding area. It runs Wednesday through Sunday, February 1st-5th as part of Winterfest. The walk is just steps away from the snow sculpting competition, with dozens of artfully crafted ice sculptures adorning the front faces of shops, restaurants, and other businesses throughout the Downtown district. Ice sculptures will be installed Friday morning, February 4th and remain on display as long as the cold weather permits!
Avant Cycle Café | 234 Broad Street
Barrique Bistro & Wine Bar | 835 Wrigley Drive
Bloomingbyrds | 755 W. Main Street
Brick & Mortar Home | 832 Geneva Street
Brick & Mortar Home and Outdoor | 222 Center Street
Clearwater Outdoor Sports | 744 W. Main Street
Cornerstone Shop & Gallery | 214 Broad Street
Egg Harbor Café | 827 W Main Street
Evr drygds | 719 W. Main Street
Fancy Fair Mall | 830 W Main Street
Geneva Gifts | 150 Broad Street
Haberdapper | 253 Broad Street
Harbor Shores on Lake Geneva | 300 Wrigley Drive
Interstate Insurance Group | 811 Wrigley Drive (Popeye’s)
Kilwins | 772 Main Street
Lake Geneva Lifestyle/Donna Brongiel | 703 Main Street
Lake Geneva Motel | 201 Wrigley Drive (Visitor Info Center)
Lake Geneva Spice Company | 255 Broad Street
Marigold | 725 W Main Street
Overland Sheepskin Co. | 752 W. Main Street
Queen Bee Artisan Market | 830 W. Main Street
Sopra Bistro | 724 Main Street
The Bottle Shop | 617 W. Main Street
The Candle Mercantile | 870 W. Main Street
The Olive Oil Shops | 221 Broad Street
Thumbs Up | 260 Broad Street
Winterfest activities focus on downtown Lake Geneva, which lies right along Highway 50. U.S. 12 and Highway 120 are close to the east and Highway 67 is a few miles to the west near Delavan. It’s easy to get to – and a total blast!
A horse-drawn carriage ride through Lake Geneva is perfect on a winter day.
Lake Geneva Winterfest & U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition Address:
Downtown Lake Geneva/Riviera Park
201 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416 Website
Waukesha JanBoree is called “Wisconsin’s Premier Winter Festival” and it runs for ten days in 2023. This year, it’s “Channel the Flannel” for the 37th annual JanBoree from Friday, January 13th through Sunday, January 22nd.
JanBoree includes over 35 events throughout Waukesha, most of which are free. Events include disc golf, hockey, bocce ball, trivia and ComedySportz performances, a “Cosmic Colors” planetarium show, a variety of games, and more!
Opening Ceremonies are held Friday from 4-9pm at Waukesha’s Lowell Park, complete with fireworks. Details on this and other events below.
Events are held at various locations around the city, including Lowell Park, Minooka Park, the Waukesha Transit Center downtown, North High School, and more. See event pages here for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for specifics and maps.
Waukesha JanBoree Event Details:
Friday events on Opening Night include the Opening Ceremonies, an Ice Sculpting Demo, the Arctic Avalanche, the Carnival of Curiosities, a Fireworks Extravaganza, and the 350’ lighted toboggan run (reservations required.) NEW this year is the Glow Walk, a 1.7-mile walk around Frame Park – complete with a furnished glow stick!
The fireworks extravaganza tops it all off Friday night at 8pm at Lowell Park.
During the week, additional activities will include Frozen Footgolf, a snowman building contest, a goose chase scavenger hunt, airport tours, and special movie or planetarium shows.
Get all the details at the main JanBoree website. Waukesha can be a tricky city to navigate, but getting to it is easy. Follow U.S. 18, Highway 59, or Highway 164 to get there. I-94 and Highway 16 also bring you close to the city and all the fun JanBoree events.
Ice Castles are back in Lake Geneva! Tickets are on sale now.
Lake Geneva is beautiful and fun enough already, but with the Ice Castles coming again after such a crazy 2022, this winter it gets even better! Seven days a week starting soon through early March – weather permitting – the massive ice castles compound can be explored and enjoyed by the whole family. The artistic project got underway in November, one of several projects in North America by Ice Castles LLC, a Utah-based company with similar projects in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Utah. One of the most unique and amazing facts about the Ice Castles is that they are literally built by hand. They grow more than 5,000 icicles each day that they harvest and sculpt together. These Ice Castles create life-size winter playgrounds, with illuminated inside the castles at night with color-changing LED lights that twinkle to music. You can explore ice-carved tunnels, fountains, slides, frozen thrones, and towering ice formations. This is truly something to dazzle the entire family. This mega-complex of ice will be at the Geneva National Resort and Club, just west of downtown Lake Geneva off Highway 50, a little east of Highway 67. How long will it last? Depends on the weather, of course, but they’ll keep it open into March if they can. You can keep up with the construction of Ice Castles and weather conditions, which will be continuously updated, on their website.
Tickets are on sale now. Admission prices are:
WEEKDAYS (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday): General Admission, ages 12 and up: $25 Child Admission, ages 4-11: $17 Children 3 and younger: Free
WEEKENDS (Friday – Sunday): General Admission, ages 12 and up: $29 Child Admission, ages 4-11: $22 Children 3 and younger: Free
Be prepared to hit U.S. 12 or Highways 50, 67, or 120 to get to Lake Geneva and experience Ice Castles Wisconsin and the magic of the winter season!
Photo courtesy of Facebook.com/TheIceCastles
Ice Castles Lake Geneva Address:
Geneva National Resort & Club 1091 Hidden Cottage Circle Lake Geneva, WI 53147 (262) 248-4416 Website
Pulled from their website, here are some “Tips for a great experience” to Ice Castles Lake Geneva:
Wear Boots! The walking surface inside Ice Castles is made of crushed ice. Walking in boots is definitely best.
Buy Tickets Before You Arrive! When you buy a ticket, you buy an arrival time. They ask that you arrive within your 30-minute time window. Once you are inside Ice Castles you can stay as long as you’d like.
You can save some trees when you buy your tickets online; they’ll send you an email with a unique QR code, so there’s no need to print your tickets. They scan the code right from your phone.
Photos are encouraged (and they want to see them! #icecastles) but they ask that you please leave photography equipment such as tripods and lights at home.
Sleds are great, and they highly recommend bringing a small sled to pull children instead of a stroller. It is extremely difficult to push a stroller through Ice Castles – think of it like trying to push a stroller on a sandy beach)
The Bayfield Winter Festival is an annual wild weekend of winter fun, taking place March 4-6, 2022! To celebrate the end of winter (almost), the town and nearby places like Mt. Ashwabay put on a variety of fun and crazy activities. Whether you plunge into the frozen lake, chow down fish livers, tear up the obstacle course, go fat tire biking, do the Poker Run, or just come for the party, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the celebration of the end of the joyous winter season.
On behalf of the residents of Bayfield and surrounding communities, the Bayfield Winter Festival team invites you to join the shenanigans! A schedule is below.
Check out the Polar Plunge on Saturday, which is always fun to watch. Hey, watch it from a previous year here:
Bayfield is a beautiful town in any season, not just during the Bayfield Winter Festival. Highway 13 brings you there, just a few miles north of Washburn and from U.S. 2 near Ashland.
Bayfield Winter Festival Address:
140 Broad Street
Bayfield, WI 54814
(715) 779-5408 Website
Fat Tire biking during the Bayfield Winter Festival.
Schedule for Bayfield Winter Festival
Friday, March 4th
1-3 p.m. Winter Botany Hike at Big Ravine Trailhead, Preregistration Required (FULL!)
2:30-5 p.m. Bonfire at Bayfield Winery and Blue Ox Cider
3:30-6:30 p.m. Open Swim, Bayfield Recreation and Fitness Resources
4-9 p.m. Friday Youth “Glow” Night at Mount Ashwabay
4-6 p.m. Happy Hour at the Creamery with $1 off any drink
5-8 p.m. Fish Fry Special at the Bayfield Inn Lakeside Dining Room
6-9 p.m. Candlelight Ski/Hike/Snowshoe at Howl Adventure Center
6 p.m. – Close: Bonfire and Beer at Adventure Club Brewery
Saturday, March 5th
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bayfield City Wide Winter Fest Sales at local businesses
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Children’s Sensory Activities at Sweet Sailing, hosted by Kiddiwink Kids
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pet Adoption Event at Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion, Chequamegon Humane Association
Noon – 7 p.m. Open Swim, Bayfield Recreation and Fitness Resources
Noon- 1 p.m. Polar Plunge Sign In, Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
NOON – 1 p.m. Penguin Egg Hunt – Eggs will be hidden in the snow by the pavilion and polar plunge area.
Noon – 3 p.m. “Shiver your Liver” serving whitefish livers, hot food and beverages at Pier Plaza Ice Cream Window
Noon- 2 p.m. Family Activities – Tug of war, snowball races and more by the pavilion
1 p.m. Jim’s Racey’s Rescue Dog Sled Team Demo on Ice Road (weather permitting)
1:30 -2 p.m. United States Coast Guard Ice Rescue Demo, Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion
2-3 p.m. Polar Plunge, Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion
3-4:30 p.m. Hug a Husky Meet and Greet with Jim’s Racey’s Rescue Dog Sled Team
4 p.m. Sherps Demo with Beyond the Catch at Copper Crow
4:30-6 p.m. Flick and Float (Cool Runnings), Bayfield Recreation and Fitness Resources
5 p.m. Legendary Waters Resort and Casino, Prime Rib Dinner Special
5 – 8 p.m. Prime Rib Special at the Bayfield Inn Lakeside Dining room
6 p.m. – Midnight. Legendary Waters Resort & Casino, Ten times Dice & and Golden Ticket Drawings.
8 p.m. 11 p.m. – Live Music at Legendary Waters Resort & Casino Shantily Clad and Low Hanging Fruit
Sunday, March 6th
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Bloody Mary Sunday at Copper Crow Distillery
Noon – 4:30 pm. Bayfield School Band Bingo Fundraiser at Legendary Waters
4-6 p.m. Bonfire Fundraiser for Bayfield Playgrounds, Seagull Bay Motel: Food, hot/cold beverages, snow sculpture contest, prizes and more!
The “Birkie” returns to Hayward, providing year-round, healthy, active lifestyle events for thousands of adventurous spirits of all ages and abilities. Their slogan is SKI . RUN . BIKE . LIVE! It all began in 1973, when 35 determined skiers gathered on the starting line for the American Birkebeiner. Little did they know…they were about to change everything. Today, the Birkie provides year-round, healthy, active lifestyle events for thousands of adventurous spirits of all ages and abilities. In 2022, it’s back the weekend of February 26th and 27th!
The official name of this main event is the Slumberland American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Event. It’s North America’s largest and most prestigious X-C ski marathon; 12,000 skiers of all ages, genders and nationalities participate in the 51K Birkebeiner, the 24K Kortelopet, Prince Haakon 13K, the children’s Barnebirkie, Junior Birkie, Elite Sprints, and Family Fun Ski.
The Barkebirkie in Hayward, where people line the streets, big-time.
Other fun events include the Barkie Birkie Skijor and Giant Ski Competition (six people on one pair of skis. What-what?? Find out more here.) The Birkie is a year-round lifestyle choice for thousands of outdoor fitness enthusiasts of all levels. From its signature ski race, the legendary American Birkebeiner–Title Sponsor, Slumberland Furniture–the Birkie has grown into an exciting array of fitness and recreational opportunities. The 107-kilometer Birkie Trail system attracts skiers, runners, bikers, trekkers, and hikers, from casual day-trippers to elite superstars.
The Slumberland American Birkebeiner®:
Spans 50 kilometers from Cable to Hayward for Skaters, and 55K for Classic Skiers
North America’s largest cross-country ski marathon
Attracts over 10,000 Birkie/Korte skiers
Part of the Worldloppet circuit of 20 international ski marathons and part of the American Ski Marathon series of 13 races.
American Birkebeiner (the Birkie) Event Address:
10527 Main Street
Hayward, WI 54843
(715) 634-5025 Website
U.S. 63 and Highways 27 and 77 bring you to Hayward! From U.S. 53 at Trego, follow U.S. 63 north about 25 minutes.
Ashland’s Book Across the Bay is one of the upper Midwest’s most unique winter events, open to over 4,000 skiers and snowshoers of all ages and ability levels. The 10-kilometer course, which is groomed for both classic-style and skate skiing, starts in Ashland and ends in Washburn, and follows a route not on land, but over the frozen surface of Lake Superior, the world’s largest lake. The event is held at night, and the course is lit by the stars above and up to 1,000 candles in ice luminaries that line the entire route!
This is a FREE point-to-point race that starts in Ashland and ends in Washburn. Please plan your transportation accordingly. They strongly urge you to park your car in Washburn near the finish area at Thompson’s West End Park just off Highway 13, and catch a shuttle to Ashland before the race. Buses will run from Washburn to Ashland from 1:00–5:00 pm prior to the race.
The race itself starts in waves, from competitive skiers and snowshoers to recreational, and then walkers who may prefer not to be timed. The start area is at Maslowski Beach, which is located along U.S. Highway 2 at the far west end of Ashland. The finish line is in Washburn, on the bay near Thompson’s West End Park. A heated tent will be set up there for the post-race chili feed, beer and soda, music and awards.
Three Fun Races take place on Lake Superior in front of The Blue Wave:
The Penguin Fun Race starts at 11:00AM for children under 8 years old
The Fox Fun Race starts at 11:15AM for children 8 to 10 years old. Each participant in the Penguin and Fox races will receive an award, hot chocolate and cookies
The Polar Bear Race starts at 11:30AM for children 11 to 14 years of age. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place; cookie and hot chocolate
Participate, or just marvel at it. It’s a fun party and the area is beautiful this time of year – as long as you’re bundled up properly!
Also on Sunday, February 20th: Bike Across the Bay!
Bike Across the Bay at 10am, hosted by North Coast Cycling Association. The race will start from the Washburn Shore. Registration will be from 8:30-9:30am at the Harbor View Event Center, 130 Harbor View Dr, Washburn. Get more info at www.northcoastcycling.com.
U.S. 2 and Highway 13 are the main highways to and from Ashland. U.S. 63 guides you there from western Wisconsin, and local Highways 112 and 118 help you navigate the area. More things to do for this event in Ashland are available below.
Book Across the Bay Address:
Maslowski Beach Park
U.S. Highway 2 West
Ashland, WI 54806
(800) 284-9484 Website
Downtown Sturgeon Bay and the Stone Harbor Resort are the epicenter for the annual Fire & Ice Festival Weekend, happening February 19, 2022 right along the waters of the bay in Door County. Enjoy the beauty of winter at an event So Cool, it’s Hot!
Here’s the schedule for Fire & Ice events:
Friday, February 18th
6pm-8pm – Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe at Crossroads at Big Creek Nature Preserve.
Kick-off Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Fire & Ice Weekend with a candlelight ski or snowshoe at Crossroads at Big Creek. Trails that wind through Crossroads’ 125-acre Big Creek nature preserve will be lit by luminaries to provide a magical, memorable winter experience. (We will offer a candlelight hike if there’s not enough snow to ski.) Bring your own equipment or borrow ours. We have skis, poles, boots and snowshoes in all sizes from tiny tot to large adult. (First come, first serve as inventory allows.) Our volunteers will be on hand to help get you started. Staggered departures and safety protocols will be followed. Please avoid others when on the trails and step off the trails when necessary to avoid contact. This is a family-friendly event offered at no charge. Freewill donations to Crossroads are accepted and appreciated. No reservations necessary.
7:30pm – 11pm – Live Music with Russ Reiser
Happening at the Stone Harbor Resort.
Saturday, February 19th
9am-2pm – Snow & Ice Carvings around downtown
Stroll around town to witness novice and professional carvers turn blocks of snow and ice into works of art beginning at 9 am. Businesses will have in-store specials as well as outdoor activities. For the second year in a row, don’t forget to create your own snow-friend during the Community Snowman Build (weather permitting) at Martin Park to build your very own snowman. Carrots, scarves, and other snowman making materials will be provided.
9:30am-5:30pm – Winter Bourbon & Wine Tasting
Madison Avenue Market. Bourbon & Wine Samples, Chili & More!
10am-4pm – Bay Shore Outfitters Ice Castles
Ice Castles, in-store specials, and more
11am -1pm – Boys & Girls Club Fire Demonstration
Bay Shore Outfitters. Learn how to build your own Bonfire with the Door County Boys & Girls Club!
4pm-6pm Virtual Fire & Ice Gala
The weekend fun continues with our Virtual Fire & Ice Gala event! Your ticket and “Gala Gift” includes dinner for two (don’t worry–we sell single tickets, too!) from Scaturo’s Baking Co. & Cafe and a spectacular Fire & Ice created dessert from Stone Harbor Resort.
7:30pm-11pm – Live Music with The Moonlighters
Stone Harbor Resort
9pm – Winter on the Water Fireworks Show
Old Train Spur Bridge (at Sonny’s & Bridge Up Brewing Company)
ALL WEEKEND
25% off Children’s Books Sale at Novel Bay Booksellers; Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm
Fire & Ice Weekend Sale at Cornucopia Kitchen Shop; Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
Sweetheart Sale at Wilkins & Olander; Friday & Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
Savings up to 75%, Fire & Ice Photo Board, Valentine’s Giveaways & More!
Be sure to take a trolley around to see all of the sculptures!
For more information about the daytime activities, email vacation@sturgeonbay.net or call (920) 743-6246.
Sturgeon Bay is the seat of Door County, right where the peninsula is split by the waters the city is named after. Highways 42 and 57 bring you in, and there’s plenty else to see while you’re there – and of course, beauty and adventure await further up the peninsula!
Fire & Ice Festival Address:
Downtown Sturgeon Bay & Stone Harbor Resort
107 N. 1st Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 746-0700 Website
Hudson bursts with color in the middle of winter with the balloon-filled Hot Air Affair! Enjoy not only hot air balloons, but a HUGE slew of events throughout the weekend, both indoors and out. The Hot Air Affair balloons, of course, are all outside. Twenty featured balloons will launch Saturday and Sunday morning at 8am.
Starting Friday at 10am and running all weekend, many of Hudson’s shops, destinations, and restaurants have special offers, promotions, and events. You can also check out Virtual Ballooning with Rivers in the Air. Check out a whole series of virtual events, as shown on their schedule.
Saturday at 8am is the Pop Up Balloon Launch, with 20 hot air balloons rising from various locations around Hudson. You can’t attend this in person (yes, due to COVID) but online updates will guide you to where you can look to the sky and see the balloons dotting the winter sky.
Geocaching fans, the Hot Air Affair has plenty of coordinates for you to uncover, with a series of new hidden geocaches.
Saturday from 10am to 2pm is the Corn Hole Tournament at Hop & Barrel Brewing Company on 2nd Street. Teams have already registered, but you can check it out as long as you follow COVID-19 guidelines.
Saturday from 11am to 4pm, the Octagon House has walking tours and both the house/museum and the carriage house will be open for safely-spaced tours, in return for a small, suggested donation.
Ever partaken in smooshing?? At 1pm on Saturday, there’s a Virtual Smoosh Board Competition live on video so you can enjoy the wackiest sport at the Hot Air Affair.
Saturday from 5:30-6:30pm, you can partake in the Drive-Thru Balloon and Candlestick Glow Event at the St. Croix Business Park. Check out inflated hot air balloons – weather permitting – and glowing burners that will light up the darkness. You can enjoy all of this from the comfort of your vehicle. Tickets are required ($5 suggested donation) and you can secure them on their Square site here.
Sunday continues with geocaching, the Pop Up Ballon Launch at 8am again, and continued deals and events at shops and restaurants. At 12pm, you can check out the High Noon Fat Bike Race. It takes place at Lakefront Park in Hudson. It’s a 3K technical sprint along the St. Croix River bottoms and through the park, with “punchy hills and twisty turns.” 2pm on Sunday is the Peregrine Falcon Virtual Video, and 3pm is the Balloonist Roundtable.
Hudson is right along the gorgeous St. Croix River on the border with Minnesota, where I-94 and U.S. 12 enter the state. Highway 35 runs through the center of town. The beautiful Willow River State Park is nearby. Check out Hudson whenever you can, but if you can make it for Hot Air Affair, it’s definitely going to be a soaring good time!
The Torchlight Parade lights up the night during Hudson’s Hot Air Affair.
Hot Air Affair Address:
Downtown Hudson as well as E.P. Rock Elementary School
13th & Summer Streets
Hudson, WI 54016
(715) 386-4011 or (800) 657-6775 Website
Lake Superior Ice Festival is a community-driven festival celebrating the coolest aspects of Superior, Douglas County, and the whole northwestern Wisconsin region. Events include fireworks, ice sculptures, bonfires, family activities, snow slide, snow shoe and fat tire bike demos, Kubb (which you can learn to play), 9-hole Disc Golf, ice racing, and more.
For 2022, the Lake Superior Ice Festival will feature 24 ice sculptures around Superior at various businesses and city landmarks, each resting on a blue base with an accompanying trivia question. Starting Friday, January 28th at 5:00 pm you can go on their website to answer the trivia questions and be entered for a chance to win one of two $250 in Superior Business Improvement District BID Bucks.
Events you can enjoy include:
Friday & Saturday, all day: Orb 365: A Community Collaborative. Ice orbs that will be arranged in the shape of Lake Superior are the heart of this community art project that also encourages good stewardship of the area’s water resources.
Snow Creations at theRichard I. Bong Veterans Historical CenterandFairlawn Mansion. Kids (and adults, too) can craft their own snow creations on the grounds of the Bong Veterans Historical Center (305 Harborview Parkway) or the Fairlawn Mansion (906 E. 2nd Street/U.S. 2/53) and even get spray bottles filled with approved color dye to make their snowy creations brilliant! This is available at the Bong Center from 9am – 5pm Friday or Saturday and at the Fairlawn Mansion on Friday or Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Both venues will also offer half-price tours during this time.
Learn to Play Kubb. The sport of Kubb (pronounced “kooob”) is an old lawn game somewhat like bowling and horseshoes. The object is to knock over wooden blocks (the “kubbs”) with wooden batons you throw at them. Legend has it the Vikings (the ancient explorers, not the Minnesota football team) used to play the game using the skulls and bones of fallen enemies. Today, that’s frowned upon. You can learn how to play and/or watch the tournament!
Disc Golf. On Saturday from 10am to 4pm, the free 9-hole disc golf course will be open for you to play disc golf, see demonstrations, and even get instructions from local pros. It’s presented by the Lake Superior Disc Golf Community.
Midwest Ice Racing Association Races will feature Motorcycles and Quads racing on the ice next to the S.S. Meteor. The action happens Saturday, with gates opening at 7am, practices at 8:30, and racing from 10am – 3:30pm.
Fat Tire Bike Demos will take place Saturday from 10am to 2pm at Barkers Island. You can try out a bike, learn about programs from the College of St. Scholastica’s Outdoor PURSUIT! and Zeitgeist, and help them kick off their Winter Bike Week festivities, which runs through February 5th.
Bonfire Pits at Festival Park from 10am – 5pm Saturday.
The Passport Scavenger Hunt takes place Saturday from 10am to 4pm, where you can win prizes by picking up a passport, participating in activities, and checking them off in the passport.
The Superior Snow Slide offers a place to sled down on a large constructed hill designed specifically for sledding. It’s available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but only staffed with sled rentals available on Saturday from 10am to 7pm.
Hay Bale Shuttle on the Island is a free service that will pick you up and drop you off at any of the four stops around the Island: parking area/sledding hill, Festival Park, beach area access and Barker’s Island Inn. Shuttles will be available from 10 am – 6 pm on Saturday.
The Lake Superior Ice Festival Canine King & Queen Contest happens Saturday, presented by the Humane Society of Douglas County. All entries will have been done by the weekend, but you can watch the competition and crowning ceremony, which happens at noon!
Ice Carving in Action happens several times on Saturday, with the creations of these artists from Krystal Kleer Ice Sculptures from Appleton crafting amazing sculptures before your eyes! They’ll stay up around town for as long as Mother Nature will let them.
Saturday, January 30th, Noon to 4pm: Lake Superior Ice Racing Association Stock Car Races. Full-size stock cars will race on Allouez Bay, with rear-wheel and front-wheel cars and small pickup trucks in a series of races starting at noon on Saturday.
Delafield embraces the January cold with DelaFREEZE, their 4th annual season celebration with ice carvings in the streets along with shopping, activities, and more. Happening Saturday, January 8th, 2022 it’s family-friendly, free, and because it’s focused on the streets outside, it’s easy to enjoy some fresh air.
Stroll the streets of downtown Delafield and enjoy the amazing work of the art put into ice carving. Dozens of blocks of ice will be placed throughout town, and each sculpture will be carved from a block of ice during the DelaFREEZE hours of 10am to 3pm. A walking map will be available to walk visitors through the area to see all of the carvings.
Each sculpture will be carved from a 300-pound block of ice that has been frozen in a special process to ensure the blocks are crystal clear. The blocks are ten inches thick, twenty inches wide and stand forty inches tall on a wooden stand. The live sculpture carving grabs many a visitor’s attention! You can also see the carver’s tools and watch them work as they transform the massive blocks of ice into an array of masterpieces.
Downtown Delafield also offers a nice variety of boutique shops, restaurants, bars, and a beautiful walking and hiking area along its boardwalk on the Bark River, which winds through the northern edge of the downtown streets. Check out the old Fish Hatchery building while you’re there!
DelaFREEZE Schedule of Events:
10:00-3:00: Follow the walking map to enjoy the Ice Sculptures
10:00-1:00: Meet and Greet with H2M2-WI Husky Huddle and Malamute Snow Dogs at Chamber Office (412 Genesee St.)
11:00-1:00: Visit with Louie, the Lake Country DockHounds mascot, who will be in Clocktower Square. (Also check out their table, which will be set up in Here’s the Scoop.)
11:00 am and 2:00 pm Ice Age Trail will be featuring Monte the Mammoth and leading walks to see the sculptures. Meet at Belfre Kitchen.
3:00 Ice Carving Prizes will be announced outside Revere’s Wells Street Tavern.
Delafield is easily accessible just north of I-94 at County C (Exit #285) in the heart of Waukesha County’s Lake Country. Highway 83 is just to the east; Highway 16 runs north of the town and U.S. 18 is a few miles to the south, just past Lapham Peak State Park.
DelaFREEZE Address:
Downtown Delafield
412 Genesee Street
Delafield, WI 53018
(262) 370-3861 Website
West Bend, named for a bend in the Milwaukee River, is the seat of Washington County and is known for great shops and its beautiful downtown. Saturday, January 23rd and Sunday, January 24th, you can enjoy the city in full at the annual West Bend Winter Warm Up!
Check out the ice sculptures in the downtown area, including a live Ice Sculpture Demo in Old Settlers Park on Saturday between 1pm and 2:30pm. Downtown shops will have specials, treats, and chances for you to win gift baskets.
The High Jass Fat Tire Bike Race will take place in Regner Park, just across Highways 33/144 from downtown, both Saturday and Sunday. Check out the bikes churning their wide tires up and down hills and across trails in this two-day fun competition!
The Winter Luminary Walk is a free, lighted walking experience at and through the Lac Lawrann Conservancy. It happens from 5pm to 7pm Saturday evening.
Check out great stops downtown too, including Now and Then Antiques, West Bend Pilot Boutique & Unique Finds, Savoring Thyme, The Oaken Hogg Whiskey Bar, Riverside Brewery, Urban Bend Trends, Perfect Timing Gift Shop, Xpressions Yarn, Bead & Gift Boutique, All In Books, Over the Moon Gift Shop, and more! The Wisconsin Museum of Art is downtown across the river from Main Street, too.
You can easily access West Bend via Highways 33 and 144, just east of the U.S. 45 freeway in the heart of Washington County. Nearby, check out Sunburst Ski Hill in Kewaskum or Little Switzerland in Slinger for winter fun involving skiing, snowboarding, or tubing!
West Bend Winter Warm Up Address:
Downtown West Bend (120 N. Main Street)
West Bend, WI 53095 Website
Beloit embraces the cold and snowy season with its annual Beloit Winterfest, which this year offers a mix of virtual and in-person activities throughout locations in the city. It takes place Thursday, January 21st through Sunday, January 24th, 2021.
The City of Beloit Parks and Recreation Division runs these events, with in-person activities incorporating safety and social distance to increase opportunities for families and visitors to get out and enjoy winter in Beloit.
Beloit Winterfest Events include:
Virtual events such as: The “No Snow” Man Building Contest, where you can gather basic household items and build your snowman indoors. The winner will receive a prize bag filled with goodies; the deadline for sending in your photo is 3pm on Sunday the 24th.
The “Ralphie Challenge”, where you put on as many shirts and sweaters as you can, send in a picture, and potentially win another prize bag filled with goodies. This deadline is also 3pm on Sunday the 24th.
In-Person events, including: Snow Golf, which has a twist: you use a tennis ball as a ball and the snow as your tee. This takes place at Krueger-Haskell Golf Course (1611 Hackett Street) on Saturday, January 23rd. Golfers of all ages and all abilities are encouraged to participate. Reservations are required, and are for 9 holes walking. The rate applies for all ages. Updated COVID-19 guidelines will be in place and social distancing will be required. You must register by Thursday the 21st!
The “Welty Winder” Scavenger Hunt, where you can test your knowledge (and bloodhound-type skills) to find everything in this hunt throughout the city. The Welty Environmental Center takes you on this journey with 20 total clues. Share your journey on social media using the hashtags #BeloitWinterfest, #WeltyWinder and #BeloitWI… and #stt or #StateTrunkTour!
Find out more details with their online flyer, and check out other cool stuff in Beloit like G5 Brewing, the Ironworks Hotel and complex, the shops and restaurants downtown along Grand Avenue and adjacent streets, and more.
It’s easy to get to Beloit! Follow I-39/90 south, I-43 southwest from Milwaukee, or U.S. 51 south from Janesville. Highway 81 goes through town and provides access from Monroe and other points west; Highway 213 comes into Beloit from the northwest. Downtown is nestled in Beloit right next to the Beloit College campus, just blocks north of the Wisconsin-Illinois state line. It’s remarkable to see what Beloit has done with the city’s resurgence; see it this weekend with Beloit Winterfest!
The annual Cedarburg Winter Festival hits the heart of Cedarburg’s ridiculously beautiful and historic downtown along Washington Avenue (Historic Highway 57) Saturday, February 15th & Sunday, February 16th, 2020. With the new decade here, this year’s theme is “The Roaring 20s”!
Activities run from 8am to 9pm on Saturday, and 8am to 4pm on Sunday. The popular Ice Carving Contest sets the stage along the city’s main street, where 300-pound blocks of ice will be transformed into glistening pieces of Superhero-inspired art by talented ice carvers.
A tractor-drawn hay wagon provides a great view, but fest-goers who opt to stroll along Washington Avenue and prefer being outside can test their endurance by enjoying camel rides, egg hunts, sledding, ice skating or watching an old-fashioned dog pull.
Also make sure to stop in to the Cedarburg History Museum and the Cedarburg Visitors Center during the Cedarburg Winter Festival (and tell them you saw them on StateTrunkTour.com)! Doors will be open Saturday, Feb. 15th from 10am-4pm and Sunday, Feb. 16th from 12- 4pm. Cedarburg’s newest treasure houses the former General Store Museum, the Rappold-Dobberpuhl historic photograph collection, as well as a current exhibit.
Fest-goers can shake off the cold on Saturday at the Chili Contests taking place at the Community Center. Celebrity judging will begin at 11am for Saturday’s competition for individual entrants; during the competition, audience members can win great prizes donated by our generous downtown merchants.
Coinciding with the individual chili contest, festival attendees can buy sampler platters and vote for their favorite restaurant entries from 11am – 4pm in the Community Center. The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts will host a “make and take” along with coffee/cocoa and sweets bar on Saturday, and enjoy the “Upstairs Marketplace” with mittens, jewelry, hats, art, oils, dressings, candles and much more.
The Cedar Creek Settlement celebrates Cedarburg Winter Festival with live music on the Settlement’s main floor from 1:30 – 4:30pm Saturday, and from noon – 3pm on Sunday. While you’re indoors, stop into Cedar Creek Winery and the other settlement stores for complimentary samplings and unique gifts and treasures in more than 25 boutique shops! Some shops will be offering crafts & activities in celebration of the festival. On the way out enjoy a stop at the Anvil Pub & Grille’s outdoor bar and chili bar.
Be sure to catch the Cedarburg Winter Festival Grand Parade at 1pm Saturday, with themed bed racing teams as well as fire trucks, costumed characters, and other fun participants. The parade heads down Washington Avenue to Riveredge Drive for the start of the popular and hilarious Costumed Bed Races at 1:30pm sponsored by Verlo.
Harboring a musical talent? The Cool Notes Musical Talent Competition sponsored by Festivals of Cedarburg and the Cedarburg Cultural Center is the place you want to be on Saturday from 1:30 – 5:00pm. This Winter Festival competition is intended to recognize talent in Cedarburg and surrounding communities. Vocalists and instrumentalists will be showcased during the competition at the Cedarburg Cultural Center. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners plus a chance for the 1st place winner to play on the main stage at the Cedarburg Wine & Harvest Festival held in September. Click here for a registration forms are available ($10 registration fee.)
For grown-up fun on Saturday evening from 7:00 – 9:00pm, stop by Cool Brew & Tunes at the Community Center for live music! Taste craft beers while you enjoy appetizers from local restaurants, a raffle and live music. Dress as your favorite Superhero! Tickets to the event are $28 per person – Tickets will be available online soon or buy at the Community Center during the day until 4:00 p.m. as well as at the door starting at 7:00 p.m. if supplies last (cash only).
Sunday will dawn with the popular Pancake Breakfast at the Community Center from 8:00am to 11:30am. Enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes & two sausages for just $6 for adults, and $4 for kids ages 4-10. (Kids three and under are free.) The event includes children’s activities, and at 10:30am the “under 7 set” will venture outdoors to hunt for hidden treats during the Egg Hunt. Remember to bring a bag or container for the eggs. All proceeds from the pancake breakfast benefit the Cedarburg High School Robotics Club.
On Sunday from 10:00am – 4:00pm, top dogs will compete in the Dog Weight Pull Competition sponsored by the Alaskan Malamute Club of Wisconsin and Fromm Foods.
From 12:30 – 4:00pm on Sunday, enjoy the 3rd Annual Dodgeball Tournament sponsored by Dad’s Club of Thorson Elementary School. Located inside the Community Center at W63 N641 Washington Avenue. 12:30pm – Brat Grill Off; 2:00pm – 4:00pm – Dodgeball Tournament. Registration fees: Youth ages 5-8; Tween ages 9-12; Teens ages 13-17 $5/per child. Adults (18+); Seniors (55+) $10/person.
Cedarburg Winter Festival Address:
Downtown Cedarburg
Washington Avenue
Cedarburg, WI 53012
(262) 377-9620 Website
Burlington is “Chocolate City USA,” so it makes sense for them to have Hot Chocolate Fest in winter, right? This year, Hot Chocolate Fest runs Friday, January 17th through Sunday, January 19th.
The fest includes Pond Hockey and Broom Ball Tournaments on Echo Lake (weather permitting), the Cabin Fever 5K through downtown Burlington, campfire storytelling, a Red Chili contest with area restaurants competing, of course… a “Who has the best hot chocolate??” Contest.
Here’s the schedule Hot Chocolate Fest:
Friday- All at The Veteran’s Terrace
5pm – 9pm Open Skate
6:30pm – 8pm Un-Hich’d (Pop/Country/Rock Duo)
8:30pm – 11pm NEW Piano Guys DUELING PIANOS
Saturday-
10am – Free Family Movie- The Plaza
10am – 9pm Open Skate/Broomball/Bonfires/Smores at Vets
10am – 1pm Hot Chocolate Walk/Tasting Downtown
10am – Noon Snowman Decorating Contest at Vets
10am – 4pm Artisan Market at Mercantile Hall
1pm – 4pm Chili Walk/Tasting Downtown
6:30pm – 8pm Astro Blues Band (Classic Rock and Blues Band) at Vets
8pm – 11pm LUNCH MONEY BULLIES at Vets
Sunday-
7:30 Registration opens for Cabin Fever 5K at Vets
8 – 11am – Pancake Breakfast at the Veterans Terrace -Tickets $10 each. Proceeds will benefit both Driven Students and the new Santa Chalet.
9:00am Cabin Fever 5k begins at Veterans Terrace
Downtown Burlington has a lot of great places to check out, from the Yo-Yo Museum to Fred’s (famous for their burgers), and more. Follow Highways 11, 36, 83, or 142 – they’ll all bring you to Chocolate City USA and Hot Chocolate Fest.
Hot Chocolate Fest Address:
Echo Park
589 Milwaukee Avenue
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 763-6044 Website
A sweeping game of pond hockey at last year’s Hot Chocolate Fest in Burlington. (Photo courtesy of the Racine Journal Times.)
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
Start:
January 17, 2020 5:00 pm
End:
January 19, 2020 4:00 pm
Venue:
Echo Park
Phone:
262-763-6044
Address:
589 Milwaukee Avenue, Burlington, WI, 53105, United States
That’s an attention getter, right? Watch winter come to a climactic end as the greatest event on ice wraps up the season. Thousands of Weenie enthusiasts come annually to watch the fastest sleds compete for top speed of the day while eating up those great Klement’s Hot Dogs and drinking down an ice cold Pepsi or Budweiser beer. Watch as dozens of people get the first swim of the year in Lake Namakagon at the Frozen Weenie Polar Bear Plunge, win prizes at the many games and enjoy great music while taking it all in. This event is the highlight of winter and rooms fill up quickly. Don’t miss out on this fantastic family event.
Held to raise funds for the Great Divide Ambulance Service, the Namakagon Volunteer Fire Department and other area charities and not-for-profits, this event holds the record for the longest line of hot dog cookers over one fire in the world. With events like snowmobile speed runs, ice drags, crooked weenie obstacle course, and snow drags all on Lake Namakagon, there is more than enough fun for everyone.
All the action for the World’s Largest Weenie Roast takes place Saturday, March 2nd in Cable, along County M near U.S. 63 at the Lakewoods Resort & Forest Ridge Golf Course. Get all the event details here!
World’s Longest Weenie Roast Address:
Lakewoods Resort & Forest Ridge Golf Course
21540 County Road M
Cable, WI 54821
(715) 794-2561 Website
Date:
March 2, 2019
Venue:
Lakewoods Resort & Forest Ridge Golf Course
Phone:
715-794-2561
Address:
21540 County Road M, Cable, WI, 54821, United States
The Northwoods Blizzard Blast is a “flurry of winter fun for everyone” in Conover, between Eagle River and Land O’Lakes along Highway 32 & U.S. 45 in the heart of the North Woods! Activities in Conover Community Park include ice bowling, the Dogsled Dash, recliner racing, sledding, face painting, fireworks, horse drawn sleigh rides, snow carving, snowshoe baseball, and an Artisan Bazaar in the adjacent Conover Community Center. Check out related events in Phelps and Land O’Lakes, too!
The Blizzard Blast Bazaar hosts numerous artisans and exhibitors with hand-crafted items, talents on display, food and beverages, and more. Admission is free for the Bazaar all day.
Recliner races. Not as relaxing as most recliner activities.
All of this activity is in Vilas County north of Eagle River. Follow U.S. 45 & Highway 32 north from Eagle River, past where Highway 17 veers off for its ride to Phelps. Conover is about 15 minutes north of Eagle River, and Land O’Lakes (plus the source of the Wisconsin River in Lac Vieax Desert) is just north of Conover.
Northwoods Blizzard Blast Addresses:
Conover Community Park
4697 Park Circle, just off U.S. 45/Hwy 32
Conover, WI 54519
(715) 891-6254 Website
Blizzard Blast Schedule of Events in Conover (subject to updates and changes):
Wed-Sat SNOW SCULPTING COMPETITION -$100 prize! $25 (team)
9am-4pm ARTISAN BAZAAR Free
9am-4pm FACE PAINTING Varies
10am-4pm HORSE DRAWN SCENIC RIDES $2-$5
10:15am X-COUNTRY FUN SKI & TRAIL TOUR $10
10am-4pm SLAP SHOT HOCKEY-Shot on goal, win a prize! $1
10am-4pm ICE BOWLING-Bowl at strike, win a prize! $1
10am-4pm WINTER CARNIVAL GAMES FOR KIDS $1 each
10am-4pm PONY RIDES $2
10am-4pm YOUTH ARCHERY DEMO Free
10am-4pm SNOW ART FUN FOR KIDS Free
10am-4pm SNOWBOARD DEMO & INSTRUCTION Free
10am-2pm SNOWSHOE BASEBALL GAMES Free
10pm-4pm SNOWSHOE DEMO BY HIKER BOX Free
12pm-3pm KID’S DOGSLED DASH-win a Musher’s Medal $2
10am-2:30 RECLINER RACE QUALIFYING LAPS $1
3pm RECLINER RACE FINALS-$100 prize! (register by 2:30pm) $20 (team of 3)
4 pm TROPHY PRESENTATION Free
Sandwiches, S’mores, snacks, soda & beer are available all day.
Toasty bonfires and heated restrooms are located throughout the park.
Start:
February 16, 2019 10:00 am
End:
February 16, 2019 6:00 pm
Venue:
Conover Community Park
Phone:
715-547-8120
Address:
4697 Park Circle, Conover, WI, 54519, United States
Fond du Lac hosts the Sturgeon Spectacular Thursday-Sunday February 7-10, 2019 on and along the south shores of Lake Winnebago. After all, the Sturgeon’s evolution dates back over 200 million years, haven’t they earned a multi-day celebration? The city at the “bottom of the lake” celebrates these famed “bottom feeders” with a top-drawer weekend of fun for all.
This quirky and fun take on a winter festival features events on the ice and off the ice. Enjoy activities indoors, outdoors and throughout the community. Highlights include a kick-off parade, live musical performances including Boogie and the Yo-yo’z, the hottest party band in Wisconsin, ice and snow carving, comedy shows and the hilarious Guys on Ice show. Whether you love outdoor hockey, kids zones, fat tire bike racing, chili crawls or warming up near a toasty bonfire, you and your family will NOT run out of things to do at this year’s Sturgeon Spectacular.
FREE EVENTS ALL WEEKEND LONG!
Friday events include the Sturgeon Stampede, Shantytown Fun at the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac, the Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Competition, the Running of the Sturgeon Parade, and the Sturgeon Spectacular Kick-off Celebration and Concert. Get more info and details here!
Saturday events include the Girls Outdoor Hockey Tournament, Snow-ga, the Sturgeon Spectacular Fun Run & Dog Jog, the Winter Softball Classic, Lakeside Park Winter Fun Zone, “Spear the Fatty” at Lakeside Park, the Downtown Chili Crawl, Paint your own Sturgeon, ComedySports, and more! Get details here.
The 2019 Fire & Ice Festival is a family-friendly fun event that warms up downtown on Groundhog Day, Saturday, February 2, 2019!
Centering on Racine’s Monument Square, the Fire & Ice Festival is a free community event designed to break you out of that winter cabin fever.
Ice carvers will be on hand to wow you with their icy creations. They’ll start their work at noon and shape huge blocks of ice right before your very eyes. If you grab a selfie with the finished sculptures, feel free to post use #fireandicefest to humble-brag.
You can carve a little yourself by taking advantage of the FREE ice skating rink on the square. Free ice skate rentals will be available from noon – 5:00 pm.
Enjoy a stroll through their vendor area to check out fabulous handmade crafts and get to know local small business owners. Get something to eat at one of the yummy food trucks on site. Or, grab a hot cup of cocoa and warm up by a fire. Yes, you read that right! What’s a Fire and Ice Festival without the fire? It’s a bonfire, actually. After the event, shake the chill off by heading over to McAuliffe’s on the Square for some warming drinks and some live music! You can also enjoy local, craft brews at Racine Brewing Company or an old-school diner burger at the Kewpee, just two blocks away.
Downtown Racine is an easy drive via Highways 11, 20, or 32 from I-41/94; Highway 38 also bring you in from the northwest. The “Belle City” offers up great kringle, great restaurants, the fantastic Racine Art Museum (aka the “RAM)”), and Monument Square will host First Fridays in Racine from April through December this year.
Racine Fire & Ice Festival Address:
Monument Square, Downtown
524 Main Street (Highways 20/32, just south of where Highway 38 ends)
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 834-8155 Website
The Burlington Ice Festival offers art, fun, and plenty of ice Saturday, December 8th, 2018! Admire at least 15 ice sculptures carved on-site before your very eyes.
Each sculpture is carved from a 300-pound block of ice that has been frozen in a special process to ensure that the blocks are crystal clear. Live sculpture carving, a favorite viewing attraction, showcases ice carvers using hand tools transforming massive blocks of ice into an array of giant masterpieces. Ice carving begins around 10am Saturday, with judging for prizes around 4:30pm. That gives you much of the day to watch them construct these masterpieces, and you can continue to admire them until – well – Mother Nature says you can’t! When you’re not viewing the artists in action, take a ride in a horse-drawn wagon, see a reindeer, or visit Santa Claus! There’s no cost to attend.
While in Burlington, check out the Spinning Top & Yo-Yo Museum, the Burlington Farmers’ Market, the Burlington Historical Museum, the Malt House Theatre & the Haylofters, the Chocolate Experience Museum, or grab a burger at the legendary Fred’s, right on the downtown corner.
Burlington Ice Festival Address:
355 N. Pine Street
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 342-1161 Website
Burlington Ice Festival Schedule of Events:
Saturday, December 15
• Ice carving competition: 10 am – 4 pm (Judge at 4 pm)
• Horse and wagon rides: 11 am – 3 pm
• Reindeer in the park: 11 am – 2 pm
• Cookie walk downtown: 12 pm – 4 pm
• Bonfires in the park & s’mores: 12 pm – 4 pm
• Carolers: 12 pm – 4 pm
• Santa in the Chalet: 2 pm – 4 pm
• Crafts for kids at the Library
• Carvings lit up at night!
Sunday, December 16
• State carving competition awards: 10:30 am
• Horse and wagon rides: 11 am – 2 pm
• Santa in the Chalet: 2 pm – 4 pm
• Hug a Husky at Mercantile Hall: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
• Bloody Marys & mimosas at Bubba’s Brickyard
• Carvings lit up at night!
Be sure to check out the Burlington Cookie Walk on Saturday, running at the same time!
Back to State Trunk Tour
Start:
December 15, 2018
End:
December 16, 2018
Venue:
Wehmhoff Square Park
Phone:
262-342-1161
Address:
355 N. Pine Street, Burlington, WI, 53105, United States
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events › Winter Festival
December 1, 2023 – January 1, 2024
La Crosse Rotary Lights
OVER THREE MILLION LIGHTS. That’s crazy! And beautiful. And festive. And there’s a lot more to see at the La Crosse Rotary Lights, that holiday special event that runs November 24th through December 31st at Riverside Park. The parade kicks everything off at 6pm on the 24th, with the opening ceremony immediately following. Santa will be on hand to throw the switch turning on all these lights (and probably momentarily dimming some others across town – that’s gotta be a huge power draw!), too. Helicopter rides are back this year, too!
Among the splendor is a 140- foot Christmas tree and plenty of animated light displays. Live nativity presentation on weekends until Christmas, although the number of participants will be limited this year. Santa, after opening the festivities, will continue to be there for you and the kids until December 23rd.
Here’s how it works if you choose to drive through it: The line forms down State Street and continues to the North on 2nd Street. On busy nights, the line will back up onto 3rd Street/Copeland Ave/U.S. 53. Roads will be blocked so that you cannot enter from State Street, northbound on Second Street, or from Vine Street. You can tune your car stereo to their local Christmas channel for good musical accompaniment while joining the caravan of onlookers from the comfort – and heat – of your car.
If you prefer to walk or take a carriage ride through the display, you do not need to wait in line. There is usually street parking available near the park or there are several parking ramps within walking distance. Get Parking Ramp Information HERE. Horse-drawn carriages are available most weekends and run $20/couple or $30/family. No Tuesday night hayrides this year, but you can still get free s’mores at the fire pit, where supplies will be individually packaged.. You’ll also still be able to experience the helicopter rides for an amazing view! New additions from last year that they’ve kept include a brand new sleigh for photos, heated restrooms available on both the north and south ends of the park, and the hologram display.
Remember, Santa shows up nightly from 5 – 8 pm until December 21st (of course, he has to hurry back to the North Pole right after that and get his sleigh ready for that worldwide trip) and there’s no sitting on his lap.
Weather permitting, the Chad Erickson Ice Rink is available for skating, Monday through Friday 5pm-8pm, Saturday Noon to 8pm, and Sunday Noon to 6pm. The warming hut and skate rental are back, and of course you can bring your own skates! A heated igloo will be available if you need to warm up and/or change. You can call (608) 784-9993 to check on Skating Rink Status and information; voicemail messages are updated daily.
New this year is All Abilities Night on Monday, November 27th. They will be adjusting the lights and music to accommodate individuals that may not have been able to experience the show in the past due to flashing lights and loud music.
The hours for La Crosse Rotary Lights are 5-10pm daily. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the hours are 5-9pm; New Year’s Eve, it will stay open until 1 am; meaning technically La Crosse Rotary Lights lasts into January 1, 2024.
The whole La Crosse Rotary Lights admission and experience is free of charge, but Rotary Lights does welcome donations; monetary or non-perishable food item donations are strongly encouraged. Get the full Schedule of Events here!
Riverside Park (just off U.S. 53)
410 Veterans Memorial Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601
(608) 784-9993
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
February 1, 2023 – February 5, 2023
Lake Geneva Winterfest & the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition
L
ake Geneva celebrates winter like no other place. Winterfest is a brouhaha of shopping, dining, music, magic, refreshments, and activities including thrilling helicopter rides over the town and lake. It’s capped off, of course, by the amazing designs and creativity of the U.S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition – right along the lake at the Riviera – where fifteen teams of the most talented snow sculptors and artists from around the country gather to compete for a national title. The entire competition is open to the public, so Winterfest attendees can actually watch the artists at work!
Be here to witness these teams at work during an epic 72-hour competition where their artistry is put to the test in creating remarkable, larger-than-life snow sculptures.
2023 TEAMS:
• Block #1: Team Alaska: AK Department of Snow
• Block #2: Team Illinois 1: Cave People from Space
• Block #3: Team Colorado: Snicecarvings
• Block #4: Team North Dakota: Jay Ray w/SnoKraft
• Block #5: Team Vermont: The Pour Saps
• Block #6: Team Wisconsin 2: Up to Snow Good
• Block #7: Team New York
• Block #8: Team Iowa 2: The Driftless Snow Sculptors
• Block #9: Team Wisconsin 1: Sculptora Borealis
• Block #10: Team Illinois 2: Two Blondes and a Brunette
• Block #11: Team New Hampshire: Granite State Snow Sculptors
• Block #12: Team Minnesota 2: Snow Van Gogh
• Block #13: Team Michigan
• Block #14: Team Iowa 1: Butch St. Carvers
• Block #15: Team Minnesota 1: Team Kwe
In addition to the snow sculpting competition, you’ll find more wintery fun during Winterfest week, including the 4th annual Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk, Bonfires on the Beach, Fire & Ice Bar, a Cocoa Crawl and many more events, activities and specials around Lake Geneva and the surrounding area. It runs Wednesday through Sunday, February 1st-5th as part of Winterfest. The walk is just steps away from the snow sculpting competition, with dozens of artfully crafted ice sculptures adorning the front faces of shops, restaurants, and other businesses throughout the Downtown district. Ice sculptures will be installed Friday morning, February 4th and remain on display as long as the cold weather permits!
Avant Cycle Café | 234 Broad Street
Barrique Bistro & Wine Bar | 835 Wrigley Drive
Bloomingbyrds | 755 W. Main Street
Brick & Mortar Home | 832 Geneva Street
Brick & Mortar Home and Outdoor | 222 Center Street
Clearwater Outdoor Sports | 744 W. Main Street
Cornerstone Shop & Gallery | 214 Broad Street
Egg Harbor Café | 827 W Main Street
Evr drygds | 719 W. Main Street
Fancy Fair Mall | 830 W Main Street
Geneva Gifts | 150 Broad Street
Haberdapper | 253 Broad Street
Harbor Shores on Lake Geneva | 300 Wrigley Drive
Interstate Insurance Group | 811 Wrigley Drive (Popeye’s)
Kilwins | 772 Main Street
Lake Geneva Lifestyle/Donna Brongiel | 703 Main Street
Lake Geneva Motel | 201 Wrigley Drive (Visitor Info Center)
Lake Geneva Spice Company | 255 Broad Street
Marigold | 725 W Main Street
Overland Sheepskin Co. | 752 W. Main Street
Queen Bee Artisan Market | 830 W. Main Street
Sopra Bistro | 724 Main Street
The Bottle Shop | 617 W. Main Street
The Candle Mercantile | 870 W. Main Street
The Olive Oil Shops | 221 Broad Street
Thumbs Up | 260 Broad Street
Winterfest activities focus on downtown Lake Geneva, which lies right along Highway 50. U.S. 12 and Highway 120 are close to the east and Highway 67 is a few miles to the west near Delavan. It’s easy to get to – and a total blast!
Lake Geneva Winterfest & U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition Address:
Downtown Lake Geneva/Riviera Park
201 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 13, 2023 – January 22, 2023
Waukesha JanBoree
Waukesha JanBoree is called “Wisconsin’s Premier Winter Festival” and it runs for ten days in 2023. This year, it’s “Channel the Flannel” for the 37th annual JanBoree from Friday, January 13th through Sunday, January 22nd.
JanBoree includes over 35 events throughout Waukesha, most of which are free. Events include disc golf, hockey, bocce ball, trivia and ComedySportz performances, a “Cosmic Colors” planetarium show, a variety of games, and more!
Opening Ceremonies are held Friday from 4-9pm at Waukesha’s Lowell Park, complete with fireworks. Details on this and other events below.
Events are held at various locations around the city, including Lowell Park, Minooka Park, the Waukesha Transit Center downtown, North High School, and more. See event pages here for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for specifics and maps.
Friday events on Opening Night include the Opening Ceremonies, an Ice Sculpting Demo, the Arctic Avalanche, the Carnival of Curiosities, a Fireworks Extravaganza, and the 350’ lighted toboggan run (reservations required.) NEW this year is the Glow Walk, a 1.7-mile walk around Frame Park – complete with a furnished glow stick!
The fireworks extravaganza tops it all off Friday night at 8pm at Lowell Park.
On Saturday, check out trolley rides, a pancake breakfast that you can burn off with the Frosty 5K Walk/Run at Frame Park, geocaching, ice sculpting, Frozen FootGolf & S’Moorball at Moor Downs, Ice Bocce Ball, a penguin egg hunt, and plenty more all day!
Sunday features the “Dinosaurs Alive” Planetarium Show, an ice fishing clinic, horse-drawn wagon rides, or the Alaskan Malamute Dog Pull at Minooka Park, and of course the Arctic Avalanche and family ice skating continues.
During the week, additional activities will include Frozen Footgolf, a snowman building contest, a goose chase scavenger hunt, airport tours, and special movie or planetarium shows.
Weekday Activities:
Monday, January 16, 2023
Snow Snake Workshop
“The Sum and Su Familia” Planetarium Show
Tuesday, January 16, 2023
Winter Tyke Hike
Snow Snake Workshop
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
LumberJackie & Jilly Time
All Out Flannel Community Workout!
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Upcycle Your Flannel
Friday, January 20, 2023
Lumberjack Jaunt – Glow Walk
The second weekend (January 21-22) will feature the Frosty 5K, an Ice-Sculpting Competition, and a Candlelight Hike in Minooka Park at sunset.
Get all the details at the main JanBoree website. Waukesha can be a tricky city to navigate, but getting to it is easy. Follow U.S. 18, Highway 59, or Highway 164 to get there. I-94 and Highway 16 also bring you close to the city and all the fun JanBoree events.
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 13, 2023 – March 10, 2023
Ice Castles Lake Geneva
Ice Castles are back in Lake Geneva! Tickets are on sale now.
Lake Geneva is beautiful and fun enough already, but with the Ice Castles coming again after such a crazy 2022, this winter it gets even better! Seven days a week starting soon through early March – weather permitting – the massive ice castles compound can be explored and enjoyed by the whole family. The artistic project got underway in November, one of several projects in North America by Ice Castles LLC, a Utah-based company with similar projects in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Utah. One of the most unique and amazing facts about the Ice Castles is that they are literally built by hand. They grow more than 5,000 icicles each day that they harvest and sculpt together. These Ice Castles create life-size winter playgrounds, with illuminated inside the castles at night with color-changing LED lights that twinkle to music. You can explore ice-carved tunnels, fountains, slides, frozen thrones, and towering ice formations. This is truly something to dazzle the entire family. This mega-complex of ice will be at the Geneva National Resort and Club, just west of downtown Lake Geneva off Highway 50, a little east of Highway 67. How long will it last? Depends on the weather, of course, but they’ll keep it open into March if they can. You can keep up with the construction of Ice Castles and weather conditions, which will be continuously updated, on their website.
Tickets are on sale now. Admission prices are:
WEEKDAYS (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday): General Admission, ages 12 and up: $25 Child Admission, ages 4-11: $17 Children 3 and younger: Free
WEEKENDS (Friday – Sunday): General Admission, ages 12 and up: $29 Child Admission, ages 4-11: $22 Children 3 and younger: Free
Be prepared to hit U.S. 12 or Highways 50, 67, or 120 to get to Lake Geneva and experience Ice Castles Wisconsin and the magic of the winter season!
Ice Castles Lake Geneva Address:
Geneva National Resort & Club
1091 Hidden Cottage Circle
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-4416
Website
Pulled from their website, here are some “Tips for a great experience” to Ice Castles Lake Geneva:
Find out more about Lake Geneva HERE.
Back to State Trunk Tour
March 4, 2022 – March 6, 2022
Bayfield Winter Festival
The Bayfield Winter Festival is an annual wild weekend of winter fun, taking place March 4-6, 2022! To celebrate the end of winter (almost), the town and nearby places like Mt. Ashwabay put on a variety of fun and crazy activities. Whether you plunge into the frozen lake, chow down fish livers, tear up the obstacle course, go fat tire biking, do the Poker Run, or just come for the party, we’re sure you’ll enjoy the celebration of the end of the joyous winter season.
On behalf of the residents of Bayfield and surrounding communities, the Bayfield Winter Festival team invites you to join the shenanigans! A schedule is below.
Check out the Polar Plunge on Saturday, which is always fun to watch. Hey, watch it from a previous year here:
Bayfield is a beautiful town in any season, not just during the Bayfield Winter Festival. Highway 13 brings you there, just a few miles north of Washburn and from U.S. 2 near Ashland.
Bayfield Winter Festival Address:
140 Broad Street
Bayfield, WI 54814
(715) 779-5408
Website
Fat Tire biking during the Bayfield Winter Festival.
Schedule for Bayfield Winter Festival
Friday, March 4th
1-3 p.m. Winter Botany Hike at Big Ravine Trailhead, Preregistration Required (FULL!)
2:30-5 p.m. Bonfire at Bayfield Winery and Blue Ox Cider
3:30-6:30 p.m. Open Swim, Bayfield Recreation and Fitness Resources
4-9 p.m. Friday Youth “Glow” Night at Mount Ashwabay
4-6 p.m. Happy Hour at the Creamery with $1 off any drink
5-8 p.m. Fish Fry Special at the Bayfield Inn Lakeside Dining Room
6-9 p.m. Candlelight Ski/Hike/Snowshoe at Howl Adventure Center
6 p.m. – Close: Bonfire and Beer at Adventure Club Brewery
Saturday, March 5th
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bayfield City Wide Winter Fest Sales at local businesses
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Children’s Sensory Activities at Sweet Sailing, hosted by Kiddiwink Kids
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pet Adoption Event at Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion, Chequamegon Humane Association
Noon – 7 p.m. Open Swim, Bayfield Recreation and Fitness Resources
Noon- 1 p.m. Polar Plunge Sign In, Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
NOON – 1 p.m. Penguin Egg Hunt – Eggs will be hidden in the snow by the pavilion and polar plunge area.
Noon – 3 p.m. “Shiver your Liver” serving whitefish livers, hot food and beverages at Pier Plaza Ice Cream Window
Noon- 2 p.m. Family Activities – Tug of war, snowball races and more by the pavilion
1 p.m. Jim’s Racey’s Rescue Dog Sled Team Demo on Ice Road (weather permitting)
1:30 -2 p.m. United States Coast Guard Ice Rescue Demo, Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion
2-3 p.m. Polar Plunge, Bayfield Lakeside Pavilion
3-4:30 p.m. Hug a Husky Meet and Greet with Jim’s Racey’s Rescue Dog Sled Team
4 p.m. Sherps Demo with Beyond the Catch at Copper Crow
4:30-6 p.m. Flick and Float (Cool Runnings), Bayfield Recreation and Fitness Resources
5 p.m. Legendary Waters Resort and Casino, Prime Rib Dinner Special
5 – 8 p.m. Prime Rib Special at the Bayfield Inn Lakeside Dining room
6 p.m. – Midnight. Legendary Waters Resort & Casino, Ten times Dice & and Golden Ticket Drawings.
8 p.m. 11 p.m. – Live Music at Legendary Waters Resort & Casino Shantily Clad and Low Hanging Fruit
Sunday, March 6th
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Bloody Mary Sunday at Copper Crow Distillery
Noon – 4:30 pm. Bayfield School Band Bingo Fundraiser at Legendary Waters
4-6 p.m. Bonfire Fundraiser for Bayfield Playgrounds, Seagull Bay Motel: Food, hot/cold beverages, snow sculpture contest, prizes and more!
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
February 26, 2022 – February 27, 2022
Slumberland American Birkebeiner
The “Birkie” returns to Hayward, providing year-round, healthy, active lifestyle events for thousands of adventurous spirits of all ages and abilities. Their slogan is SKI . RUN . BIKE . LIVE! It all began in 1973, when 35 determined skiers gathered on the starting line for the American Birkebeiner. Little did they know…they were about to change everything. Today, the Birkie provides year-round, healthy, active lifestyle events for thousands of adventurous spirits of all ages and abilities. In 2022, it’s back the weekend of February 26th and 27th!
The official name of this main event is the Slumberland American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Event. It’s North America’s largest and most prestigious X-C ski marathon; 12,000 skiers of all ages, genders and nationalities participate in the 51K Birkebeiner, the 24K Kortelopet, Prince Haakon 13K, the children’s Barnebirkie, Junior Birkie, Elite Sprints, and Family Fun Ski.
Other fun events include the Barkie Birkie Skijor and Giant Ski Competition (six people on one pair of skis. What-what?? Find out more here.) The Birkie is a year-round lifestyle choice for thousands of outdoor fitness enthusiasts of all levels. From its signature ski race, the legendary American Birkebeiner–Title Sponsor, Slumberland Furniture–the Birkie has grown into an exciting array of fitness and recreational opportunities. The 107-kilometer Birkie Trail system attracts skiers, runners, bikers, trekkers, and hikers, from casual day-trippers to elite superstars.
The Slumberland American Birkebeiner®:
American Birkebeiner (the Birkie) Event Address:
10527 Main Street
Hayward, WI 54843
(715) 634-5025
Website
U.S. 63 and Highways 27 and 77 bring you to Hayward! From U.S. 53 at Trego, follow U.S. 63 north about 25 minutes.
Check out a recap from last year here!
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
February 19, 2022
Ashland Book Across the Bay
Ashland’s Book Across the Bay is one of the upper Midwest’s most unique winter events, open to over 4,000 skiers and snowshoers of all ages and ability levels. The 10-kilometer course, which is groomed for both classic-style and skate skiing, starts in Ashland and ends in Washburn, and follows a route not on land, but over the frozen surface of Lake Superior, the world’s largest lake. The event is held at night, and the course is lit by the stars above and up to 1,000 candles in ice luminaries that line the entire route!
This is a FREE point-to-point race that starts in Ashland and ends in Washburn. Please plan your transportation accordingly. They strongly urge you to park your car in Washburn near the finish area at Thompson’s West End Park just off Highway 13, and catch a shuttle to Ashland before the race. Buses will run from Washburn to Ashland from 1:00–5:00 pm prior to the race.
The race itself starts in waves, from competitive skiers and snowshoers to recreational, and then walkers who may prefer not to be timed. The start area is at Maslowski Beach, which is located along U.S. Highway 2 at the far west end of Ashland. The finish line is in Washburn, on the bay near Thompson’s West End Park. A heated tent will be set up there for the post-race chili feed, beer and soda, music and awards.
Three Fun Races take place on Lake Superior in front of The Blue Wave:
Participate, or just marvel at it. It’s a fun party and the area is beautiful this time of year – as long as you’re bundled up properly!
Also on Sunday, February 20th: Bike Across the Bay!
Bike Across the Bay at 10am, hosted by North Coast Cycling Association. The race will start from the Washburn Shore. Registration will be from 8:30-9:30am at the Harbor View Event Center, 130 Harbor View Dr, Washburn. Get more info at www.northcoastcycling.com.
U.S. 2 and Highway 13 are the main highways to and from Ashland. U.S. 63 guides you there from western Wisconsin, and local Highways 112 and 118 help you navigate the area. More things to do for this event in Ashland are available below.
Book Across the Bay Address:
Maslowski Beach Park
U.S. Highway 2 West
Ashland, WI 54806
(800) 284-9484
Website
Back to State Trunk Tour
Fire & Ice Festival, Sturgeon Bay
Here’s the schedule for Fire & Ice events:
Friday, February 18th
6pm-8pm – Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe at Crossroads at Big Creek Nature Preserve.
Kick-off Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Fire & Ice Weekend with a candlelight ski or snowshoe at Crossroads at Big Creek. Trails that wind through Crossroads’ 125-acre Big Creek nature preserve will be lit by luminaries to provide a magical, memorable winter experience. (We will offer a candlelight hike if there’s not enough snow to ski.) Bring your own equipment or borrow ours. We have skis, poles, boots and snowshoes in all sizes from tiny tot to large adult. (First come, first serve as inventory allows.) Our volunteers will be on hand to help get you started. Staggered departures and safety protocols will be followed. Please avoid others when on the trails and step off the trails when necessary to avoid contact. This is a family-friendly event offered at no charge. Freewill donations to Crossroads are accepted and appreciated. No reservations necessary.
7:30pm – 11pm – Live Music with Russ Reiser
Happening at the Stone Harbor Resort.
Saturday, February 19th
9am-2pm – Snow & Ice Carvings around downtown
Stroll around town to witness novice and professional carvers turn blocks of snow and ice into works of art beginning at 9 am. Businesses will have in-store specials as well as outdoor activities. For the second year in a row, don’t forget to create your own snow-friend during the Community Snowman Build (weather permitting) at Martin Park to build your very own snowman. Carrots, scarves, and other snowman making materials will be provided.
9:30am-5:30pm – Winter Bourbon & Wine Tasting
Madison Avenue Market. Bourbon & Wine Samples, Chili & More!
10am-4pm – Bay Shore Outfitters Ice Castles
Ice Castles, in-store specials, and more
11am -1pm – Boys & Girls Club Fire Demonstration
Bay Shore Outfitters. Learn how to build your own Bonfire with the Door County Boys & Girls Club!
4pm-6pm Virtual Fire & Ice Gala
The weekend fun continues with our Virtual Fire & Ice Gala event! Your ticket and “Gala Gift” includes dinner for two (don’t worry–we sell single tickets, too!) from Scaturo’s Baking Co. & Cafe and a spectacular Fire & Ice created dessert from Stone Harbor Resort.
7:30pm-11pm – Live Music with The Moonlighters
Stone Harbor Resort
9pm – Winter on the Water Fireworks Show
Old Train Spur Bridge (at Sonny’s & Bridge Up Brewing Company)
ALL WEEKEND
25% off Children’s Books Sale at Novel Bay Booksellers; Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm
OtherWorlds Turns 3! at OtherWorlds Books & More; Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
50¢ & $1 books, Valentine’s Tree, Prizes & More!
Fire & Ice Weekend Sale at Cornucopia Kitchen Shop; Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
Sweetheart Sale at Wilkins & Olander; Friday & Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
Savings up to 75%, Fire & Ice Photo Board, Valentine’s Giveaways & More!
Be sure to take a trolley around to see all of the sculptures!
Check out the Carving Location Map!
For more information about the daytime activities, email vacation@sturgeonbay.net or call (920) 743-6246.
Sturgeon Bay is the seat of Door County, right where the peninsula is split by the waters the city is named after. Highways 42 and 57 bring you in, and there’s plenty else to see while you’re there – and of course, beauty and adventure await further up the peninsula!
Fire & Ice Festival Address:
Downtown Sturgeon Bay & Stone Harbor Resort
107 N. 1st Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 746-0700
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
February 4, 2022 – February 6, 2022
Hudson Hot Air Affair
Hudson bursts with color in the middle of winter with the balloon-filled Hot Air Affair! Enjoy not only hot air balloons, but a HUGE slew of events throughout the weekend, both indoors and out. The Hot Air Affair balloons, of course, are all outside. Twenty featured balloons will launch Saturday and Sunday morning at 8am.
Saturday at 8am is the Pop Up Balloon Launch, with 20 hot air balloons rising from various locations around Hudson. You can’t attend this in person (yes, due to COVID) but online updates will guide you to where you can look to the sky and see the balloons dotting the winter sky.
Geocaching fans, the Hot Air Affair has plenty of coordinates for you to uncover, with a series of new hidden geocaches.
Saturday from 10am to 2pm is the Corn Hole Tournament at Hop & Barrel Brewing Company on 2nd Street. Teams have already registered, but you can check it out as long as you follow COVID-19 guidelines.
Saturday from 11am to 4pm, the Octagon House has walking tours and both the house/museum and the carriage house will be open for safely-spaced tours, in return for a small, suggested donation.
Ever partaken in smooshing?? At 1pm on Saturday, there’s a Virtual Smoosh Board Competition live on video so you can enjoy the wackiest sport at the Hot Air Affair.
Saturday from 5:30-6:30pm, you can partake in the Drive-Thru Balloon and Candlestick Glow Event at the St. Croix Business Park. Check out inflated hot air balloons – weather permitting – and glowing burners that will light up the darkness. You can enjoy all of this from the comfort of your vehicle. Tickets are required ($5 suggested donation) and you can secure them on their Square site here.
Sunday continues with geocaching, the Pop Up Ballon Launch at 8am again, and continued deals and events at shops and restaurants. At 12pm, you can check out the High Noon Fat Bike Race. It takes place at Lakefront Park in Hudson. It’s a 3K technical sprint along the St. Croix River bottoms and through the park, with “punchy hills and twisty turns.” 2pm on Sunday is the Peregrine Falcon Virtual Video, and 3pm is the Balloonist Roundtable.
Hudson is right along the gorgeous St. Croix River on the border with Minnesota, where I-94 and U.S. 12 enter the state. Highway 35 runs through the center of town. The beautiful Willow River State Park is nearby. Check out Hudson whenever you can, but if you can make it for Hot Air Affair, it’s definitely going to be a soaring good time!
Hot Air Affair Address:
Downtown Hudson as well as E.P. Rock Elementary School
13th & Summer Streets
Hudson, WI 54016
(715) 386-4011 or (800) 657-6775
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 28, 2022 – January 30, 2022
Lake Superior Ice Festival
For 2022, the Lake Superior Ice Festival will feature 24 ice sculptures around Superior at various businesses and city landmarks, each resting on a blue base with an accompanying trivia question. Starting Friday, January 28th at 5:00 pm you can go on their website to answer the trivia questions and be entered for a chance to win one of two $250 in Superior Business Improvement District BID Bucks.
Events you can enjoy include:
Friday & Saturday, all day: Orb 365: A Community Collaborative. Ice orbs that will be arranged in the shape of Lake Superior are the heart of this community art project that also encourages good stewardship of the area’s water resources.
Snow Creations at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center and Fairlawn Mansion. Kids (and adults, too) can craft their own snow creations on the grounds of the Bong Veterans Historical Center (305 Harborview Parkway) or the Fairlawn Mansion (906 E. 2nd Street/U.S. 2/53) and even get spray bottles filled with approved color dye to make their snowy creations brilliant! This is available at the Bong Center from 9am – 5pm Friday or Saturday and at the Fairlawn Mansion on Friday or Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Both venues will also offer half-price tours during this time.
Learn to Play Kubb. The sport of Kubb (pronounced “kooob”) is an old lawn game somewhat like bowling and horseshoes. The object is to knock over wooden blocks (the “kubbs”) with wooden batons you throw at them. Legend has it the Vikings (the ancient explorers, not the Minnesota football team) used to play the game using the skulls and bones of fallen enemies. Today, that’s frowned upon. You can learn how to play and/or watch the tournament!
Disc Golf. On Saturday from 10am to 4pm, the free 9-hole disc golf course will be open for you to play disc golf, see demonstrations, and even get instructions from local pros. It’s presented by the Lake Superior Disc Golf Community.
Midwest Ice Ra
Fat Tire Bike Demos will take place Saturday from 10am to 2pm at Barkers Island. You can try out a bike, learn about programs from the College of St. Scholastica’s Outdoor PURSUIT! and Zeitgeist, and help them kick off their Winter Bike Week festivities, which runs through February 5th.
Bonfire Pits at Festival Park from 10am – 5pm Saturday.
The Passport Scavenger Hunt takes place Saturday from 10am to 4pm, where you can win prizes by picking up a passport, participating in activities, and checking them off in the passport.
The Superior Snow Slide offers a place to sled down on a large constructed hill designed specifically for sledding. It’s available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but only staffed with sled rentals available on Saturday from 10am to 7pm.
Hay Bale Shuttle on the Island is a free service that will pick you up and drop you off at any of the four stops around the Island: parking area/sledding hill, Festival Park, beach area access and Barker’s Island Inn. Shuttles will be available from 10 am – 6 pm on Saturday.
The Lake Superior Ice Festival Canine King & Queen Contest happens Saturday, presented by the Humane Society of Douglas County. All entries will have been done by the weekend, but you can watch the competition and crowning ceremony, which happens at noon!
Ice Carving in Action happens several times on Saturday, with the creations of these artists from Krystal Kleer Ice Sculptures from Appleton crafting amazing sculptures before your eyes! They’ll stay up around town for as long as Mother Nature will let them.
Saturday, January 30th, Noon to 4pm: Lake Superior Ice Racing Association Stock Car Races. Full-size stock cars will race on Allouez Bay, with rear-wheel and front-wheel cars and small pickup trucks in a series of races starting at noon on Saturday.
Snowshoeing at the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve is available on Saturday from 1pm to 3pm, where the staff has a trail and obstacle course you can try out with your snowshoes. Timed races at 2:30!
Sterling Silver Fire Twirlers will perform Saturday from 3 to 4pm. They’re a local group performing in Superior since 1991. They’ll light the Fire & Ice Sculpture at the end of their performance!
Enjoy Fireworks Saturday at 6:15pm to celebrate the entire festival.
Lake Superior Ice Festival Sculpture Locations:
The grounds for the festival are located on the shores of Lake Superior, right off U.S. 2/53, just north of Highway 13 and east of Highway 35.
Lake Superior Ice Festival Address:
14 Marina Drive
Superior, WI 54880
(715) 395-7270
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 8, 2022
DelaFREEZE
Stroll the streets of downtown Delafield and enjoy the amazing work of the art put into ice carving. Dozens of blocks of ice will be placed throughout town, and each sculpture will be carved from a block of ice during the DelaFREEZE hours of 10am to 3pm. A walking map will be available to walk visitors through the area to see all of the carvings.
Each sculpture will be carved from a 300-pound block of ice that has been frozen in a special process to ensure the blocks are crystal clear. The blocks are ten inches thick, twenty inches wide and stand forty inches tall on a wooden stand. The live sculpture carving grabs many a visitor’s attention! You can also see the carver’s tools and watch them work as they transform the massive blocks of ice into an array of masterpieces.
Downtown Delafield also offers a nice variety of boutique shops, restaurants, bars, and a beautiful walking and hiking area along its boardwalk on the Bark River, which winds through the northern edge of the downtown streets. Check out the old Fish Hatchery building while you’re there!
DelaFREEZE Schedule of Events:
10:00-3:00: Follow the walking map to enjoy the Ice Sculptures
10:00-1:00: Meet and Greet with H2M2-WI Husky Huddle and Malamute Snow Dogs at Chamber Office (412 Genesee St.)
11:00-1:00: Visit with Louie, the Lake Country DockHounds mascot, who will be in Clocktower Square. (Also check out their table, which will be set up in Here’s the Scoop.)
11:00 am and 2:00 pm Ice Age Trail will be featuring Monte the Mammoth and leading walks to see the sculptures. Meet at Belfre Kitchen.
3:00 Ice Carving Prizes will be announced outside Revere’s Wells Street Tavern.
Delafield is easily accessible just north of I-94 at County C (Exit #285) in the heart of Waukesha County’s Lake Country. Highway 83 is just to the east; Highway 16 runs north of the town and U.S. 18 is a few miles to the south, just past Lapham Peak State Park.
DelaFREEZE Address:
Downtown Delafield
412 Genesee Street
Delafield, WI 53018
(262) 370-3861
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 23, 2021 – January 24, 2021
West Bend Winter Warm Up
West Bend, named for a bend in the Milwaukee River, is the seat of Washington County and is known for great shops and its beautiful downtown. Saturday, January 23rd and Sunday, January 24th, you can enjoy the city in full at the annual West Bend Winter Warm Up!
Check out the ice sculptures in the downtown area, including a live Ice Sculpture Demo in Old Settlers Park on Saturday between 1pm and 2:30pm. Downtown shops will have specials, treats, and chances for you to win gift baskets.
The High Jass Fat Tire Bike Race will take place in Regner Park, just across Highways 33/144 from downtown, both Saturday and Sunday. Check out the bikes churning their wide tires up and down hills and across trails in this two-day fun competition!
The Winter Luminary Walk is a free, lighted walking experience at and through the Lac Lawrann Conservancy. It happens from 5pm to 7pm Saturday evening.
Check out great stops downtown too, including Now and Then Antiques, West Bend Pilot Boutique & Unique Finds, Savoring Thyme, The Oaken Hogg Whiskey Bar, Riverside Brewery, Urban Bend Trends, Perfect Timing Gift Shop, Xpressions Yarn, Bead & Gift Boutique, All In Books, Over the Moon Gift Shop, and more! The Wisconsin Museum of Art is downtown across the river from Main Street, too.
You can easily access West Bend via Highways 33 and 144, just east of the U.S. 45 freeway in the heart of Washington County. Nearby, check out Sunburst Ski Hill in Kewaskum or Little Switzerland in Slinger for winter fun involving skiing, snowboarding, or tubing!
West Bend Winter Warm Up Address:
Downtown West Bend (120 N. Main Street)
West Bend, WI 53095
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 21, 2021 – January 24, 2021
Beloit Winterfest
Beloit embraces the cold and snowy season with its annual Beloit Winterfest, which this year offers a mix of virtual and in-person activities throughout locations in the city. It takes place Thursday, January 21st through Sunday, January 24th, 2021.
The City of Beloit Parks and Recreation Division runs these events, with in-person activities incorporating safety and social distance to increase opportunities for families and visitors to get out and enjoy winter in Beloit.
Beloit Winterfest Events include:
Virtual events such as:
The “No Snow” Man Building Contest, where you can gather basic household items and build your snowman indoors. The winner will receive a prize bag filled with goodies; the deadline for sending in your photo is 3pm on Sunday the 24th.
The “Ralphie Challenge”, where you put on as many shirts and sweaters as you can, send in a picture, and potentially win another prize bag filled with goodies. This deadline is also 3pm on Sunday the 24th.
In-Person events, including:
Snow Golf, which has a twist: you use a tennis ball as a ball and the snow as your tee. This takes place at Krueger-Haskell Golf Course (1611 Hackett Street) on Saturday, January 23rd. Golfers of all ages and all abilities are encouraged to participate. Reservations are required, and are for 9 holes walking. The rate applies for all ages. Updated COVID-19 guidelines will be in place and social distancing will be required. You must register by Thursday the 21st!
The “Welty Winder” Scavenger Hunt, where you can test your knowledge (and bloodhound-type skills) to find everything in this hunt throughout the city. The Welty Environmental Center takes you on this journey with 20 total clues. Share your journey on social media using the hashtags #BeloitWinterfest, #WeltyWinder and #BeloitWI… and #stt or #StateTrunkTour!
Find out more details with their online flyer, and check out other cool stuff in Beloit like G5 Brewing, the Ironworks Hotel and complex, the shops and restaurants downtown along Grand Avenue and adjacent streets, and more.
It’s easy to get to Beloit! Follow I-39/90 south, I-43 southwest from Milwaukee, or U.S. 51 south from Janesville. Highway 81 goes through town and provides access from Monroe and other points west; Highway 213 comes into Beloit from the northwest. Downtown is nestled in Beloit right next to the Beloit College campus, just blocks north of the Wisconsin-Illinois state line. It’s remarkable to see what Beloit has done with the city’s resurgence; see it this weekend with Beloit Winterfest!
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
February 15, 2020 – February 16, 2020
Cedarburg Winter Festival
Activities run from 8am to 9pm on Saturday, and 8am to 4pm on Sunday. The popular Ice Carving Contest sets the stage along the city’s main street, where 300-pound blocks of ice will be transformed into glistening pieces of Superhero-inspired art by talented ice carvers.
A tractor-drawn hay wagon provides a great view, but fest-goers who opt to stroll along Washington Avenue and prefer being outside can test their endurance by enjoying camel rides, egg hunts, sledding, ice skating or watching an old-fashioned dog pull.
Also make sure to stop in to the Cedarburg History Museum and the Cedarburg Visitors Center during the Cedarburg Winter Festival (and tell them you saw them on StateTrunkTour.com)! Doors will be open Saturday, Feb. 15th from 10am-4pm and Sunday, Feb. 16th from 12- 4pm. Cedarburg’s newest treasure houses the former General Store Museum, the Rappold-Dobberpuhl historic photograph collection, as well as a current exhibit.
Fest-goers can shake off the cold on Saturday at the Chili Contests taking place at the Community Center. Celebrity judging will begin at 11am for Saturday’s competition for individual entrants; during the competition, audience members can win great prizes donated by our generous downtown merchants.
Coinciding with the individual chili contest, festival attendees can buy sampler platters and vote for their favorite restaurant entries from 11am – 4pm in the Community Center. The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts will host a “make and take” along with coffee/cocoa and sweets bar on Saturday, and enjoy the “Upstairs Marketplace” with mittens, jewelry, hats, art, oils, dressings, candles and much more.
Be sure to catch the Cedarburg Winter Festival Grand Parade at 1pm Saturday, with themed bed racing teams as well as fire trucks, costumed characters, and other fun participants. The parade heads down Washington Avenue to Riveredge Drive for the start of the popular and hilarious Costumed Bed Races at 1:30pm sponsored by Verlo.
Harboring a musical talent? The Cool Notes Musical Talent Competition sponsored by Festivals of Cedarburg and the Cedarburg Cultural Center is the place you want to be on Saturday from 1:30 – 5:00pm. This Winter Festival competition is intended to recognize talent in Cedarburg and surrounding communities. Vocalists and instrumentalists will be showcased during the competition at the Cedarburg Cultural Center. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners plus a chance for the 1st place winner to play on the main stage at the Cedarburg Wine & Harvest Festival held in September. Click here for a registration forms are available ($10 registration fee.)
For grown-up fun on Saturday evening from 7:00 – 9:00pm, stop by Cool Brew & Tunes at the Community Center for live music! Taste craft beers while you enjoy appetizers from local restaurants, a raffle and live music. Dress as your favorite Superhero! Tickets to the event are $28 per person – Tickets will be available online soon or buy at the Community Center during the day until 4:00 p.m. as well as at the door starting at 7:00 p.m. if supplies last (cash only).
Sunday will dawn with the popular Pancake Breakfast at the Community Center from 8:00am to 11:30am. Enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes & two sausages for just $6 for adults, and $4 for kids ages 4-10. (Kids three and under are free.) The event includes children’s activities, and at 10:30am the “under 7 set” will venture outdoors to hunt for hidden treats during the Egg Hunt. Remember to bring a bag or container for the eggs. All proceeds from the pancake breakfast benefit the Cedarburg High School Robotics Club.
On Sunday from 10:00am – 4:00pm, top dogs will compete in the Dog Weight Pull Competition sponsored by the Alaskan Malamute Club of Wisconsin and Fromm Foods.
From 12:30 – 4:00pm on Sunday, enjoy the 3rd Annual Dodgeball Tournament sponsored by Dad’s Club of Thorson Elementary School. Located inside the Community Center at W63 N641 Washington Avenue. 12:30pm – Brat Grill Off; 2:00pm – 4:00pm – Dodgeball Tournament. Registration fees: Youth ages 5-8; Tween ages 9-12; Teens ages 13-17 $5/per child. Adults (18+); Seniors (55+) $10/person.
Cedarburg Winter Festival Address:
Downtown Cedarburg
Washington Avenue
Cedarburg, WI 53012
(262) 377-9620
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
January 17, 2020 – January 19, 2020
Hot Chocolate Fest, Burlington
Burlington is “Chocolate City USA,” so it makes sense for them to have Hot Chocolate Fest in winter, right? This year, Hot Chocolate Fest runs Friday, January 17th through Sunday, January 19th.
The fest includes Pond Hockey and Broom Ball Tournaments on Echo Lake (weather permitting), the Cabin Fever 5K through downtown Burlington, campfire storytelling, a Red Chili contest with area restaurants competing, of course… a “Who has the best hot chocolate??” Contest.
Here’s the schedule Hot Chocolate Fest:
Friday- All at The Veteran’s Terrace
5pm – 9pm Open Skate
6:30pm – 8pm Un-Hich’d (Pop/Country/Rock Duo)
8:30pm – 11pm NEW Piano Guys DUELING PIANOS
Saturday-
10am – Free Family Movie- The Plaza
10am – 9pm Open Skate/Broomball/Bonfires/Smores at Vets
10am – 1pm Hot Chocolate Walk/Tasting Downtown
10am – Noon Snowman Decorating Contest at Vets
10am – 4pm Artisan Market at Mercantile Hall
1pm – 4pm Chili Walk/Tasting Downtown
6:30pm – 8pm Astro Blues Band (Classic Rock and Blues Band) at Vets
8pm – 11pm LUNCH MONEY BULLIES at Vets
Sunday-
7:30 Registration opens for Cabin Fever 5K at Vets
8 – 11am – Pancake Breakfast at the Veterans Terrace -Tickets $10 each. Proceeds will benefit both Driven Students and the new Santa Chalet.
9:00am Cabin Fever 5k begins at Veterans Terrace
Downtown Burlington has a lot of great places to check out, from the Yo-Yo Museum to Fred’s (famous for their burgers), and more. Follow Highways 11, 36, 83, or 142 – they’ll all bring you to Chocolate City USA and Hot Chocolate Fest.
Hot Chocolate Fest Address:
Echo Park
589 Milwaukee Avenue
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 763-6044
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
March 2, 2019
World’s Longest Weenie Roast
“The World’s Longest Weenie Roast!”
Held to raise funds for the Great Divide Ambulance Service, the Namakagon Volunteer Fire Department and other area charities and not-for-profits, this event holds the record for the longest line of hot dog cookers over one fire in the world. With events like snowmobile speed runs, ice drags, crooked weenie obstacle course, and snow drags all on Lake Namakagon, there is more than enough fun for everyone.
All the action for the World’s Largest Weenie Roast takes place Saturday, March 2nd in Cable, along County M near U.S. 63 at the Lakewoods Resort & Forest Ridge Golf Course. Get all the event details here!
World’s Longest Weenie Roast Address:
Lakewoods Resort & Forest Ridge Golf Course
21540 County Road M
Cable, WI 54821
(715) 794-2561
Website
February 16, 2019
Northwoods Blizzard Blast
The Northwoods Blizzard Blast is a “flurry of winter fun for everyone” in Conover, between Eagle River and Land O’Lakes along Highway 32 & U.S. 45 in the heart of the North Woods! Activities in Conover Community Park include ice bowling, the Dogsled Dash, recliner racing, sledding, face painting, fireworks, horse drawn sleigh rides, snow carving, snowshoe baseball, and an Artisan Bazaar in the adjacent Conover Community Center. Check out related events in Phelps and Land O’Lakes, too!
The Blizzard Blast Bazaar hosts numerous artisans and exhibitors with hand-crafted items, talents on display, food and beverages, and more. Admission is free for the Bazaar all day.
All of this activity is in Vilas County north of Eagle River. Follow U.S. 45 & Highway 32 north from Eagle River, past where Highway 17 veers off for its ride to Phelps. Conover is about 15 minutes north of Eagle River, and Land O’Lakes (plus the source of the Wisconsin River in Lac Vieax Desert) is just north of Conover.
Northwoods Blizzard Blast Addresses:
Conover Community Park
4697 Park Circle, just off U.S. 45/Hwy 32
Conover, WI 54519
(715) 891-6254
Website
Blizzard Blast Schedule of Events in Conover (subject to updates and changes):
Wed-Sat SNOW SCULPTING COMPETITION -$100 prize! $25 (team)
9am-4pm ARTISAN BAZAAR Free
9am-4pm FACE PAINTING Varies
10am-4pm HORSE DRAWN SCENIC RIDES $2-$5
10:15am X-COUNTRY FUN SKI & TRAIL TOUR $10
10am-4pm SLAP SHOT HOCKEY-Shot on goal, win a prize! $1
10am-4pm ICE BOWLING-Bowl at strike, win a prize! $1
10am-4pm WINTER CARNIVAL GAMES FOR KIDS $1 each
10am-4pm PONY RIDES $2
10am-4pm YOUTH ARCHERY DEMO Free
10am-4pm SNOW ART FUN FOR KIDS Free
10am-4pm SNOWBOARD DEMO & INSTRUCTION Free
10am-2pm SNOWSHOE BASEBALL GAMES Free
10pm-4pm SNOWSHOE DEMO BY HIKER BOX Free
12pm-3pm KID’S DOGSLED DASH-win a Musher’s Medal $2
10am-2:30 RECLINER RACE QUALIFYING LAPS $1
3pm RECLINER RACE FINALS-$100 prize! (register by 2:30pm) $20 (team of 3)
4 pm TROPHY PRESENTATION Free
Sandwiches, S’mores, snacks, soda & beer are available all day.
Toasty bonfires and heated restrooms are located throughout the park.
February 7, 2019 – February 10, 2019
Sturgeon Spectacular
Fond du Lac hosts the Sturgeon Spectacular Thursday-Sunday February 7-10, 2019 on and along the south shores of Lake Winnebago. After all, the Sturgeon’s evolution dates back over 200 million years, haven’t they earned a multi-day celebration? The city at the “bottom of the lake” celebrates these famed “bottom feeders” with a top-drawer weekend of fun for all.
This quirky and fun take on a winter festival features events on the ice and off the ice. Enjoy activities indoors, outdoors and throughout the community. Highlights include a kick-off parade, live musical performances including Boogie and the Yo-yo’z, the hottest party band in Wisconsin, ice and snow carving, comedy shows and the hilarious Guys on Ice show. Whether you love outdoor hockey, kids zones, fat tire bike racing, chili crawls or warming up near a toasty bonfire, you and your family will NOT run out of things to do at this year’s Sturgeon Spectacular.
FREE EVENTS ALL WEEKEND LONG!
Friday events include the Sturgeon Stampede, Shantytown Fun at the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac, the Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Competition, the Running of the Sturgeon Parade, and the Sturgeon Spectacular Kick-off Celebration and Concert. Get more info and details here!
Saturday events include the Girls Outdoor Hockey Tournament, Snow-ga, the Sturgeon Spectacular Fun Run & Dog Jog, the Winter Softball Classic, Lakeside Park Winter Fun Zone, “Spear the Fatty” at Lakeside Park, the Downtown Chili Crawl, Paint your own Sturgeon, ComedySports, and more! Get details here.
Sunday events include Spear the Beer, Blue Line Family Ice Skating, and a host of continuing events from Friday and Saturday. Get the full details here.
Sturgeon Spectacular Address:
Lakeside Park
71 Promen Drive (and locations throughout town)
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 923-3010
Website
Fond du Lac is easily reached via I-41, U.S. 45, U.S. 151, and Highways 23 and 175.
February 2, 2019
Fire & Ice Festival, Racine
The 2019 Fire & Ice Festival is a family-friendly fun event that warms up downtown on Groundhog Day, Saturday, February 2, 2019!
Centering on Racine’s Monument Square, the Fire & Ice Festival is a free community event designed to break you out of that winter cabin fever.
Ice carvers will be on hand to wow you with their icy creations. They’ll start their work at noon and shape huge blocks of ice right before your very eyes. If you grab a selfie with the finished sculptures, feel free to post use #fireandicefest to humble-brag.
You can carve a little yourself by taking advantage of the FREE ice skating rink on the square. Free ice skate rentals will be available from noon – 5:00 pm.
Enjoy a stroll through their vendor area to check out fabulous handmade crafts and get to know local small business owners. Get something to eat at one of the yummy food trucks on site. Or, grab a hot cup of cocoa and warm up by a fire. Yes, you read that right! What’s a Fire and Ice Festival without the fire? It’s a bonfire, actually. After the event, shake the chill off by heading over to McAuliffe’s on the Square for some warming drinks and some live music! You can also enjoy local, craft brews at Racine Brewing Company or an old-school diner burger at the Kewpee, just two blocks away.
Downtown Racine is an easy drive via Highways 11, 20, or 32 from I-41/94; Highway 38 also bring you in from the northwest. The “Belle City” offers up great kringle, great restaurants, the fantastic Racine Art Museum (aka the “RAM)”), and Monument Square will host First Fridays in Racine from April through December this year.
Racine Fire & Ice Festival Address:
Monument Square, Downtown
524 Main Street (Highways 20/32, just south of where Highway 38 ends)
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 834-8155
Website
December 15, 2018 – December 16, 2018
Burlington Ice Festival
The Burlington Ice Festival offers art, fun, and plenty of ice Saturday, December 8th, 2018! Admire at least 15 ice sculptures carved on-site before your very eyes.
Each sculpture is carved from a 300-pound block of ice that has been frozen in a special process to ensure that the blocks are crystal clear. Live sculpture carving, a favorite viewing attraction, showcases ice carvers using hand tools transforming massive blocks of ice into an array of giant masterpieces. Ice carving begins around 10am Saturday, with judging for prizes around 4:30pm. That gives you much of the day to watch them construct these masterpieces, and you can continue to admire them until – well – Mother Nature says you can’t! When you’re not viewing the artists in action, take a ride in a horse-drawn wagon, see a reindeer, or visit Santa Claus! There’s no cost to attend.
Burlington Ice Festival Address:
355 N. Pine Street
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 342-1161
Website
Burlington Ice Festival Schedule of Events:
Saturday, December 15
• Ice carving competition: 10 am – 4 pm (Judge at 4 pm)
• Horse and wagon rides: 11 am – 3 pm
• Reindeer in the park: 11 am – 2 pm
• Cookie walk downtown: 12 pm – 4 pm
• Bonfires in the park & s’mores: 12 pm – 4 pm
• Carolers: 12 pm – 4 pm
• Santa in the Chalet: 2 pm – 4 pm
• Crafts for kids at the Library
• Carvings lit up at night!
Sunday, December 16
• State carving competition awards: 10:30 am
• Horse and wagon rides: 11 am – 2 pm
• Santa in the Chalet: 2 pm – 4 pm
• Hug a Husky at Mercantile Hall: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
• Bloody Marys & mimosas at Bubba’s Brickyard
• Carvings lit up at night!
Be sure to check out the Burlington Cookie Walk on Saturday, running at the same time!
Back to State Trunk Tour