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Sputnikfest is this weekend on Saturday. Why? Because on September 5, 1962 a piece of the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik IV came crashing to earth. One 20-pound chunk came careening down in – of all places – Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
This piece of Sputnik crashed down onto 8th Street in town, right in front of the Rahr-West Art Museum. Two policemen closed the street and stood in front of it, creating an iconic photo for the local paper. Once it cooled, it was taken, examined, and eventually returned to the Russians. Its legacy lives on in Manitowoc with Sputnikfest, an annual celebration of space, spacecraft, and other out-of-this-world. It happens Saturday, September 9th this year in Manitowoc. Here are some facts about it and why you should go!
1. The precise spot where a piece of Sputnik landed is marked right on 8th Street – and you can stand there.
Embedded in 8th Street is a metal circle that shows the exact spot where a 20-lb. piece of Sputnik IV crashed. While it’s normally in the midst of traffic lanes, during Sputnikfest this section of road is closed off for the festivities. You can stand in front of the exact spot where it landed out of the blue (and out of the sky) and be glad you weren’t standing there on September 5, 1962 or else you’d have one heck of a headache!
2. Sputnik was a test craft; some thought it was manned.
When the Russians launched Sputnik IV (or “Korabl-Sputnik 1” as they called it), they intended it to be a test spacecraft to see if human flight was possible. To that end, they included a mannequin in the original craft, which led some to believe that a cosmonaut was on board. None was, but it certainly led to plenty of speculation back then that Manitowoc may have had a foreign (or even otherworldly) visitor. Some attend Sputnikfest today dressed as cosmonauts, astronauts, or their favorite space action figure. Many hope to win the costume contest, which gets more outlandish every year.
3. Sputnikfest crowns a Space Debris Costume Contest every year.
While the main Sputnikfest activities take place during the day Saturday, a big highlight arrives in the evening when they’ll crown a pageant winner who manages to impress in the categories of a) Space-Age evening attire; b) a display of talent, and c) a brief Q&A period with their Space Debris Costume Contest.
Once known as the “Ms. Space Debris” competition and now called “Captain Space Debris,” entrants simply to merely be a “human life form” to qualify. The winner has traditionally reigned over the Fest, presiding over events like the Cosmic Cake Contest, Aluminum Foil Costume Contest, the Alien Pet Competition, and even some things that aren’t contests or competitions.
4. Even the organizers call it a “wacky, tacky event”. How can you miss??
Even the promoters like to call events like the Cosmic Cake Contest and the Alien Pet Competition “wacky, tacky events.” The Alien Drop, which features the dropping of tiny alien figures from a cherry picker, allows kids to grab prizes. Go-kart races along 8th Street add a competitive flair, and between live music, outlandish costumery, and dancing space aliens it’s definitely a unique time for all. Plus Manitowoc offers plenty of other great things to visit while you’re there, from the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and the SS Cobia submarine to a nice free city zoo and the host location for Sputnikfest: the lovely Rahr-West Art Museum, which includes a scale replica of the piece of Sputnik that landed here.
5. Sputnikfest draws space fans, engineers, and actual rocket scientists.
While the fun can be wacky, the fact is this was a true piece of spacecraft, still glowing from the heat of re-entry when it landed. With the earth covered mostly be water, any surviving spacecraft pieces falling on land – especially in the middle of a city – becomes a unique event. Fans of spacecraft, satellites, rockets, science, science fiction, and more show up to Sputnikfest every year to marvel at the science and history of it all. Some wacky, tacky fun helps. After all, rocket scientists like to have a good and goofy fun time, too!
You’ll find Sputnikfest taking place just north of downtown Manitowoc primarily along 8th Street (U.S. 10 and Business Highway 42.) U.S. 151 ends about 1/2 mile south of there; the festivities are only about 8-10 minutes in from I-43’s exits to Manitowoc.
The party starts Friday evening September 8th and lasts all day Saturday, September 9th. You can get more details by calling (920) 686-3090 or visiting the Sputnikfest website. A schedule of events is below. Check it out for an otherworldly experience!
Sputnikfest Schedule of Events:
| 11:00-2:00PM DJ 11:30AM Photo Op with Sputnikfest Police (courtesy of the Masquers theater company) 12:00-5:00PM Art Space and Children’s Games 12:00-Noon 5K Art Walk/Run https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Manitowoc/Sputnikfest5KWalkRun 1:00-3:00PM Meet and Greet with 501st Wisconsin Garrison 12:00PM Lakeshore 1st Robotics 2:00-6:00PM Musical entertainment by XPOSED 4 HEADS 4:00PM Cosmic Kids Parade and contest 5:00PM Captain Space Debris (Alien Adults) Parade and Contest 6:00PM Alien Raffle Drop | Live Music with Dr. Bombay |
