Events

Dec
18
Mon
ACE Academy Shanty Raffle
presented by C.D. Smith Foundation @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Dec 18 2023 – Feb 10 2024 all-day

This event has been moved to Downtown Fond du Lac at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts for the safety and best interests of event participants and attendees.  Drawing will be held on 1st Floor Gallery inside THELMA at 2pm – Saturday, February 10th.

THE ACE ACADEMY SHANTY RAFFLE IS A MAJOR FUNDRAISER FOR THE ACE ACADEMY.  SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE BUSINESS PARTNERS THAT SUPPORT THE ACADEMY AND THIS PROJECT

More info on the project below:

The ACE Shanties Project was spearheaded by C.D. Smith Construction’s Foundation Committee with material donations provided by a variety of local businesses. The project began in May of 2019 with blueprints, construction began in September of the same year, and the project was completed in early 2020.

To raise funds for the A.C.E. Academy and raffle supporters, Foot of the Lake Fishing Club, one of the shanties has been raffled off during the Sturgeon Spectacular festivities 4 out of the last 5 years.

$10 raffle tickets are now available at the following locations.  Tickets available while supplies last. (Maximum of 1,000 tickets sold):

  1. Hopper’s Silk Screening & All Star Trophy – 77 N. Main Street, Fond du Lac, WI
  2. Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grille – 90 S. Main Street, Fond du Lac, WI
  3. B & B Express – N6714 County Rd. W (at Hwy 23), Mt. Calvary, WI
  4. Waucousta Food Mart – N3112 Hwy 45, Campbellsport, WI

1st Place: ACE ACADEMY SHANTY
Bowe Metal Fabrication + Repair Frame with Leaf Springs, 6.5′ x 12′ Center Hole, Finished Interior
Value:  $7,000+

2nd Place: Sturgeon Spear & Spearing Equipment
Bowe Metal Fabrication + Repair Sturgeon Spear & Spearing Equipment
Value:  $335
Donated by Badgerland Connections

3rd Place: Sturgeon Spear 
Bowe Metal Fabrication + Repair Sturgeon Spear
Value:  $235
Donated by Badgerland Connections

Official Shanty Raffle Drawing will take place live at Sturgeon Spectacular at 2pm on Saturday, February 10th at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts.

See photos from the 2023 ACE Academy Shanty below!

Jan
1
Mon
Sunburst “Best Memories” Photo Contest
Jan 1 @ 11:11 am – Feb 12 @ 11:26 am

Join us in celebrating the Sturgeon Spectacular, the beauty of winter, and more importantly SNOW!  Sunburst Ski Hill believes that the best memories are made with snow, and we agree!  Get your family, friends, or go outside solo and find your best winter backdrop.

Contest Rules:

All ages are eligible to participate.  Submit a photo to Facebook using #SunburstBestMemories or send an email to info@fdlfest.com with subject line “Sunburst Best Memories” before midnight on Monday, February 12th and you’ll be entered to win four Sunburst ski or tubing passes and some really cool Sturgeon Spectacular gear.  Judges will select the winner from all entrants on Thursday, February 15th and the winner will be posted on the Fond du Lac Festivals and Destination Lake Winnebago Facebook pages.

To qualify, photos must include snow and capture “The Best Memories”.

PRESENTED BY:

Feb
10
Sat
Biggest Sturgeon Contest
presented by Fleet Farm @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Feb 10 – Feb 25 all-day

This event has been moved to Downtown Fond du Lac outside Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts for the safest and best interests of event attendees.

Are you a spearer?  Do you know a spearer?  If you or someone you know is lucky enough to spear a sturgeon during the 2024 sturgeon spearing season, enter to win the Biggest Sturgeon Contest presented by Fleet Farm.  There are 3 ways to enter:

  1. Bring your harvest to Downtown Fond du Lac on Opening Day (Saturday, February 10th) between 12pm – 4pm and check in at the Fleet Farm tent.
  2. Post a photo of this year’s harvest to Facebook using #FDLBigFish and include name of the spearer and date harvested*
  3. Email your photo to info@fdlfest.com with “Biggest Sturgeon 2024” in the subject line and include the name of the spearer and date harvested*

*Only 2024 harvested sturgeon will be eligible for the $500 Fleet Farm Gift Card

That’s it, it’s that easy.  Open to all ages and legal harvest rules apply.

Entries must be received by midnight on Sunday, February 25th to qualify.  All entries will be collected and a random drawing will occur on Monday, February 26th.  Winners will be announced through Facebook or contacted through the email submitted.

Please be aware of all DNR guidelines when you register your fish at one of the official DNR fish registration stations.

Reminder – No ice is safe ice, and this year that is very important to understand as ice conditions have been deemed unsafe.

More helpful info can be found on the Wisconsin DNR webpage here.

#FDLBigFish

#SSFDL

Special thanks to Fleet Farm for their partnership!

5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run
presented by SSM Health @ Lakeside Park Pavilion
Feb 10 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Come and join us for a scenic run throughout Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac.  The course will circle through and tour Lakeside Park.  Registration will be open until the day of the run/walk.  Race day registration will begin at 9am on Saturday, February 10th at Lakeside Park inside the pavilion. The 1/2 mile Kids Fun Run for ages 12 and under is absolutely free and includes a shirt.  Early registration for the 5K Run/Walk will be available through midnight, Tuesday, January 23rd.  You can still get a 2023 commemorative, long-sleeved T-shirt (pictured left) and registration for $25.  After Tuesday, January 23rd, the price will be $20 and it will NOT include a Sturgeon Spectacular long-sleeve T-shirt.

Participants with strollers and/or dogs are asked to please line up in the back at the start.  Please stick around for other awesome Sturgeon Spectacular festivities at Lakeside Park and within Downtown Fond du Lac.

On-site check-in:  9 AM
1/2-Mile Kids Fun Run for ages 12 and under:  10 AM
5K Run/Walk:  10:30 AM

 

 

Presented by:

 

 

 

 

 

Special thanks to the Fond du Lac Running Club for their involvement.

Spearing and Beering
presented by Busch Light @ Lakeside Park Pavilion
Feb 10 @ 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

This event has been moved to Downtown Fond du Lac outside Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts for the safety of event participants and attendees.

Come Downtown in Fond du Lac and join us for some Spearing & Beering.  Party inside in the warmth or take it outside. Busch Light, the official beer sponsors of Sturgeon Spectacular will be joining us for some fun in the snow!  Sturgeon Spectacular Commemorative Steins will also be available – while supplies last.

The Biggest Sturgeon Contest will be hosted at this location this year with the Sturgeon Show-off Station.  We’ll be doing live sturgeon reports as well on Facebook.  Live feeds will be occurring throughout the day.  Special prizes given to anyone that brings their registered sturgeon to the celebration!

Presented by:

 

With support from:

Lakeside Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Feb 10 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This event has been moved to a Downtown Fond du Lac route for the best interest and safety of all event participants and event goers.

The Beistle Bros Percherson horse-drawn carriages will be taking loops through Downtown Fond du Lac. The pick-up/ drop-off location for these rides is the corner or Portland St and Sheboygan St. Bring the family for the Winter Fun activities or warm up inside the THELMA with some hot chocolate and food.   Each trip will be approximately 15 minutes and can fit 15 adults or older children.  Young children can ride on parent/guardian’s lap as well.

Portland/ Sheboygan St. (Pick-up & Drop-off)

1:00 – 5:00 PM (First come, first served)

Presented by:

With support from Beistle Bros Percherons

 

Feb
11
Sun
Learn to Curl @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Feb 11 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

This event has been moved to Downtown Fond du Lac at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts for the safest and best interests of event participants and attendees.

Learn to curl Saturday, February 11th at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts. Curl with tips from professionals!

Many more family-fun activities are happening inside, outside, and around Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts until 3 pm Sunday, February 11th!

Presented By: