at the Fond du Lac Public Library @ Fond du Lac Public Library
Come to the Fond du Lac Public Library for all the free, children’s and family activities they have in store for the Sturgeon Spectacular. Make-and-take a personalized 3-D printed sturgeon key chain, color sturgeon coloring sheets, Sturgeon Scavenger Hunt, Giant Jenga, Twister, Giant Checkers and lots more for families to enjoy. Jump in on the Library Spectacular fun starting February 5th.
Library Activities:
- Feb 5-Feb 10 all day: Sturgeon Spectacular Scavenger Hunt in the Children’s Room
- Feb 8, 12pm-4pm: Make-and-take project and arts-and-crafts activities in the Idea Studio
- Feb 9, 1pm-3:30pm: Family Game Time Drop-in
- All February long: Sturgeon and Lake Winnebago interactive trivia display in the library lobby
presented by Lakefront Brewery @ Various bars throughout downtown Fond du Lac
Lakefront Brewery in partnership with Lee Beverage will be hosting several tap events in downtown Fond du Lac in support of Sturgeon Spectacular. These events will take place on Thursday, February 6th from 6-8pm and Friday, February 7th from 6-8pm.
There will be 3 events each night each hosted by a Lakefront representative. There will be stamp cards available at each location to fill out. You must attend all 3 events on either night to receive a unique stamp from each event to fill out your card, no purchase necessary. Cards can be turned in at any of the Tap Event Locations listed below and will be put into a drawing for a bottle of Black Friday from Lakefront Brewery.
Once you have your 3 unique stamps you will be eligible to win one of 12 bottles of Black Friday. There will be many other prizes available to win at each event as well.
Black Friday is a Russian imperial stout that is only available for purchase at Lakefront Brewery on Black Friday. It is a 13.2% ABV barrel aged stout with notes of chocolate that is super smooth. There are 12 bottles available to win!
The drawing for this exclusive prize will be held on Saturday, February 8th at 4pm inside the Lakeside Park pavilion during the Lakefront Spearing and Beering event. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!
Thursday, February 6th 6-8pm
Annie’s Fountain City Cafe’ – 72 S. Main Street
Green Dragon Brewpub – 156 Western Avenue
Brick House – 161 S. Main Street
Friday, February 7th 6-8pm
Fat Joe’s – 15 W. Division Street
Top Shelf – 90 S. Main Street
18 Hands – 18 E. Division Street
Come help us kick off Sturgeon Spectacular and warm up with a night of Salsa music at Annie’s Fountain City Cafe on Thursday, February 6, 2020. Julito y la Sonora del Valle will be back by popular demand! Bring your dancing shoes or just grab a table to listen. Food & Beverages will be available for purchase. Look forward to drink specials and a delicious menu.
Food and beverage available for purchase.
Doors open at 5:30 pm, Concert begins at 6:30pm
presented by C.D. Smith @ Exhibitor Row - Sheboygan Street
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 and students began constructing the shanties in September, with the shanties scheduled to be completed in January 2020.
One of the shanties will be out on Lake Winnebago partaking in the Fond du Lac tradition of sturgeon spearing. The other will be on exhibit at the Sturgeon Spectacular event site on Sheboygan Street all weekend long. Walk through the shanty and see what it’s like to be out on the ice with the other 10,000+ spearers out on the lake.
Tours and more information available during the following times:
Friday (6pm – 10pm)
Saturday (10am – 4pm)
Sunday (10am – 2pm)
presented by Lakefront Brewery & Lee Beverage @ Various bars throughout downtown Fond du Lac
Purchase a commemorative Sturgeon Spectacular mug at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts or the Spearing & Beering Lakefront Brewery tent at Lakeside Park all weekend – while supplies last (Must be 21 years or older). You can then use that mug to “Spear the Beer” Lakefront Brewery specials at participating downtown locations. No alcohol consumption or possession will be allowed outside of each establishment or event space.
Various bars throughout downtown Fond du Lac (must present mug at time of purchase). Mugs will be available at the Event Sites. (Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts – lobby and Lakeside Park Beer Tents)
Participating Locations listed below:
Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts – 51 Sheboygan Street
18 Hands – 618 E. Division Street
Fat Joe’s – 15 W. Division Street
Coliseum – 91 S. Main Street
Annie’s Fountain City Cafe – 72 S. Main Street
O’Davey’s Pub – 36 4th Street
Retlaw Hotel – 1 N. Main Street (Lobby Bar)
Green Dragon Brewpub – 156 Western Avenue
Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grille – 2 N. Main Street
Brick House – 161 S. Main Street
End Zone – 507 N. Main Street
Main Beer Tent @ Lakeside Park Pavilion
Spearing & Beering Lakefront Brewery Bar @ Lakeside Park Pavilion
Note: Times and specials may vary by location.
presented by C.D. Smith & Sunburst Winter Sports Park @ Downtown, outside Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
The best snow sculptors in the state travel to Fond du Lac to compete in the 2020 Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Competition in hopes of winning a trip to the 2021 US Championship and a $1,000 1st Prize.
Daily Schedule:
*Some teams compete well into the early morning hours. Hours vary by day/team.
Friday, February 7, 2020*
1:00 PM – Teams arrive onsite and begin sculpting
Saturday, February 8, 2020*
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM – Competition Site Open for Viewing
Sunday, February 9, 2020*
Teams Compete
Judging begins at 1pm
Awards Ceremony starts at 2:00pm
Snow provided by Sunburst Winter Sports Park
Meals provided by Annie’s Fountain City Cafe, Downtown Deli, Market & Cafe, Eaton’s Fresh Pizza, Papa Johns of Fond du Lac, and Schreiner’s Restaurant.
Bring the whole family to the Children’s Museum for indoor and outdoor fun (weather permitting)! Design your own sturgeon fish decoy, help us construct our Shantytown Village, try our sturgeon fishing simulation, and explore the Museum’s newest exhibits! Bring your camera: you’ll want a photo with the Museum’s giant Paper Mache sturgeon replica.
$1 off all admission during Sturgeon Spectacular.
Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac
10 AM – 7 PM
The Sturgeon Spectacular Parade starts with the Running of the Sturgeon. The first 20 children, 12 and under will receive a light-up Sturgeon Fin for participating. Please arrive by 5:30pm. Grab your friends, and dress up in your favorite Wisconsin garb and join Schmooch Schneider in chasing after and spearing the elusive sturgeon. Floats will have parking available to join the party on Sheboygan Street.
Route: Parade starts at Sheboygan Street / Portland Street intersection and heads south one block to 1st Street and heads toward Main Street. Parade runs along Main Street back to Sheboygan Street and turns right. Ends at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts)
Parade starts at 6:00 PM
The Sturgeon Spectacular kicks off at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts with live music by Copper Box. New this year, hang out at Curling Rink Lounge on the Plaza, watch the snow sculptors get started or come inside and grab a drink. Drinks will be available for purchase.
Doors and Bar Open at 5 PM
Live Music starting at 7 PM by Copper Box (Reserved tables available for rent)
Drink Concessions available on-site
presented by C.D. Smith @ Exhibitor Row - Sheboygan Street
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 and students began constructing the shanties in September, with the shanties scheduled to be completed in January 2020.
One of the shanties will be out on Lake Winnebago partaking in the Fond du Lac tradition of sturgeon spearing. The other will be on exhibit at the Sturgeon Spectacular event site on Sheboygan Street all weekend long. Walk through the shanty and see what it’s like to be out on the ice with the other 10,000+ spearers out on the lake.
Tours and more information available during the following times:
Friday (6pm – 10pm)
Saturday (10am – 4pm)
Sunday (10am – 2pm)
presented by Horicon Bank @ ModTruss Headquarters
Presented by Horicon Bank, learn to Curl with curling experts from the state and participate in the 2nd Annual Downtown Curling Fond du Lac Funspiel. This tournament is designed to teach beginners the world of curling and have some fun in the process. Each match will last about one half hour. All curling equipment will be provided. The tournament is scheduled for Saturday (& Sunday, if necessary). Open to all ages and levels. Get your team of 4 – 6 people together and sign up. The winning team will receive a Trophy and $250 Cash. 2nd place gets $100 Cash.
Registration will be available starting Wednesday, January 1st on www.hometowntickets.com. Early registration is required as first 16 teams will be automatically entered. Entry fee per team is $60. Early Registration Deadline has been extended through Monday, February 3rd. If you have any questions reach out to Peter Wilke via email (director@fdlfest.com) or phone (920.923.6555).
Downtown Curling Rink – between ModTruss HQ (formerly Elk’s Lodge) & Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Saturday, 8am: Learn to Curl begins at 8 AM (Saturday)
Saturday, 9am: First Match
Sunday (Schedule: TBA), 10am – First Match
Championship Round, 2 pm
Note: The schedule will be announced Wednesday, February 5th. Team Captains will receive an email with first match time and other details. Get your teams together now!
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Winter Playland Kids Activities: 10am – 5pm
Family Snow Sculpting Competition: 1 – 4:00 pm
Judging at 4pm; Awards at 4:30pm
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Open Sculpt: 10am – 2pm
Viewing of Amateur Snow Sculptures – ALL DAY
Supported in part by:
Bring the whole family to the Children’s Museum for indoor and outdoor fun (weather permitting)! Design your own sturgeon fish decoy, help us construct our Shantytown Village, try our sturgeon fishing simulation, and explore the Museum’s newest exhibits! Bring your camera: you’ll want a photo with the Museum’s giant Paper Mache sturgeon replica.
$1 off all admission during Sturgeon Spectacular.
Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac
10 AM – 2 PM
Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership @ Various locations in downtown Fond du Lac
Feeling “chili” from all that time on the ice? Celebrate the Sturgeon Spectacular with a walk in Downtown Fond du Lac for the 11th Annual Chili Crawl being held Saturday, February 8th, 2020.
For just $10, crawlers can taste different chili concoctions made by our downtown businesses and home cooks. The downtown business & home cook voted into the top spot gets the bragging rights of being called the year’s best chili!
200 first come, first serve tickets will go on sale Friday, January 4th, at Hopper’s Silk Screening & All-Star Trophy (77 N. Main St.). When they’re gone, they’re gone! (Cash or check only.)
On the morning of the event bring your ticket (or ID) to 131 S. Main Street to check-in. There you will receive your official chili crawl map and voting ballot. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. Chili is available beginning at 11 a.m.
The last stop on the crawl is Hopper’s Silk Screening and All Star Trophy where your completed ballot can be redeemed by 2 p.m. for an official Chili Crawl T-shirt. It’s the perfect attire to show off when you head back to the ice to listen to the bands on Saturday night!
Event Check-in: Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership (131 S. Main Street)
Participating locations – various downtown businesses, map provided at check-in
Presented by Grande Cheese @ Various Locations, Downtown Fond du Lac
Pick up an event brochure at any of the participating locations and walk through beautiful downtown Fond du Lac to see these talented ice carvers create works of art right on the sidewalks of downtown. Get your picture taken with each one. Sculptures will be available for viewing as weather and temperature allow. A children’s design contest will be held prior to the event and winners will be selected and announced the day of the event.
A special thank you to all the children that entered the design contest. The theme was ‘Sources of Pride and Inspiration’ to reflect our event sponsor – Grande Cheese.
Downtown Sculpture Locations & Sculpting Schedule (*Indicates children’s design contest winner locations):
- National Exchange Bank & Trust – 130 S. Main Street (*6 – 9 year old design winner location) – Sculpting begins: 10 am
- Gallery & Frame Shop – 94 S. Main Street – Sculpting begins: 10:45 am
- Ubuntu Art Space – 52 E. Division Street – Sculpting begins: 11:30 am
- Hoppers Silk Screening and All Star Trophy – 77 N. Main Street – Sculpting begins: 12:15 pm
- Wood’s Floral & Gifts – 36 N. Main Street – Sculpting begins: 1:00 pm
- Edith’s Bridal & Tuxedos – 9 S. Main Street – Sculpting begins: 1:45 pm
- Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac – 75 W. Scott Street (*0 – 5 year old design winner location) – Sculpting begins: 2:30 pm
- Lillians – 27 S. Main Street (*10-13 year old design winner location) – Sculpting begins: 3:15 pm
- FINALE – Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts – 51 Sheboygan Street – Sculpting begins: 4:00 pm on Outdoor Plaza Mezzanine
Presenting Sponsor – Grande Cheese
Special thanks to all the block sponsors above! See the sculpting display on Sheboygan Street between Main & Portland Streets all day Saturday. Also thanks to Hey Cut it out Carvers. See their work here.
Instead of sitting and looking at the snow this winter, get creative with it and join us for a snow sculpting class! In this one hour hands-on class, learn the basic techniques for snow sculpting along with how to use different tools to achieve various looks, textures and shapes. Then apply your newly mastered techniques immediately afterwards in an amateur snow sculpting contest on Sheboygan Street! Families and groups will be assigned their own snow block to carve over a 2 hour time period. Judging will begin at 4 pm and awards presented at 4:30 pm.
1 – 2 pm: Learn the basics of snow sculpting in this one hour class
2 – 4 pm: Snow Sculpting
4 – 4:30 pm: Judging and awards presented
Students under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Teams for amateur snow sculpting contest should consist of 1-4 individuals.
Basic tools will be supplied, but you are encouraged to bring additional tools. Here is a list of some tools to consider:
Various sized spoons
Ice scrappers
Paint scrapers
Snow shovels
Hand saws
Paint brushes
Spray bottle for water
Chisels
Flat head screwdrivers
Any other tool that removes/scrapes/cuts/smooths snow
Single admission: $10 per class ($8 for THELMA members)
Family admission: $20 per class ($16 for THELMA members)
Family admission allows two or more members of a household to attend at the group rate.
presented by Ahern @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Get your teams together to create your own snow sculpture, just like the professionals. You will create your own snow form, sculpt and shape it until you’ve created your very own masterpiece. Teams should consist of 1 – 4 individuals and they can range in age. THELMA will be hosting a snow sculpting class prior to this event for anyone interested. Go to “Competition Sign-up” at the top of the page to reserve your spots.
Families and school groups encouraged to join! Reach out to Pete Wilke (director@fdlfest.com) for more information.
Corner of Sheboygan Street & Portland Street
Judging will begin at 4:00 pm and awards given at 4:30pm
Back by popular demand, Guys On Ice returns to THELMA! From their shanty, ice-fishing buddies Marvin (original cast member Doug Mancheski) and Lloyd (Fond du Lac Native Steve Koehler) sing about life, love, and the one that got away. This hilarious piece of Wisconsin anthropology will once again charm your wool socks off.
Beer, wine and other spirits will be available for purchase. Tickets available at www.thelmaarts.org
Performance at 2 pm. Bar opens at 1 pm
Ticket Information
General Admission $20 ($12 for Members of THELMA)
Bistro Table for Four $100 ($60 for Members of THELMA)
Pub Table for Two $60 ($36 for Members of THELMA)
Reservations required for tables. Please call 920.921.5410 to reserve your bistro table for four or your pub table for two. Limited number of tables available. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
The Joe Schmoes formed in 2019 as a three-man improv group, with over 25 years of collective improv experience between them. In addition to their “real jobs” each member of the Joe Schmoes is active in the performing arts. Nate Scheuers (Appleton, WI) has performed in dozens of community theater shows in the Fox Valley and serves on the Board of the Oshkosh Community Players. Ben Giles (Fond du Lac, WI) founded Laughable Productions LLC—an entertainment company specializing in murder mystery dinner shows—in which he performs regularly. Joe Venhuizen (Fond du Lac, WI) directs high school drama and improv at Central Wisconsin Christian School, his alma mater, in Waupun, WI.
The Joe Schmoes specialize in short-form improv comedy heavily driven by audience participation.
Show at 4:30 PM
Bar opens one hour prior
Back by popular demand, Guys On Ice returns to THELMA! From their shanty, ice-fishing buddies Marvin (original cast member Doug Mancheski) and Lloyd (Fond du Lac Native Steve Koehler) sing about life, love, and the one that got away. This hilarious piece of Wisconsin anthropology will once again charm your wool socks off.Beer, wine and other spirits will be available for purchase.
Tickets available at www.thelmaarts.org
Performance at 7 pm. Bar opens at 6 pm
Ticket Information
General Admission $20 ($12 for Members of THELMA)
Bistro Table for Four $100 ($60 for Members of THELMA)
Pub Table for Two $60 ($36 for Members of THELMA)
Reservations required for tables. Please call 920.921.5410 to reserve your bistro table for four or your pub table for two. Limited number of tables available. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
presented by C.D. Smith @ Exhibitor Row - Sheboygan Street
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 and students began constructing the shanties in September, with the shanties scheduled to be completed in January 2020.
One of the shanties will be out on Lake Winnebago partaking in the Fond du Lac tradition of sturgeon spearing. The other will be on exhibit at the Sturgeon Spectacular event site on Sheboygan Street all weekend long. Walk through the shanty and see what it’s like to be out on the ice with the other 10,000+ spearers out on the lake.
Tours and more information available during the following times:
Friday (6pm – 10pm)
Saturday (10am – 4pm)
Sunday (10am – 2pm)
Bring the whole family to the Children’s Museum for indoor and outdoor fun (weather permitting)! Design your own sturgeon fish decoy, help us construct our Shantytown Village, try our sturgeon fishing simulation, and explore the Museum’s newest exhibits! Bring your camera: you’ll want a photo with the Museum’s giant Paper Mache sturgeon replica.
$1 off all admission during Sturgeon Spectacular.
Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac
10 AM – 2 PM
with Urban Fuel @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Join us for THELMA’s liquid brunch. Enjoy music, drinks and food from Urban Fuel! The Kyle Megna and Ross Catterton Duo will perform in Fountain City where we will be serving Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and other cocktails. Food will be available for purchase by Urban Fuel. Reservations encouraged for food.
Back by popular demand, Guys On Ice returns to THELMA! From their shanty, ice-fishing buddies Marvin (original cast member Doug Mancheski) and Lloyd (Fond du Lac Native Steve Koehler) sing about life, love, and the one that got away. This hilarious piece of Wisconsin anthropology will once again charm your wool socks off.
Beer, wine and other spirits will be available for purchase. Tickets available at www.thelmaarts.org
Performance at 2 pm. Bar opens at 1 pm
Ticket Information
General Admission $20 ($12 for Members of THELMA)
Bistro Table for Four $100 ($60 for Members of THELMA)
Pub Table for Two $60 ($36 for Members of THELMA)
Reservations required for tables. Please call 920.921.5410 to reserve your bistro table for four or your pub table for two. Limited number of tables available. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.