Join us at the Brick House restaurant in Fond du Lac’s Downtown District for a totally family-friendly kickoff to Sturgeon Spectacular 2023, featuring complimentary games, prizes, and food for the family. Kids will love the annual opportunity to spear Jerry the Sturgeon and parents will love the complimentary adult beverages. Brick House restaurant Friday, February 10, 2023, 4:30-6:15pm.

Participating Location: Brickhouse – 161 S. Main Street, Fond du Lac 

Make sure to come down for the Lighting of the Sturgeon & Sculptures at 6:45pm 

Illumination provided by

Join Lakefront Brewery for a night of beering before the season opens.  Grab one of four Lakefront options on tap, spin the wheel, and win some cool Lakefront Brewery swag.

Promo: 5:00 – 7:00pm

Presented by:

The Sturgeon Spectacular kicks off at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts on Friday night with a free concert and lots of cheer!

THELMA is bringing Sam Luna & Friends to help kick off the Sturgeon Spectacular weekend in style!  Enjoy music inside THELMA and warm up by dancing or enjoying a hot beverage! Plus watch the snow sculptors get their pieces started right outside on Sheboygan Street! Try a Whiskey Whiskers (hot toddy inspired beverage), spiked hot cocoa, and more!

Come to the Lakefront Brewery bar set up inside Lakeside Park Pavilion.  Party inside in the warmth or take it outside.  Participate in games including Hammerschlagen, ice bowling, broom ball, or join the Outdoor Curling Funspiel.   Lakefront Brewery, the official beer sponsors of Sturgeon Spectacular will be doing a Special Tapping of a Lakefront Exclusive Black Forest Cake flavored Bottom Feeder Ale starting at noon – while supplies last!  Sturgeon Spectacular Commemorative Steins will also be available – while supplies last.

Check out the Live Look-ins at Wendt’s on the Lake to see sturgeon on the big screen inside the pavilion.  Live feeds will be occurring every hour, on the hour starting at 12pm and ending at 4pm. Special celebrity DJs will be playing their favorites and taking requests.   Special prizes given to anyone that brings their registered sturgeon to the celebration!

*Concessions available onsite from Downtown Deli, Market & Cafe

Presented by:

With support from:

Feeling “chili” from all that time on the ice? Celebrate Sturgeon Spectacular with a walk in Downtown Fond du Lac for the 14th Annual Chili Crawl being held Saturday, February 11th, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

For just $10, crawlers can taste different chili concoctions made by our downtown businesses. The downtown business voted into the top spot gets the bragging rights of being called the year’s best chili!

On the morning of the event bring your ticket to 131 S. Main Street to check-in. There you will receive your official chili crawl map and voting ballot. Check-in opens at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 12:00 p.m. Chili is available beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Ballots will be split to allow voting on best restaurant chili and best home-cooked chili. Feel free to choose your own route for each stop.

The last stop on the crawl is Hopper’s Silk Screening and All-Star Trophy where your completed ballot can be redeemed by 2:00 p.m.

Downtown Fond du Lac shops and restaurants are open to the general public of all ages during this event. The Sweet Stroll will be held rain or shine.
Tips
• Avoid waiting in line by picking up your materials starting at 10:00 a.m. on February 11th.
• Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing, since you’ll be walking outdoors between locations.
• Post photos to Instagram and Facebook using hashtag #downtownfdl.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to amber@downtownfdl.com

Tickets are transferable, but not refundable. Transferring a ticket to another individual is the responsibility of the ticket holder. The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership will not facilitate exchanges.

2023 Competing Locations:

1. 18 Hands Ale Haus & Biergarten – 18 E. Division
2. CC’s Chocolates – 57 N. Macy
3. Cujak’s Wine & Spirits -47 N. Main
4. Fat Joe’s Burgers & Brew – 15 W. Division
5. Korneli’s Bar – 8 5th
6. Main Pub – 241 S. Main
7. PS, Beauty Lounge – 59 N. Main
8. The Hotel Retlaw – 1 N. Main
9. The UPS Store – 114 S. Main
10. Three Aces North – 111 S. Main
11. Top Shelf Bar & Grill – 90 S. Main
12. Victoria’s Pet Nutrition – 14 N. Main

Only 200 tickets sold (while supplies last) – available online only! (Click green ticket link above)
Check-in at Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership (131 S. Main Street) from 10am – 12pm, day of

Presented by:

As part of the Sturgeon Spectacular Winter Festivities the weekend of February 10 – 12, 2023, Fond du Lac Festivals is teaming up with the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership to bring you a fun event for all ages… just in time for Valentine’s Day.  Open to all ages!

On the morning of the event bring your ticket to 131 S. Main Street to check-in. There you will receive your official Sweet Stroll map. Check-in opens at 10:00 a.m. Sweets will be available beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Join us for a walk around downtown and vote for the best sweets in town!

Participating Locations:

1. Argentum et Aurum – 111 S. Main
2. Blue Marble Botanicals – 28 N. Main
3. CC’s Chocolates – 57 N. Macy
4. Craft City Bottleshop & Taproom – 103 S. Main
5. Fat Joe’s Burgers & Brew – 15 W. Division
6. Fond du Lac Cyclery – 209 S. Main
7. Gallery & Frame Shop hosting The ARC of Fond du Lac – 94 S. Main
8. H & H Hobby – 79 S. Main
9. Hang 10 Poke – 74 S. Main
10. Indigo Gallery – 104 S. Main
11. Main Street Fashion – 117 S. Main
12. PS, Beauty Lounge -59 N. Main
13. The UPS Store – 114 S. Main
14. Thrive Church – 79 E. Second
15. Ubuntu Art Space – 52 E. Division
16. Victoria’s Pet Nutrition – 14 N. Main

Only 200 tickets sold (while supplies last) – available online only! (Click green ticket link above)
Check-in at Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership (131 S. Main Street) starting at 10am (day of)

Join us for the first ever Sturgeon Spectacular Sheepshead Tournament.  Basic play, 5 players per table, 5 handed Jack of Diamonds and there will be 48 hands…

Reserve your seat today by contacted Alene “Al” Leazer today.  Must be registered by 1:30pm, day of tournament.

Must be registered by 1:30pm on Saturday, February 11th.
Contact Al Leazer to reserve your seat (920-979-9268)

Pay-out based on 30 individuals registered:

1st Place: $200
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $75
4th & 5th Place: $50 each
6th – 10th Place: $25 each

Enjoy music inside THELMA and warm up in The Great Hall Ballroom…  Dancing encouraged!  Plus watch the snow sculptors on Sheboygan Street! Drink specials will be available for purchase steps away inside THELMA’s art gallery including a hot-toddy inspired “Whiskey Whiskers”, spiked hot cocoa, mocktails, and more.

Concert at 7 pm
The Great Hall Ballroom
Cash Bar opens at 6 pm
Free admission!

Raise a toast to Sturgeon Spectacular 2023 with a one-of-a-kind Bloody Mary at participating establishments in the Downtown District, all weekend long and register to win big cash! The Art of the Bloody Mary contest concludes with area bartenders going head-to-head to build the Ultimate Bloody Mary, Sunday morning before a panel of world-renowned Bloody Mary experts at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts 11 am, Sunday, February 12, 2023.

Various bars throughout downtown Fond du Lac will also be serving their specialty bloody marys throughout the weekend

Presented by Destination Lake Winnebago Region:

Join us in celebrating all those that make Sturgeon Spectacular a weekend for all to enjoy.  Enjoy great brunch by Urban Fuel, hold & cold drinks and live music inside the THELMA Fountain City Room, or grab a drink and bring it outside to see the state snow sculptors put their finishing touches on some beautiful sculptures.

We will be announcing the winners of the following events starting at 1:30pm

• Downtown Chili Crawl – “Best” Awards
• Downtown Sweet Stroll – “Best” Awards
• Downtown Ice Sculpting Competition – 1st & 2nd place sculptures
• Sturgeon Fun Run & 5K Run/Walk – top finishers
• Outdoor Curling Funspiel – 1st, 2nd, 3rd place teams
• Kids Snow Sculpting Competition – 1st place
• Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Championships will be announced starting at 2:00 pm
  • People’s Choice Winners
  • Artist’s Choice Winners
  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd place team finishers