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 10th 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 13th 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:
Join us at Thelma Sadoff center for the Arts to kickoff to Sturgeon Spectacular 2025, featuring complimentary games, prizes, and a magic show! Kids will love the annual opportunity to spear Jerry the Sturgeon and parents will love the complimentary adult beverages. The Kids Kickoff will be taking place inside THELMA in the first floor Fountain City from 4:30 pm to 6 pm.
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 Live Music to help kick off the Sturgeon Spectacular weekend in style in the Grand Hall inside THELMA! Enjoy music inside THELMA and warm up by dancing or enjoying a hot beverage! Plus watch ice and snow sculptors start on their pieces. Make sure to come back throughout the weekend to check their progress!
Fountain City Bar opens at 4 pm
FREE CONCERT: Free Time starting at 7 pm
Lighting of the Sculptures presented by Wisconsin Lighting Lab
As part of the Sturgeon Spectacular Winter Festivities the weekend of February 7 – 9, 2025 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 at this location from 9 am to 1 pm.
Join us for a walk around downtown and vote for the best sweets in town!
2025 Participating Locations coming soon! Stay Tuned!
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 9am – 1pm, day of
presented by Busch Light @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
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:
Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership @ Various locations in downtown Fond du Lac
Feeling “chili” from all that time on the ice? Celebrate Sturgeon Spectacular with a walk in Downtown Fond du Lac for the 15th Annual Chili Crawl being held Saturday, February 8th, 2025 from 11am to 3pm.
For just $15, 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 9am and ends at 1pm. Chili is available beginning at 11am
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 3pm
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 9am on February 8th.
• 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 amy@downtownfdl.com or megan@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.
2025 Participating Locations Coming Soon! Stay Tuned!
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:
For more information on Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, click here
Presented by:
For Sturgeon Spectacular’s 10th Anniversary, Guys On Ice returns to THELMA! From their shanty, ice-fishing buddies Marvin and Lloyd sing about life, love, and the one that got away. This hilarious piece of Wisconsin anthropology will charm your wool socks off.
Beer, wine and other spirits will be available for purchase before, during, and after the show
Performance at 2 pm. Bar opens at 1 pm
Ticket Information Coming Soon!
For Sturgeon Spectacular’s 10th Anniversary, Guys On Ice returns to THELMA! From their shanty, ice-fishing buddies Marvin and Lloyd sing about life, love, and the one that got away. This hilarious piece of Wisconsin anthropology will charm your wool socks off.
Beer, wine and other spirits will be available for purchase before, during, and after the show
Performance at 7 pm. Bar opens at 6 pm
Ticket Information Coming Soon!
Raise a toast to Sturgeon Spectacular 2025 with a one-of-a-kind Bloody Mary at THELMA on Sunday! The Art of the Bloody Mary contest will take place on the 1st Floor with bartenders going head-to-head to build the Ultimate Bloody Mary, Sunday morning before a panel of world-renowned Bloody Mary experts..
Sampling begins: 10:30 am
Drink Building: 11 am
Judging for People’s Choice and Most Creative/ Awards to immediately follow: 11:30 am
Live Music – Band to be announced soon! : 12 pm – 3 pm
Presented by Destination Lake Winnebago Region:
Join us in celebrating all those that make Sturgeon Spectacular a weekend for all to enjoy. Enjoy great hot & 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 events throughout the weekend during the live music intermission inside Fountain City.
Live Music – Band to be announced soon! : 12pm – 3pm
Awards/Announcements: 1:30 – 2pm
- Downtown Chili Crawl – “Best” Awards
- Downtown Sweet Stroll – “Best” Awards
- Downtown Ice Sculpting Competition – 1st & 2nd place sculptures
- Art of the Bloody Mary – Top Competitors
- Outdoor Curling Funspiel – 1st, 2nd, 3rd place teams
- Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Championships will be announced at 2:00 pm
- People’s Choice Winners
- Artist’s Choice Winners
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd place team finishers