Join us at Thelma Sadoff center for the Arts to kickoff to Sturgeon Spectacular 2024, 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 Copper Box 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!
Cash Bar opens at 6pm
Dueling Accordions 6pm – 7pm throughout THELMA
FREE CONCERT: Copper Box at 7 pm
Lighting of the Sculptures presented by Wisconsin Lighting Lab
presented by Busch Light @ Lakeside Park Pavilion
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:
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 10th, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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 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 10th.
• 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.
2024 Competing Locations
- 18 Hands Ale Haus and Biergarten
- Beauty Republic Salon & Co.
- Brick House
- Coliseum Sports Bar and Grill
- Cujak Wine and Spirits
- Fat Joe’s Burgers and Brews
- Hopper’s Silkscreening and All Star Trophy
- THE Dispensary Fond du Lac
- The Main Pub
- Throwback Pockets
- Victoria’s Pet Nutrition
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 9 – 11, 2024, 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:
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
Part of THELMA’s Sturgeon Spectacular Free, Family-friendly Activities
Location: Great Hall & 2nd Floor
Times: 11am – 4pm
For more info, click here
Presented by:
The following events have been moved to Downtown Fond du Lac inside and around Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts for the safety and best interest of event participants and attendees.
Reminder – no ice is safe ice, and this year that is very important to understand as ice conditions have been deemed unsafe. For this reason, the following ice game that can be, will be adapted to play off the ice.
All Kids Crafts and Activities will be located in the 2nd Floor Gallery and Great Hall at THELMA Sadoff Center for the Arts in Downtown Fond du Lac. Kids may sculpt with model magic, compete in a coloring contest, build a mini snowball catapult, and test their aim with a large snowball target.
Presented by:
Bring the whole family to meet our favorite mascots. Whiffer and Fang from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will be joining our Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts celebration and joining in some of the great family-friendly activities.
Brand new Fond du Lac Dock Spiders apparel will be available for purchase right at Lakeside Park Pavilion during the event (Saturday, February 10th only, 10am – 5pm). Check out the all new “Fond du Lac Shantymen” Promotional concept these teams are launching just in time for sturgeon spearing.
There is lots more to see and do during Sturgeon Spectacular, so make a day or weekend of it!
Whiffer & Fang (from the Timber Rattlers) Appearances : 12:00 – 2:00 PM
Fond du Lac Dock Spiders Merchandise available : 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Presented by:
This event has been moved to Downtown Fond du Lac at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts for the safety and best interest of event participants and attendees.
Come to THELMA from 4 pm – 6pm for even more family-friendly fun, only at Sturgeon Spectacular!
3:30 pm – Brian Holt Balloon Magic
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Brian Holt Magic Show
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm ONLY – Free Kids Hot Chocolate
5:00 pm – Light Mini Bonfires
5:00 pm – S’mores kits (makes 4 s’mores) will be available for purchase at the info table starting at 5:00 pm while supplies last.
Presented By:
Warm up after a day on the ice with a night full of laughter! THELMA will showcase three comedians in the Great Hall on Saturday, February 10, ranging from hilarious to gut-busting. More information coming soon. Tickets available now – beat the rush!
Date: Saturday, February 10
Showtime: 7 PM
Bar Opens: 6 PM
Location: Great Hall
Tickets (per seat): $10 General Admission | $15 Pub Table | $20 Bistro Table
**All Members receive additional 20% OFF any ticket price. For table seating, please call us at 920.921.5410!**
Raise a toast to Sturgeon Spectacular 2024 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
Five Cards Studs: 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 5 Card Studs intermission inside Fountain City.
Five Card Studs: 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