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
9
Fri
Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Championship presented by Grande Cheese @ Downtown, outside Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Feb 9 all-day

The best snow sculptors in the state travel to Fond du Lac to compete in the 2024 Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Competition in hopes of winning a trip to the 2025 US Championship and a $1,000 1st Prize.  Sculpting all weekend long.

Daily Schedule:
*Some teams compete well into the early morning hours.  Hours vary by day/team.

Friday, February 9, 2024*
1:00 PM – Teams arrive onsite and begin sculpting

Saturday, February 10, 2024*
8:00 AM – 10:00 PM – Competition Site Open for Viewing

Sunday, February 11, 2024*
Teams Compete
People’s Choice Ballots must be turned in at Info Table inside THELMA by 11:00am
Tools Down/ Official Judging begins at 1pm
Awards Ceremony & Spectacular Finale starts at 1:30pm

Presenting Sponsor:  Grande Cheese Company

 

 

 

 

Official Snow Provider:   Sunburst Ski Hill

Transportation provided by:   Baumhardt Trucking of Eden

 

 

 

 

Meals provided by Annie’s Fountain City Catering, Top Shelf, Philly’s on 4th, and Eaton’s Fresh Pizza.

Sturgeon Spectacular Kids Kickoff @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Feb 9 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

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:

 

 

Sturgeon Spectacular Kick-off Celebration and Copper Box Concert @ Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
Feb 9 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

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

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!

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: