Fish Creek, Wis. (January 29, 2024) – We’re approaching a special time in Fish Creek. For most of Wisconsin (and the Midwest!) it’s the “quiet, middle-of-winter” season. For us, it’s “almost the best time of year” season.
That’s because, in a few short weeks, we’ll be kicking off Winterfest.
If you’ve never been to Winterfest before, it’s one of the longest-running, best-loved, and quirkiest festivals in Door County, and quite possibly the whole state. It’s the kind of shindig where locals and visitors come together and throw a few toilet seats and bicycles (more on that below), play a few competitive games of ice bowling and disc golf, run a .5 mile race in wild costumes, eat a whole lot of chili, and hunt for Max the Sasquatch. What other combination of events could break up the long, dark days of early February?
Need more convincing to join us at Winterfest? We’ve come up with six reasons why this event is a must-experience:
Reason #1: The Games
One of the most beloved parts of Winterfest is its wacky and wonderful competitive games. Where else can you spin the Wheel of Meat? Toss a bike onto the ice like a discus? See how far you can throw a toilet seat. Throw a bowling ball down a slick, icy pathway. Not only will you make your friends jealous if you happen to be crowned champion of one of these games, you might just learn a new skill.
Reason #2: The Stumpf Fiddle Contest
If you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing the impeccable design and beautiful sounds of a stumpf fiddle, you’ve been missing out—and at Winterfest, you’ll get your chance. Contest participants are encouraged to create their musical instruments using string, pie tins, horns, and anything else that makes noise. If you don’t want to participate, that’s perfectly okay—just make sure you don’t pass up your chance to witness the largest stumpf fiddle contest in the state (okay, so maybe it’s the ONLY stumpf fiddle contest in the state).
Reason #3: Gibraltar Historical Association’s “All Things Chocolate”
Okay. So maybe you aren’t the kind of person who likes obscure games, creative contests, or overall fun (kidding, kidding!) but maybe we can tempt you with the one thing that’s hard for anyone to resist: chocolate. This tasty fundraiser for the Gibraltar Historical Association takes place on Saturday, February 3 at the Old Town Hall from 10 am to 3 pm. Stop by and satisfy that sweet tooth by grabbing a sampling of chocolatey treats courtesy of our local restaurants, community members, and budding chocolate connoisseurs across Door County. From toffee and Derby Pie to truffles and bacon trimmed in chocolate, there’s bound to be something that gets your mouth watering. See you there…unless we eat all the goodies first!
Reason #4: Chili Cook-Off at the Top of the Hill Shops
Nothing says ‘winter’ more than a steaming hot bowl of chili! From noon to 4 pm on Saturday, February 3, the store owners at the Top of the Hill Shops will be showcasing and slinging their delicious chili recipes and they need YOU to sample the goods as they compete for the coveted Golden Ladle prize (and extensive bragging rights, of course!). Another reason to move that belt loop over a notch and try a bowl or two: a portion of the proceeds of the event will benefit Help of Door County, a nonprofit that provides free and confidential services for victims of domestic violence as well as their family and friends. And, if you’re looking to try something new, Castle Art & Imports LLC at Top of the Hill will be offering free henna art during the day, too!
Reason #5: Hunting Max the Sasquatch
He’s big, he’s hairy and he’s BACK. We’re talking, of course, about Max the Sasquatch. Max has been a fixture of Winterfest for several years—and he LOVES to hide. In the week leading up to Winterfest, we post clues each day on our Facebook and Instagram pages on how to find Max in his favorite hiding places all around Fish Creek. Follow the clues, find him on one (or all!) of the days, and bring the passwords you’ve collected to Winterfest to be entered into a raffle for some great prizes.
Reason #6: The Fruit Loop Run
In a world full of Cheerios, be a Fruit Loop. ❤️ If you’re looking for a way to do that, Reason #7 to join us at Winterfest for Sunday’s Fruit Loop run! The pressure is on—will you have the most creative costume? Will you win the race and claim full bragging rights? Only one way to find out. The race will begin at the Winterfest grounds at Clark Park and end with a post-race gathering at Bayside Tavern, complete with a Bloody Mary’s and the heralded Olympic-style awards ceremony. Head here to register for the race!
But wait…there’s more!
Of course, we haven’t talked about everything else. The Disco DoCo event on the Friday night of Winterfest at Hands On Art Studio. All the great food that ISN’T chili. The Snowflake Cake Bake Competition. Gibraltar Fire & Rescue’s Ice Rescue Demonstration. The Cherry Pit Spit Competition at Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery. The live music. The Candlelight Ski at Peninsula State Park. The FIREWORKS. Oh, and did we mention there’s a trolley to get you to all of this fun?
Needless to say, we look forward to welcoming you to the 36th Annual Winterfest.
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