Celebrate the Season at Fish Creek’s Winterfest

Photo by Rachel Lukas.

The first weekend of February will soon be here, and that means one thing: Winterfest – Fish Creek’s longest-standing tradition – will return for its 35th year. And this just might be the year when you become an ice-bowling champion, win the not-so-serious Fruit Loop Fun Run, learn to play the stumpf fiddle or hunt down a Sasquatch.

Winterfest weekend kicks off Feb. 3 with a DoCo Disco Night at Hands on Art Studio, 3655 Peninsula Players Road in Fish Creek, and ends Feb. 5 with the Fruit Loop Fun Run. 

The main tent will be open Feb. 4, 10 am – 6 pm, with food and beverages available inside. Game booths will be open the same day, 10 am – 3 pm. Disc golf will start on the ice at 11:30 am, and an ice-rescue demonstration will take place at 12:30 pm. And don’t miss Bacchus Lotus playing live music, 3-5:30 pm.

Lautenbach’s Orchard Country, 9197 Hwy 42 in Fish Creek, will also participate in the celebration with its Winter Wine and Cherry Fest, featuring a cherry-pit spit competition at 1 pm. 

If you’re around the week leading up to Winterfest, join the hunt for Max the Sasquatch. Each day, he can be spotted in a new location around Fish Creek, and when you find him, he’ll give you a clue about where he might be the next day. Find him on one or all of the days, write down the password he’ll have with him and take all of the passwords to Winterfest on Saturday at 10:30 am to be entered into a Sasquatch raffle. The first clue will be posted on social media Jan. 29.

Here’s a list of all the main events, some of which require registration at visitfishcreek.com/event/winterfest.

All Things Chocolate

Feb. 4, 10 am – 3pm

After a two-year hiatus, Winterfest welcomes this fundraiser back to the Old Town Hall, 4097 Main St. Enjoy a sweet treat while supporting the Gibraltar Historical Association, a nonprofit that helps to keep Fish Creek’s history alive. There will be plenty of delicious chocolate goodies, cocoa and coffee.

Snowflake Cake Bake Competition

Feb. 4, 11 am – 1 pm

If you dream of starring in a TV baking contest, let Winterfest be your cake-competition practice run by taking part in a new festival addition, the Winterfest Cake Bake. The inaugural theme is Snowflake Cakes. Competitors must register in advance, then bake and decorate a cake according to the guidelines. All cakes will be displayed near the stage in the heated tent. Eventgoers will purchase raffle tickets and choose their preferred cakes, with the winning bakers being chosen by the number of raffle tickets in their cake box. 

Stumpf Fiddle Contest

Feb. 4, 2 pm

The famous Stumpf Fiddle Contest includes divisions for both beginners and experienced players, and the fiddliest fiddlers will battle until one is crowned the champion, complete with prizes for the winners. Space is limited, so register online in advance.

Fruit Loop Fun Run

Feb. 5, 10:30 am

The Fruit Loop Fun Run is a grueling, 0.49-mile course through downtown Fish Creek. Participants will be rewarded with a bowl of Fruit Loops upon returning to the main tent. And don’t forget to dust off your costumes because prizes will be awarded to the best dressed as well as the first-place finisher. Advance registration is encouraged.