Winter Festival – The Tent is Back!

Kites Over the Bay has grown to be one of the highlights of Fish Creek Winter Festival. Photos provided by Suzi Hass Photography, 1561 Wildwood Road, Sister Bay. 920.854.2701.

After taking a two-year hiatus, the outdoor tent is returning to this year’s 23rd annual Fish Creek Winter Festival, February 5, 6 and 7. Teaming up with Door County non-profits, the Fish Creek Civic Association (FCCA) has found a creative solution for providing the necessary manpower to run the tent’s activities.

Since its inception, the tent has been a mainstay at Winter Festival (formerly Winter Games) providing shelter, a bit of heat, and a place for locals and visitors to congregate. But in recent years, the FCCA has struggled with the logistics necessary for the tent to exist.

“I don’t think anybody ever wanted to tent to go away,” stated Bonnie Smith, Winter Festival co-chairman. “It was just a matter of us being unable to man the tent and justify its expense.”

In the beginning, the tent was located on the ice in the Fish Creek harbor and required countless volunteer hours just to prepare the ice for the tent.

“We had to plow the ice, drill holes…It would take weeks before just to get the ice ready,” stated FCCA office manager, James “Digger” DeGroot. Volunteers then drove to Oshkosh to pick up the tent, haul it back in a trailer and do all the set up and take down on their own, often amidst unfriendly weather conditions.

Over the years the ice has become increasingly unpredictable, and this year as in recent years, the tent will be located on land at Clark Park. Delivery and set-up is now supplied by the tent rental company from Green Bay. This year’s 40-by-100-foot pole tent will also include lighting installation as well as two outdoor heaters pumping and circulating the heat inside.

Although the ease of tent set-up has been alleviated, the FCCA still needed to solve the difficult task of enlisting dozens of volunteers to help run the games and sell concessions.

“Most Fish Creek business owners are struggling to run their own businesses that weekend, let alone help out at the tent” said Smith.

Historically, a core group of hardy volunteers, initiated and led by Fish Creek’s Ron Merkle and his family, started Winter Games and kept the tradition alive.

“Ron Merkle is the Godfather of Winter Games,” stated DeGroot. But over the span of two decades, it came at a price. “They got burnt out and who can blame them?” stated DeGroot. “They put in their time, and it came time for a new group of volunteers to step up.”

With sponsorship from local business, the area’s non-profits will be running Winter Festival’s traditionally fun and quirky games and selling concessions. The non-profits supply the FCCA with the invaluable manpower in return for a chance to raise money and gain exposure for their organization.

“It’s a win-win situation for everybody!” exclaimed Winter Fest committee member Cy Turnbladh. “When people come to Winter Fest, they’ll not only be having a great time, but also supporting our local community and non-profits.”

Although activities are slated for the entire weekend, the majority of activities will be crammed into one fun-filled day on Saturday.

For a regularly updated and complete calendar of events, including the activities at Fish Creek businesses, visit http://www.fishcreekinfo.com. For questions or further information, contact the Fish Creek Information Center at 920.868.2316.