For the most part, February is kind of of slow month for us. But a big highlight last month was to once again be a part of the excitement of Fond du Lac’s Sturgeon Spectacular. Throughout the weekend, the building was filled with energy as visitors of all ages came through our doors to celebrate winter, creativity, and community.

The festivities kicked off Friday evening with a family kickoff event in the Fountain City Room, where families gathered for hands-on activities and creative fun. The photo shown above was taken from THELMA’s grand staircase looking down into the Fountain City Room, which captures the spirit of the moment. There were tables full of kids and parents enjoying the entertainment together while the room buzzed with laughter and conversation. Later that evening, the Great Hall was packed to the gills (sturgeon pun very much intended) for a free concert by Copper Box. The lively performance had the crowd on their feet and set a high-energy tone for the weekend.

Saturday brought even more activity. THELMA co-hosted the Wisconsin Snow Sculpture Competition on Sheboygan Street, along with a high school snow sculpting competition, drawing artists and spectators alike to watch impressive creations take shape. Inside the building, guests enjoyed a variety of Wizard of Oz–themed activities, adding a touch of imagination and whimsy to the day’s programming.

The weekend wrapped up Sunday with the always-popular Art of the Bloody Mary competition, where 12 competitors vied for top honors across several creative categories, delighting attendees with inventive and visually stunning entries. The festival then officially concluded with a performance by 5 Card Studs.

THELMA would like to extend sincere thanks to Fond du Lac Festivals and Destination Lake Winnebago for being fantastic partners in bringing this vibrant community event to life.