Destination Lake Winnebago Region
January 31, 2025
Craig Molitor
WAUPUN — The enchanting City of Sculpture is set to host the second annual Waupun IceFest on February 15th and 16th, offering a delightful weekend filled with family-friendly indoor and outdoor activities, entertainment, and an unforgettable display of breathtaking ice sculptures.
Waupun warmly welcomes residents and visitors alike for a unique weekend of celebration. Attendees can admire ice sculptures, enjoy delicious food, jump aboard a horse-drawn carriage ride, watch an ice-carving demonstration, get cozy at a warming station or by a firepit, do some shopping, and enjoy the amazing live entertainment in a vibrant city full of illuminating ice sculptures!
“Waupun’s IceFest will be an awesome opportunity for locals to get out and have some mid-winter fun. And for visitors, it will showcase all of the wonderful elements of this sweet, little Wisconsin town. In addition to the stunning works of art created out of ice, visitors and locals alike will enjoy all the shopping, dining and lodging opportunities throughout the community,” declares Craig Molitor, President/CEO, Destination Lake Winnebago Region.
Highlighted Events:
* Live Ice Sculpting Demo: Renowned Chicago Ice Carver Nate Johnson from Johnson’s Studios Ice Sculptures, will perform a live ice carving demonstration.
* Live Entertainment: Dave Landau Kids Show, Lunchtime Live Music with Scotty Meyer, Presentation on Wisconsin’s Wizard of Oz: the Life & Legacy of Clarence Shaler, and a unforgettable interactive performance at the Art Gala with Dueling Pianos.
* Marsh Haven Nature Center: Wild Birds of Prey Program during the day and a luminary walk along the Marsh Haven Nature Trails in the evening.
* Waupun Heritage Museum: Permanent and rotating exhibitions in the Heritage Museum, housed in a timeless 1904 Carnegie Library.
* A full menu of fun games and irresistible activities.
* Breakfast with Princesses on Sunday: A magical breakfast at The Rock Golf Club with photo ops, activities, and goodie bags for the kids.
* Art, Food, and Fun: Delectable offerings from Bent Spork and local vendors, a heated, sprawling, IceFest market, Bingo, and more!
* Live Caricature Drawing and Indoor Paint Splatter: Professional caricature artist capturing unique facial features or fling, splat, and splatter paint in a glow-in-the-dark vault at Imagine That! Art Studio.
Jeni Maly, IceFest Event Organizer explains the inspiration, “Waupun is a ‘City of Sculpture,’ and what better way to highlight our incredible permanent sculpture collection than by bringing in dozens and dozens of stunning ice sculptures and building an amazing winter festival around them! There will be fun for folks of all ages – a perfect opportunity for residents to get out and hang out with their neighbors. And we’re honored to roll out the red carpet for visitors from all over the Midwest. The proceeds from this festival will be used to add more future sculptures to our community collection!”
The Waupun IceFest is poised to deliver the magic of winter and create memories that will last a lifetime.
About Waupun IceFest: The Waupun IceFest is an annual winter celebration showcasing the City of Sculpture’s vibrant community spirit. The event features a stunning display of ice sculptures, live demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and a variety of entertainment options for residents and visitors alike. Visit https://www.waupunicefest.com for more information.
