Door County is your home for fun February festivals and events. Here's a look at them.
DOOR COUNTY - If it's February (and it almost is), it must be festival season.
OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. But for years, local community and business associations across Door County have followed the typically very quiet post-holiday January with a February full of festivals and special events to help residents and visitors get outdoors and shake those winter doldrums.
And, along with this list, there are several annual indoor arts festivals to bring out locals and visitors throughout the month, such as Peninsula Music Festival's Feb Fest Chamber Music Series on three Sunday afternoons, Feb. 4, 18 and 25, at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor, and the Door County Short Film Festival on Feb. 16 and 17 in the Gould Theater in Fish Creek.
With that, here's how to get outside and have some fun over these next few February weekends in Door County.
Ellison Bay: Groundhog Day Parade, Feb. 2
People can watch, or take part, in this unique, 11th annual march through the community.
Sponsored by the Ellison Bay Service Club, the parade starts at 4 p.m. in front of The Vault popcorn and treats shop, 12046 State 42, and heads south along on 42 to the Hugel Haus restaurant. Those who want to march should be on hand to get lined up at 3:15 p.m., with smaller units (people, cars, dogs, other pets and critters) getting together in the parking lot at The Vault and larger floats and trucks at the post office on Garrett Bay Road. Costumes certainly are encouraged.
Following the parade, Mink River Basin dishes out its annual servings of free "Groundhog Stew" (actually, it's pork). Parade marchers, watchers and, well, pretty much anyone are invited.
For more information, visit doorcountynorth.org or the "Ellison Bay Service Club" Facebook page.
Fish Creek: Winterfest, Feb. 3-4
In many ways, it's your typical community festival, with games, food, live music and other fun. In others – especially the games – Fish Creek Winterfest is a break from the ordinary.
It's been that way for the 36 years the Fish Creek Civic Association has presented what it calls Door County's quirkiest festival, since the days when local resident Ron Merkle started what was called the Fish Creek Winter Games.
Winterfest is centered around the large, heated main tent in Clark Park, just off the bay of Green Bay, with most of the fun and games taking place Feb. 3, the Saturday of the festival. Traditionally, some games take place outside on the ice of the bay, but the Door's unusually warm January and resulting questionable ice conditions may move more games to the park.
Among the games that give the festival its quirky flavor are the toilet seat toss and ice bowling, along with minnow races in the tent and disc golf. Most games are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Also under the tent is perhaps the quirkiest event of them all at the festival, the Stumpf Fiddle Contest at 2 p.m. Those interested can sign up for either the beginner or pro divisions, and advance registration is required.
Also known as a polka cello, pogo cello, bumbass, hum strum, devil’s stick or a jingling johnny, a stumpf fiddle is typically made of a broom handle or other long piece of wood with a rubber ball or spring on its bottom end; a pie tin, tambourine or other similarly shaped resonating device; a wire strung from top to bottom, across the pie tin; and bells or other noisemakers. Thumping the instrument on the ground produces a bass drum sound, while striking the wire over the tin makes a snare drum sound.
Returning after its debut last year is the Snowflake Cake Bake, a cake baking and decorating contest. Bakers in two divisions – ages 13 and older, ages 12 and younger – will make a cake that can fit within a 10-by-10-by-10-inch box and is decorated to meet this year's snowman theme. Advance registration is required to take part.
The cakes will go on display near the stage under the tent from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and guests will vote on their favorites. Prizes will be awarded and a drawing will be held for each cake.
Following the games and contests, well-known classic rockers Bacchus Lotus perform on the tent stage from 3 to 6 p.m. Fireworks will explode over the bay at 6:15 p.m.
If visitors aren't able to get close to the park when arriving, or for those who want to hang around in the village, free trolley rides around the village are available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The festival wraps up Feb. 4 with the 14th annual Fruit Loop Run, a half-mile fun run/walk at 10:30 a.m. that begins and ends at the park tent for participants in their coolest or craziest costumes. Besides the cereal that's served after the run, a post-race party with bloody marys will be held at Bayside Tavern downtown.
Also, those who will be in Fish Creek all week can take part in the Sasquatch Hunt. The object of the hunt, Max the Sasquatch, will be in a different location in the village each day from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. Those who find Max will also find part of a password and clue for where he will be the next day. Those who've collected the five pieces of the password can bring them to the festival grounds by 10:30 a.m. Jan. 3 to be entered in a prize raffle.
To sign up for the Stumpf Fiddle or Cake Bake contests, the Fruit Loop Run or for more information, call 920-868-2316 or visit visit fishcreek.com/events and click on "Winterfest 2024."
Chocolate, chili and cherry pits
One of the traditional aspects of Winterfest is the number of popular special events held in conjunction with the festival.
Close by the Winterfest tent is the "All Things Chocolate" sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Old Town Hall, 4176 Maple St. (Spruce and Maple streets). First held in 2014, the sale is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Gibraltar Historical Association.
Among the chocolatey items made and donated by community members and local businesses that will be available are chocolate cheesecakes, chocolate-dipped pretzels, chocolate cherry bombs, truffles, cherry chocolate cake, derby pie and bacon trimmed in chocolate. The grab-and-go line where visitors can buy an already-made box of chocolate goodies returns after its successful debut last year.
Funds raised from the sale go to the nonprofit historical association to preserve, maintain and present programming at its Alexander Noble House museum in downtown Fish Creek. For more information, call 920-868-2091 or visit the "Gibraltar Historical Association" Facebook page.
Also that day, another of the festival's popular food events returns after a year off in a different format and location, as the merchants in the Top of the Hill Shops at State 42 and County F hold a Chili Cook-Off. From noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 3, guests can sample chilis made by the merchants and vote for the winner of the Golden Ladle. One of those merchants, Castle Aft & Import, will have free henna art available during the contest.
The cost is $10 for ages 13 and older, $5 ages 12 and younger, with a portion of the proceeds going to HELP of Door County, a nonprofit that provides free services for victims of domestic violence and their family and friends.
Finally, Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery and Market holds its popular Cherry Pit Spit out by its orchards at 1 p.m., with prizes for the winners in several classes. Indoors, Orchard Country will hold wine tastings throughout the day and 888 Cheese & Co. will offer its gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.
The market also is a pickup and drop-off site every 20 minutes for the free trolley rides to and from Winterfest in the village.
Orchard Country is at 9197 State 42, just south of Fish Creek. For more information, call 866-946-3263 or visit orchardcountry.com or facebook.com/orchardcountry.
Sister Bay: Door County Pond Hockey Tournament, Feb. 10
It's a different type of ice hockey than you might have seen when the 10th annual Door County Pond Hockey Tournament takes place from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Sister Bay Sports Complex.
The outdoor rinks at the complex will be set up for teams of four to seven players to compete for first place and the Stanley Thermos trophy in seven divisions. Under the tournament rules, there are no goalies, no offsides or icing violations, no body checking, no lifting the puck above the knees, and no slap shots, among other differences from "regular" hockey.
Teams come from across the state and elsewhere, often with a few squads from the Chicago area. All teams play at least three games, 30 minutes each with a halftime break.
Spectators are welcome, and concessions will be available. The Sister Bay Shuttle Bus will run between the rinks and businesses in the village every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and it's free.
That's all weather permitting, to a certain extent. Warm weather caused last year's tournament to be called off, but organizers and village staff were able to make enough ice to hold pickup hockey games in the morning, before it got warm during the day, and held a Rock the Rink party on the site with food and beverages, live music and other games. With above-average temperatures forecast for the next week, check the event Facebook page for updates on this year's tournament.
The Sister Bay Sports Complex is at 2155 Autumn Court, about a quarter-mile from downtown. For more information, visit doorcountypondhockey.com or facebook.com/DoorCountyPondHockeyTourney.
Sturgeon Bay: Fire & Ice, Feb. 16-17
Art meets ice in Fire & Ice, the 19th annual citywide ice and snow carving competition and community festival sponsored by Destination Sturgeon Bay.
Twenty blocks of ice and six blocks of snow will be turned into sculptural works of art by carvers, from beginners to professionals, throughout downtown Sturgeon Bay starting at 9 a.m. and continuing until 2 p.m. Spectators are welcome to look over the carvers' shoulders as they work. A brochure with carving locations will be available at the Destination Sturgeon Bay Welcome Center, 36 S. Third Ave.
Carvers compete for prizes, which include cash awards in Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner divisions. Judges will select division winners, and visitors can vote for a People's Choice Award.
To get around to all the carving locations and Sturgeon Bay businesses and establishments offering refreshments and specials, free Door County Trolley rides are available throughout downtown from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stops are on both the West Side and East Side of downtown, at Bay Shore Outfitters, Kitty O’Reilly's Irish Pub, Popelka Trenchard Gallery and Third Avenue PlayWorks.
The night of Feb. 17, after the ice carving and other events, is the Fire & Ice Gala at Stone Harbor Resort. Starting at 5 p.m., the usually sold-out, black-tie-optional gala features cocktails, dinner at 6 and dancing to live music by pop rock band The LoveMonkeys starting at 8.
The gala has a casino night theme, and guests can try their luck at the poker, blackjack or craps tables or the roulette wheel. The band takes a break at 9 p.m. so gala guests can check out the Winter on the Water Fireworks Show over the Sturgeon Bay channel, after which the music will resume until midnight.
Also part of Fire & Ice is an online silent fundraiser auction that begins at noon Feb. 9 and runs until 10 p.m. the night of the gala, with 60 items featuring local products up for grabs via the auction site Handbid.com.
Among Fire & Ice-related activities in the city that day, Bay Shore Outfitters is offering marshmallow roasting on the patio and hot chocolate and Third Avenue PlayWorks hosts one of its Indoor Winter Markets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a more natural approach, the Friends of Potawatomi State Park south of the city hold their Winter Trails Day, offering refreshments and a fire in the park's warming shelter from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The weekend officially kicks off in Sturgeon Bay the evening before, with a Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Crossroads at Big Creek nature preserve. Trails that wind through Crossroads’ 125-acre preserve will be lit by luminaries, and Crossroads will provide hot chocolate and a bonfire. There is no charge to take part, although donations are appreciated.
For gala tickets or more information, call 920-743-6246 or visit sturgeonbay.net.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: February brings fun winter events to Door County. Here's a look at them
