This year’s Cedarburg Winterfest promises a wickedly wonderful time as the ‘Burg goes "rad to the max," transporting guests back to the 80s with a family-friendly festival unlike any other.
The two-day celebration will take place on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. offering a slate of festival faves, plus fresh new events that are sure to offer a popping good time.
While you’re there, peruse the shops and studies and visit landmarks like the Cedar Creek Winery (get some hot spiced wine) and the Cedar Creek Settlement (enjoy live music from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday).
The Cedarburg History Museum and the Cedarburg Visitor’s Center will also be open during the festival so you can check out the former General Store Museum, the Rappold-Dobberpuhl historic photograph collection and various rotating exhibits. They're pretty rad.
Saturday highlights
- Annual Ice Carving Contest: watch 300-pound blocks of ice transform into funky frozen theme-inspired works of art
- The Cedarburg Lion’s Ice-Burg Open Golf Tournament: Starts Saturday at 10 a.m. and features 18 rounds of tennis ball golf (sign up at cedarburgfestival.org/winterfest).
- Costumed Bed Races on Ice: This hilarious race takes place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on Cedar Creek, just north of Washington Avenue and Bridge Road, followed by Barrel Races on Cedar Creek 2 p.m. (if conditions allow). Grab warm drinks and a bite while you watch at the Anvil Pub & Grille’s Chili Bar and outdoor Snow Bar.
- Cedarburg Friends of the Library Used Book Sale: Pick up sale items for just $1 each or fill a bag for $5 Saturday hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. That's a righteous deal for dudes and dudettes of all ages!
- Family Skating will also be available on Saturday afternoon on the Mill Pond or at the Festive Ice Rink located in Cedar Creek Park.
Party on!
Stick around on Saturday for the Totally Tubular 80s Bash at the Cedarburg Cultural Center from 6:30-10 p.m. Party like it’s 1986 at this 21+ house party featuring an 80s Trivia Game Show and free drink tickets for the best 80s outfits (think: neon, baggy knits, leg warmers and bedazzled denim). You can also rock out to 80s tunes spun by a DJ, and fill up on throwback faves like Cool Ranch Doritos and wine coolers. Be sure to stop by the photo booth and pose like a boss.
Advance tickets are $35 and can be purchased online (each includes a free 80s swag bag and a free drink ticket).
Sunday Funday
Head to the festival on Sunday for more festival fun, including:
- Pancake Breakfast at the Community Gym: Enjoy a pancake breakfast run by Boy Scout Troop from 8:30 to 11 a.m. (all-you-can-eat pancakes, plus sausage and beverages).
- Restaurant Soup Competition at the Community Gym: Purchase flights of soup from local restaurants and then vote on your favorites! (Flights of beer and wine will also be available).
- Foxtown Brewing Pig Roast
- Dog Weight Pull Competition sponsored by the Alaskan Malamute Club of Wisconsin and Fromm Foods from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Cedarburg Friends of the Library Used Book Sale: Head to Buy the Book store at the Cedarburg Library for $1 deals on used books. Sunday hours are noon to 4 p.m.
Don’t forget to exchange your $10+ receipts from local merchants for raffle tickets at the Community Gym on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Drawings begin at 2 p.m. and you must be present to win.
For more information, to register for an event or to see the full festival schedule, visit: cedarburgfestivals.org.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
