Winter Festival returns to Cedarburg, features Dr. Seuss theme
Friday night's snow squalls across the state of Wisconsin provided a picturesque winter atmosphere for Cedarburg's 47th Annual Winter Festival.
After the pandemic forced the 2021 Winter Festival to be canceled, organizers are happy to be back this year offering all the favorites for attendees including a chili contest, barrel races, snow golf, ice skating and an ice carving contest. This year's theme focuses on Dr. Seuss.
"Of all the festivals, this is my favorite," explained Cedarburg's Josh Skarsten, who is competing in the ice carving contest with his wife and daughter. "We're going to make a Lorax; Dr. Seuss themed. Hope that it just doesn't fall apart and have some fun."
Not only does the return of the event allow for folks to get outside and enjoy the outdoors during the winter months, it allows area businesses to showcase their products and services, something event organizers say is a key part of Winter Festival.
"What we're trying to do is get people to come into the town that normally wouldn't during a rather slow part of the year for our shops and businesses in Cedarburg," said Patrick Curran, executive director of the Festivals of Cedarburg group. "We're just trying to create revenue for them so that they prosper as well."
Connie Downing made the trip from Poynette to enjoy the Winter Festival on Saturday with friends and family. She says out of the many she has been to over the years, Cedarburg's ranks near the top.
"I like to go to different winter fests. I've been to Lake Geneva and one up in U.P., and this one," Downing said. "They're fun. They're just small communities trying to do a great thing in the winter. Get people out and active."
Cedarburg's Winter Festival runs through Sunday. For more information on events and times you can visit the festival website here.