FOND DU LAC, Wis. — From spear fishing to snow sculpting, winter activities in Wisconsin are embracing the heat.

Ice artists wrapped up three days of hard work of sanding and carving at the Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Championship in Fond Du Lac.

What You Need To Know

  • All Lakeside Park activities at Sturgeon Spectacular were moved to downtown Fond Du Lac

  • Organizers said the crowd size appeared to be similar to last year

  • Snow sculpting and Bloody Mary contests entertained festivalgoers

  • Some spearers braved Lake Winnebago despite deteriorating ice conditions

Sculptors said in the past few days they've dealt with rain, cold, and warm temperatures. 

Allan Dickman hoped his pyramid will win this year's big prize. He's returned for his tenth year. Dickman said he used the weather as a source of inspiration.

"Egypt has warm weather, no snow and pyramids and now the Sturgeon Spectacular has warm weather, no snow and a pyramid," Dickman laughed.

First-time festivalgoer Debbie Van de Zande wasn’t scared off by the mild conditions at the Sturgeon Spectacular Fest.  Van de Zande said she’s pleasantly surprised.

"I'm really amazed that they have as many large sculptures after what they have for having no snow on the ground," Van de Zande said.

Van de Zande's not alone. Others poured into this festival.

Organizers made some big changes to the festival because of the warm weather. Fond Du Lac saw its warmest day of the month on Thursday at 57 degrees and the high on Sunday was 36 degrees.

Craig Molitor, President of Destination Lake Winnebago Region, said that’s why all the fun normally at Lakeside Park moved into downtown Fond Du Lac.

"I think last year, we probably had a couple a thousand of people over time, both in both areas. This year, it seemed like much, much more than that," Molitor said.

Crowds showed up to sample Bloody Marys and watch professionals assemble the savory cocktail. Dozens of area bartenders used their most creative garnishes to win the ‘Art of the Bloody Mary’ contest. 

The Sturgeon Spectacular Fest started as an homage to sturgeon spearing, so despite less-than-ideal conditions a few ice-shanties decorated Lake Winnebago.

From spearing to ice sculpting, it seems making the best of this warm situation has been the common theme at this festival.

"While the warm weather cuts down winter activities and it's unusual, but nothing I can do about it. I gotta go with the flow," Dickman said.

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