Festivals & Fun by Season

You’ll find the event dates and the complete guide in our
" Calendar of Events "

Spring

Spring Sensational The area's beautiful lakes and lush forests come alive in Spring, setting a magnificent natural backdrop for the area's turn-of-the-century mansions, outstanding resorts, award-winning restaurants and charming retail venues.

World Record Weekend Library Park, Lake Geneva.
In honor of Earth Day, the city of Lake Geneva will unite at high noon on Saturday April 19th to win back the coveted Guinness World Record Bunny Hop title.  This family friendly event will now be titled, "Some Bunnies Going Green". Seedlings will be handed out to the first 200 families who register.  Recycling activities, contests and spring open houses in the downtown shops.  Bring your cameras as costumed characters and local celebrities will be on hand.  Registration from 10-11:50am downtown and in Library Park.  Voluntary donation of $1.00 for adults and 50c for children.  Proceeds will go to the One Step at a Time Camp.  This camp is an opportunity for childhood cancer victims to enjoy the earth and the outdoors.  So, come one, come all to Lake Geneva's 4th annual World Record Weekend.  Beware, Washington State Fair and all other spoilers, Lake Geneva will take this title back!  For more information on the hop, Call Rag Thyme 262-248-4448.

Maple Fest Covenant Harbor Bible Camp, Highway 50, Lake Geneva.  Come enjoy the hugely popular event for the entire family.  All you can eat pancakes, maple syrup tours, fun activities, rummage sale, craft fair.  Activities for adults and kids include a giant swing, climbing tower, bounce castle, and more. 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Located one mile west of downtown Lake Geneva. Call 262 248-3600 for information. 

Lake Geneva Marathon This annual 25K Marathon Relay Run/Walk and 5K Run/Walk kicks off the summer season.  During the races, support persons and race fans may view the race from various sites along the beautiful route. Lake Geneva, Frank Dobbs for registration application 262-275-3577.

Summer

Summer Spectacular Outdoor activities abound in the summer months with so much to share and enjoy. The myriad of activities and events are compelling escapes.  Boating, fishing, golf, hiking, water skiing, swimming, biking, horseback riding mixed with festivals, fairs and special events to create a vacation destination that shouldn't be missed.

Fourth of July celebrates with a bang! The Grand Geneva Resort  hosts a spectacular display and barbecue. The City of Fontana puts on a lakefront fireworks show.  Fireworks explode at dusk.

Music By The Lake Series, George Williams College at Aurora University
Music by the Lake tickets can be purchased securely online at www.aurora.edu/mbtl or by calling 262-245-8501, toll free at 866-843-5200.  Plans are underway for the construction of a new permanent open air pavilion.  Site preparation and construction will be completed in June when the festival opens its eighth season since the revival of the celebrated Geneva Lake summer music tradition in 2001.  The new seasonal venue will be constructed on the site of the historic Lewis Auditorium and will replace the current Allyn Pavilion with a tensile structure inspired by the famous Benedict Music Tent at the Aspen Music Festival. The new facility will be called The Ferro Pavilion in recognition of the $500,000 leadership gift to the project from the Ferro Family Foundation, established by lake residents Michael and Jacky Ferro of Chicago. 

Annual Art in the Park, a juried art fair attracting artists from throughout the United States. Library Park, Lake Geneva 262-249-7988.

Lake Geneva Venetian Festival, an exciting summer fair highlighted by carnival games, live entertainment, firemen’s water fight and water ski shows showcases the Geneva Lake lakefront. Sunday night, the lighted boat parade and spectacular fireworks cap the weekend.  Flatiron Park, Lake Geneva.

Maxwell Street Days offers bargains galore and outdoor cooking as area merchants present a citywide sidewalk sale.  Lake Geneva.

Annual Walworth County Fair Carnivals, horse shows, live entertainment, livestock competitions, antique shows and food galore are just a few of the dozens of events at the fair…the oldest and largest county fair in Wisconsin. Walworth County Grounds, Elkhorn 262-723-3228.

Fall

The Lake Geneva Wine Festival,  held September 6-9, 2007, showcases nationally recognized vintners and chefs in a beautiful lakeside setting to support organizations benefiting children and families through education and outreach.  Call 262-245-8635 or visit www.lakegenevawinefestival.com

Fall Fantastic Colors! Colors! Colors! Nature paints a magnificent portrait with incredible vistas! Surround yourself with spectacular views as you drive through the country, explore virgin forests, enjoy plentiful wildlife, sail shimmering lakes and celebrate the harvest.

Lake Geneva Triathlon Competitors from throughout the Midwest come to participate in the sanctioned competition featuring swimming, biking and running.  For the hardy, but great to watch!  262-275-3577. 

Oktoberfest in Lake Geneva Food booths, farmers' market, craft booths, and children's activities in downtown Lake Geneva.  Also, a street dance on Sunday by an authentic German Polka Band.  Come enjoy this annual harvest celebration weekend. Lake Geneva 262-248-4416.

Winter

Winter Wonderful The winter season offers terrific opportunities for downhill and cross country snow skiing, snow boarding, skating, ice fishing, horseback riding, sleighing, snowmobiling and dozens of other exciting activities.  Play at Winter carnivals...then warm up at cozy fireside retreats.

Christmas In The Country
presents a spectacular holiday display featuring over quarter of a million lights, animated displays, decorated trees, holiday theater productions and much, much more. Starting mid-November and running through the New Year, this annual event continues to grow in popularity, size and spectacle. Grand Geneva Resort    800-558-3417

Annual Great Electric Christmas Parade Lake Geneva’s annual night time Christmas parade features floats, lights, bands, horses, and of course, Santa & Mrs. Claus.  First Saturday in December, Lake Geneva 262-248-4416.

Festival of Lights  Runs the weekend of the Great Electric Christmas Parade.  Holiday open houses in downtown shops, special holiday dishes in local restaurants, carriage rides, tree lighting ceremony in front of the Riviera Ballroom, entertainers, live reindeer, Father Christmas. For information call 262-248-4448.

Annual Winterfest & National Snow Sculpting Competition Lake Geneva is proud continue to be chosen as the site for the National Snow Sculpting Competition.  This competition is the centerpiece of Winterfest, held the first weekend in February.

This popular annual winter celebration features a multitude of recreational activities, an abundance of food and great entertainment, including helicopter rides and much more.

Each year an estimated 30,000 people see the competition as fifteen teams from states throughout the country - Alaska to Florida - vie for the national title.   Each team consists of three members who spend three plus days using a variety of hand tools carving a 6' x 6' x 10' block of snow.

The public is invited to Riviera Park ( Wrigley Drive and the lakefront ) the first full weekend in February to watch competitors create their designs.  Weather permitting, competitors are on-site 9 am - 1 pm. and 2 pm. until dark.  The public also gets to participate by working on sample snow blocks and voting in the "Peoples' Choice" sculptured award.  Voting done on Saturday and awards given at 3:00 pm Saturday.  262-248-4416

Adding to the fun, the Grand Geneva Resort  plans to host its annual Winter Carnival the same weekend.  For your enjoyment will be a torch-light ski parade, fireworks over the snow, a chili cook-off and many more activities.  (800) 558-3417

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