An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/249772
Key COVER FEATURE CEDARBURG WINTER FESTIVAL Warm up with family fun! HISTORIC CEDARBURG, just 20 minutes north of Milwaukee, kicks off the 2014 festival season with the perfect antidote for cabin fever – the 40th Annual Winter Festival. Held Saturday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, Feb. 16, the theme this year is "Snolympics." After this month's Winter Festival, the fun continues with the 29th Annual Strawberry Festival, June 2829; 42nd Annual Wine & Harvest Festival, Sept. 2021 and Oktoberfest, Oct. 11-12. These family-friendly events, sponsored by Festivals of Cedarburg, Inc., are known for rollicking good times, terrific music and entertainment, juried arts and crafts fairs and wacky contests. The beautifully preserved 19th century architecture of Cedarburg creates the perfect background for the festivals, and makes Cedarburg a popular destination year-round. The entire downtown was named to the National Register of Historic Places in the mid-1980s. Stone buildings, picturesque churches and Victorian homes create a delightful spot for strolling, shopping and dining. All weekend, visitors can hop aboard the tractordrawn hay wagon to view the spectacular ice carving contest entries along Washington Avenue. On Saturday at the Cedarburg Community Center, W63 N641 Washington Ave., two chili contests heat up the Winter Festival scene. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m., individuals from the area can have their homemade chili judged by celebrity 6 judges. In addition, restaurants pit their chili recipes against each other from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Festival attendees can sample and vote for their favorite restaurant entries. Other food as well as beverages are served all day, and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts hosts a coffee/cocoa and sweets bar. The Grand Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday, with Snolympic-themed bed racing teams as well as fire trucks, costumed characters, and other fun participants. The parade heads down Washington Avenue to the frozen pond of Cedar Creek for the start of the Port Washington State Bank Costumed Bed Racing Competition at 1:30 p.m. This hilarious cutthroat competition is followed by the challenging Barrel Races on Ice at 2 p.m. Following the barrel races, kids of all ages enjoy open Family Skating on the Mill Pond with free hot chocolate and donut holes at the Boy Scout House. Or, skate on the festive ice rink located in Cedar Creek Park, located at Mill St. and Portland Avenue. In Cedar Creek Park, don't miss the fun of watching Saturday's Co-ed Sno-Ball Tournament and the Cedarburg Lions Ice-Burg Open Golf Tournament, both at 9 a.m. The Second Annual Snow Battle is held at noon on Saturday for adults and on Sunday for ages 14-18. Also on Sunday, top dogs compete in the Alaskan Malamute Dog Weight Pull Competition, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., staged outside the Community Center. Grown-up fun is on tap Saturday evening from 6-8