Fond du lac’s Walleye Weekend is still a couple months away, but festival officials are excited about this year’s event including several new features. The event centers around a Mercury Marine National Walleye fishing tournament but features music, food, beverage and many other attractions for kids and adults. Fond du lac Festivals Director Leanne Doyle says one of the new events is called Hearts to Heroes, a motorcycle charity ride to benefit area veterans. “The purpose is to raise funds to purchase a new van kept at the county that supplies rides to veterans to their VA medical appointments,” Doyle told WFDL news. Doyle says a brand new attraction this year is called the “Livewell”…targeting teenagers. “For those who are under 21 but far too old for Familyland. This is the brainchild of Mercury Marine,” Doyle said. A national Flag Day ceremony will be held on Sunday June 14th,. Doyle says also new this year is the Walleye Weekend food drive. Festival goers are asked to bring a non-perishable food item. The Walleye Weekend Wine Bar, sponsored by River Bend Vineyard and Winery In Chippewa Falls will be located on Fountain Island. Proceeds from the Wine Bar will benefit the Marian University Working Families grant program. The program awards tuition and stipend grants to disadvantaged single parents seeking a four year undergraduate degree. A Walleye Weekend kick off ceremony was held Friday at the Fond du Lac Holiday Inn. Walleye Weekend is held June 12th-14th at Lakeside Park.
