May 20, 2024 (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) – Fond du Lac Festivals, Inc.(FFI) is excited to kick off the start of summer with Walleye Weekend (Friday, June 7th through Sunday, June 9th). Held annually at Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac, this year marks Walleye Weekend’s 45th year as the largest free family-friendly festival in the region. To celebrate this milestone, FFI is planning the most exciting Walleye Weekend yet. All new in 2024, Walleye Weekend gets a prehistoric twist! Dino Encounters is visiting Lakeside Park on Saturday, June 8th and Sunday, 9th. This free attraction will give event goers the chance to get up and close to a life-like T-Rex as well as engage with interactive dinosaur-themed games, fossil digs, rides and more. Other new events include a basketball skills event and Latin entertainment on the big stage. The Basketball Skills Competition allows kids of all
ages to compete in a series of basketball-related challenges for a spot atop the leaderboard on Saturday and Sunday. Fiesta en Domingo features two Hispanic bands and an interactive salsa lesson on Sunday starting at 12 pm. The weekend will also feature a variety of entertaining and educational, family-friendly shows. Matt’s Magic Show is returning in 2024, bringing dazzling tricks and balloon animals, along with the beloved Wild World of Animals educational wild animal show. Pier Pups jumping canines
always make a splash, giving attendees the chance to cool off from the summer heat. In addition to shows, children are invited to enjoy Grande FamilyLand, a space dedicated to fun, family-centered and interactive activities located in the heart of the park. While each day of the festival is family-friendly, Sunday, June 9th, has been deemed Mercury Marine Family Day, featuring shows, free train rides, free face painting, giveaways, and more! Walleye Weekend offers a variety of tournaments such as softball, volleyball, a run/walk,
cornhole, and strongman competitions for anyone with a competitive spirit. The Sports Corner also allows event goers a way to compete against friends in sports challenges like football, soccer, disc golf and basketball. If you enjoy fishing, Walleye Weekend continues its tradition of Family Fishing Tournaments, and also offers a front-row seat to the Mercury National Walleye Tournament weigh-ins and leaderboard on Saturday and Sunday. The live music lineup brings well-known acts to one of three big stages with a variety of genres that will appeal to almost everyone all weekend long at no cost. Rounding out the weekend, Lakeside Park will host the 2 nd Annual Breakout Band Contest (Battle of the Bands) with bands competing from across the state for $500 cash and a contract to play Walleye Weekend 2025. When patrons of the festival purchase food and drinks, they are directly supporting the festival itself and local non-profit partners with an average of over $200,000 a year being poured back into the Fond du Lac Community. For more information about Walleye Weekend, please visit www.walleyeweekend.com
