Lake Geneva Winterfest 2025 in Midwest

Lake Geneva Winterfest is a five-day festival dedicated to art, winter, and fun. The program features many amazing events, taking place in a picturesque resort city of Lake Geneva, located right next to Geneva Lake in southeastern Wisconsin, about an hour away from Milwaukee. With a history of almost three decades, the festival showcases the skillful craftsmanship of the local and regional sculptors, who create memorable pieces from ice and snow.

The US National Snow Sculpting Championship (January 29–February 1, 2025)

The major highlight of Lake Geneva Winterfest is the United States National Snow Sculpting Championship, the only one of its kind throughout the country. Fifteen teams of snow sculptors and artists from all around the US compete for a national title at Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park along the sweeping shore of Geneva Lake. You can attend for free and watch how the huge blocks of snow are transformed into larger-than-life masterpieces with simple hand tools.

The epic competition spans three exciting days, starting at 11 am on Wednesday and lasting through 11 am on Saturday. The competition is followed by the US National Snow Sculpting Championship Awards at 3 pm in the Riviera Ballroom. Voting for the People's Choice Award is open until 3 pm on Sunday. You can still marvel at the sculptures on display until Sunday and before they melt.

Other Festival Events

Other Winterfest attractions include a hovercraft competition with rides, ice castles, human dog sled races, magic shows, and helicopter rides. You can join in the Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk, absorb live entertainment, and relax in the Ice Bar in the evening or cozy up at the bonfires on the beach. The festival promises a fun-packed weekend for the whole family.

Schedule & Tickets

The event spans from January 29th until February 2nd, with sculptors finishing their work on Saturday, February 1st. Lake Geneva Winterfest is completely free to attend for visitors of all ages.

Location

Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park have been serving as regular venues for the Lake Geneva Winterfest for many years. Situated on the shore of Lake Geneva, these locations provide a picturesque backdrop for the festivities. The city of Lake Geneva itself is located approximately 55 miles (86 km) from Milwaukee.

Parking & Transportation

Parking is available in the lakefront and surrounding Downtown area at $2 per hour from Monday to Thursday and $4 per hour from Friday through Saturday. You can pay at nearby kiosks. Handicapped parking stalls are free of charge. Also, note that overnight parking is not allowed from 2 am to 6 am. You can also take advantage of free shuttle bus services, which run on Saturday and Sunday from 8 am until 8 pm every 20 minutes. Pick-up locations are at the Home Depot and at the Park-n-Ride, while drop-off is available at the U.S. Bank.