Travel Calumet 2024 Visitors Guide debuts
By Rick Sense, Calumet County
With the flip of the calendar from 2023 to 2024 comes the new Calumet County Visitors Guide. Thank you to our friends at Zander Press Inc., of Brillion for partnering with us once again on the publishing and producing of the 2024 edition of the guide.
The 2024 Calumet County Visitors Guide has grown in size from the 2023 version, packed with an additional 4-pages of new content which includes an expanded events list, new attractions, a new map, and expanded introduction.
You can take a look at the new guide online by clicking here.
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Polly Roland from Polly's Pumpkin Patch visits the Travel Calumet Original Podcast-new episode!
By Rick Sense, Calumet County
Polly Roland from Polly's Pumpkin Patch of Chilton joins the Travel Calumet Original Podcast on the most recent broadcast. Polly discusses the upcoming farm season among many other things happening at this more than 20-year Calumet County institution and must-see destination.
Thanks for making the Travel Calumet Original Podcast a success in only our inaugural 7 episodes in 2023! With listeners downloading in 7 different countries, 16 unique states, and more than 75 cities around the world, I am excited about the growing opportunity to spread the word of why Calumet County is Closer Than You Think! Below are the links to all 8 episodes currently available. Please feel free to share this list with people that are thinking of where to vacation in the future!
Polly talks about this great destination spot in Calumet County!
Sue talks about the Delightfully Calumet light show!
Monica talks events!
Michele talks Supper Clubs!
Lindsay talks about park destinations and camping!
Chad talks tourism and its link to economic development!
Louise talks about the caves and other cool stuff at Ledge View!
Sean talks US Biathlon, Nordic skiing, and Ariens Nordic Center!
Travel Calumet Original Podcast is also available through most podcast directories including:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Index, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, TuneIn+Alexa, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Listen Notes, and Player FM.
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Travel Calumet commences billboard campaign
By Rick Sense, Calumet County
As you drive around Wisconsin, be on the lookout for Travel Calumet billboards hosted by our friends at Lamar Advertising. The billboards debuted in late December 2023 and will run into early 2024. Signs will appear in Appleton, Fond du Lac, and Green Bay and in varying locations as digital images. The billboards are focusing on Calumet County as the Supper Club Capital of the Midwest® and the tag line of Calumet County...Closer Than You Think!
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Changes to Travel Calumet home page
By Rick Sense, Calumet County
Travel Calumet's website has a new look for the new year. The main navigation area of the website home page has been expanded to include three new main navigational buttons. The three new areas of the site link to corresponding new sections within the site.
The first of the new areas within the website is a page dedicated to Ariens Nordic Center, the second to High Cliff State Park, and the third to a greatly expanded trails section within the site. In the trails area, we have included a pet-friendly trail area, as well as horseback riding, cross country skiing, snowmobile, biking, and hiking areas to make it easier to plan your trail experience within Calumet County.
In the coming months, look for even more updates and changes to the Travel Calumet website as we strive to make it more helpful for people planning and considering a vacation within Calumet County.
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Poster 1 of 2024 Calumet County poster series debuts
By Rick Sense, Calumet County
The first poster from the Calumet County 2024 poster series debuted on Travel Calumet's Facebook and Instagram sites earlier this month. The 2024 poster campaign is meant to draw attention to the many wonderful, interesting, and unique destinations throughout Calumet County.
Some highlights from the early 2024 posters include posters promoting Lake Winnebago, "the Caves of Calumet County," and area attractions.
Be on the lookout for future posters by following Travel Calumet's Facebook and Instagram sites. Facebook Instagram
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Calling all campers!
With the cold winter breezes starting to blow, many outdoor enthusiasts are dreaming of warm summer nights spent around the campfire under the stars. Adventure calls, and Calumet County Park awaits those who seek to answer it.
The 2024 camping season is rapidly approaching, and the park's campground is already filling up with enthusiastic nature lovers. Take advantage of this opportunity and visit our website to book your preferred dates for the ultimate summer camping experience. Hurry before the dates you want are gone!
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Winter Fun - Destination Calumet County |
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Celebrating all things snow-Ariens King of Snow Festival!
Join the fun on celebrating all things snow on January 20-21, 2024, at the Ariens King of Snow Festival at Ariens Nordic Center. Music, Nordic skiing, kids' activities, fat tire races, food, and fireworks, and more are among the fun things waiting to be experienced at this inaugural event. See the event details below and don't miss this great opportunity to celebrate snow!
Here is the complete schedule for the weekend:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20
At Ariens Nordic Center
7 AM - 10 PM
Open for Skiing
10 AM - 9 PM
Ice Bar and Tented Biergarten, Music, Bonfires, Kids Activities, Ariens Product Display, Food & Beverages for purchase
11 AM - 4 PM
Snow Crown Series Fat Bike Race
5 PM - 8 PM
Trails Open for Fat Bikes
8:15 PM
Fireworks Show Presented by Wipfli
At Round Lake Farms at Ariens Nordic Center
9 AM - 4 PM
Winter Vendors with Items for Purchase Inside
10 AM - 4 PM
Winter Igloo Food & Beverage Packages Available by Reservation, Live Entertainment in Tiller Bar
7 PM - 10 PM
FREE Live Concert Featuring A-Town Unplugged
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21
At Ariens Nordic Center
7 AM - 8 PM
Open for Skiing
9 AM - 4 PM
Ice Bar and Tented Biergarten, Music, Bonfires, Kids Activities, Ariens Product Display, Food & Beverages for purchase
10 AM
Ariens King of Snow Ski Race
11 AM
Ariens King of Snow Kids Ski Race
11:30 AM
Ariens King of Snow Crowning
At Round Lake Farms at Ariens Nordic Center
10 AM - 4 PM
Winter Igloo Food & Beverage Packages Available by Reservation, Live Entertainment in Tiller Bar
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Strive to survive!
By Louise Marum, Calumet County, Ledge View Nature Center
If you’ve ever watched a reality show such as Survivor, Alone, or Outlast, you can appreciate that surviving as our ancestors did, even a couple of hundred years ago, would be unattainable for most people who live today. Here at Ledge View Nature Center, we like to involve kids in programing that reminds them of what it means to be human! Making a fire, cooking over a fire, building a shelter, in short how to survive in the wild! … well maybe just a few skills towards that ideal.
This is the second winter we have run these popular outdoors, survival skills programs. We are now even transitioning into providing these programs to school groups. Attend the fire building and campfire cooking this month, and the shelter building next month. Beneficial for anyone looking to increase their confidence for exploring the outdoors in winter, or those who want their kids to have some good old-fashioned fun!
Event Name: Winter Survival – Fire building and campfire cooking
Event Date/time: January 27th 1-3pm
Pre-Registration Deadline: January 25th
Cost: $15
Age range if applicable: designed for teens
Max 25 participants (so hurry to register and don't miss out!)
Event description: Join a naturalist for a brief lesson on the history and uses of fire. Engage in a flammable resource gathering hike and practice your fire-starting skills. Then, enjoy gathering around and cooking over the fire. This program will be outdoors and a hands-on experience.
Louise Marum is the Naturalist Supervisor at Calumet County's premiere nature destination, Ledge View Nature Center
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Outdoor recreation helps drive Wisconsin economy
By MaryBeth Matzek, for The Business News, January 1, 2024
Whether it is going for a boat ride, hiking a trail, playing golf or cross-country skiing, outdoor recreation activities contribute to the region’s economy and play an integral role in attracting new residents.
According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation industry contributed a record-breaking $9.8 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2022, an increase of 6.8% over the previous record set in 2021.
“Outdoor recreation has played a more prominent role in our economy, especially post-COVID-19 when people began looking at different activities to do outside,” Barb LaMue, the president and CEO of New North, Inc., said. “We have a broad range of recreational activities in the region, and it is being noticed in some of our talent recruitment activities.”
For complete story, click here.
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Special Spotlight on Winter Fishing and Spearing |
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Best places to ice fish in Wisconsin: Lake Winnebago
From Travel Wisconsin
Lake Winnebago, the largest inland lake in Wisconsin, allows navigation through the Fox River inlet to lakes Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan. Lake Winnebago’s self-sustaining lake sturgeon population is rated as one of the finest in North America. The traditional winter spearing season in 2004 produced a sturgeon weighing in at 188 lbs!
Ice fishing Lake Winnebago for walleye, perch, white bass and sturgeon is popular with anglers throughout the nation.
Click here for full story.
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Get ready for sturgeon spearing season
By Bob Schuh, Special to Manitowoc Herald Times, December 31, 2023
Subscription may be required to view.
Before you head out onto the ice, it is always good to make sure you have read the new regulations for harvest caps and registration stations and get answers to questions about regulations during the season.
The DNR has also been preparing for the spearing season with some other information. Once the waters of the Lake Winnebago system begin to harden and spearers start looking for the ideal location for their sturgeon spearing shanty, remember to check the 2023 chironomid report. It can be your guide to locations around Lake Winnebago and the upriver lakes with high chironomid densities.
Click here for full story.
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Passing the spear
Photo by David Nevala
This February, square holes will once again checker the ice-blanketed Lake Winnebago as eager sturgeon spearers dot the lake’s 131,000 acres with shanties, trucks and spearing gear.
Gazing through holes carved up to 20 inches deep atop the murky lake waters, each person will hope to be one of the small percentage of those lucky enough to spear a sturgeon, the giant among fish that can grow up to 6 feet long and 200 pounds or more.
The odds will be stacked against these spearers. With each icy cutout no bigger than 48 square feet — about the size of a compact car parking space — fishing for sturgeon this way is often likened to duck hunting through a chimney.
Despite a sturgeon population estimated at about 40,000 for the Winnebago System, many have tried and failed for decades to land one of these living dinosaurs, which can survive more than 100 years.
For full story, click here.
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Upcoming Calumet County special events
The events listed below were taken from and are posted on TravelCalumet.com’s website calendar. To visit, please click on the image to the left. If you are interested in attending an event, please go to the event information on the calendar as many events provide much more information than highlighted here.
JLohr Wine Dinner
Thursday, January 11, 2024
6 - 8 PM
Ariens Nordic Center
1111 Round Lake
Brillion, WI 54110
Ski Like a Girl Weekend Retreat
Saturday, January 13- Sunday, January 14, 2024
Ariens Nordic Center
1111 Round Lake
Brillion, WI 54110
Traditional Soap Making
Saturday, January 13, 2024
10AM - 12PM
Ledge View Nature Center
W2348 Short Road
Chilton, WI 53014
Cost: $15 per person and pre-registration required.
No melt and pour here! Learn the traditional soap making method so that you are able to craft safe, plant based bars for your family and friends. This workshop will cover the equipment you need, options for ingredients and the process. Participants will be guided through making their own batch of soap. This is a hands on workshop and you will take home 3 different bars.
*Soap making is a chemical process, so class is not designed for children. Call us if you have any questions.
This is a hands-on workshop, bring an apron to protect your clothes.
Lantern Lit Hike
Saturday, January 13, 2024
5PM - 7PM
Ledge View Nature Center
W2348 Short Road
Chilton, WI 53014
Cost: $3 per person (does not include snowshoe rental)
Bundle up and bring the family out to enjoy a self-guided nighttime snowshoe hike on lantern lit trails. Listen for owls, stargaze and enjoy the winter woodland at night. Come back to the nature center for some hot cocoa and popcorn after your hike. A unique and fun experience!
This is a weather and snow condition dependent program. Registration for this program will open up on January 10th.
Snowshoes available for rent (traditional style)- must be back by 7pm.
UWGB Ski Day presented by Nicolet Bank
Saturday, January 14, 2024
All Day
Ariens Nordic Center
1111 Round Lake
Brillion, WI 54110
Free Fishing Weekend-Wisconsin DNR
Saturday, January 20- Sunday January 21, 2024
All Day
All Waterways in Calumet County
Relax to the Max: Bath Salts Workshop
Saturday, January 20, 2024
1PM - 2:30 PM
Ledge View Nature Center
W2348 Short Road
Chilton, WI 53014
Cost: $12 per person
These 3 bath time recipes are sure to make your next soak a sensation! It’s amazing to see how many health benefits you can receive just from taking the time to care for yourself with a 20 minute salt bath. In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to create 2 natural blends of bath salts, as well as 1 salt scrub mix. A naturalist will go through the perks of each ingredient before you begin, so that you may choose a combination that will be most beneficial for you!
Each person takes home (2) 4oz. jars of bath salt mixes and (1) 4oz. jar of salt scrub.
Ariens Nordic Invitational (CCSA NCAA Qualifier)
Friday, January 26- Sunday, January 28, 2024
All Day
Ariens Nordic Center
1111 Round Lake
Brillion, WI 54110
Full Moon Snowshoe Hike-Guided
Saturday, January 27, 2024
5 - 7PM
Ledge View Nature Center
W2348 Short Road
Chilton, WI 53014
Cost: $8 per person
Registration for this program will begin January 24th.
Snowshoe with a naturalist to enjoy the beauty of the woods under the light of the full moon. Learn about some of the special adaptations our animals have for surviving long winter nights. Listen for calling owls. This is a weather and snow condition dependent program.
Dress to be outside! Bring a headlamp if you like but our aim is to enjoy the light of the full moon in most areas.
Includes snowshoe rental, if needed.
Wisconsin State Sprints
Saturday, February 3- Sunday, February 4, 2024
All Day
Ariens Nordic Center
1111 Round Lake
Brillion, WI 54110
The Art and History of Dogsledding
Saturday, February 3, 2024
1 - 4PM
Ledge View Nature Center
W2348 Short Road
Chilton, WI 53014
Cost: $5 per person
Jim Feyne from the Siberian Outpost will bring several of his furry friends to share the art and history of dogsledding and Siberian huskies. Following Jim’s presentation, witness this arctic working breed doing what they love best- pulling a sled (weather permitting)! Meet the huskies and learn about their care and personality.
This program does not involve rides.
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Calumet County Economic Development
Rick Sense | Economic Development and Tourism Specialist
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