JAYCEES RECEIVE GRANT TO PROMOTE VENETIAN FESTIVAL
The Venetian Festival is scheduled for Aug. 19-23 at Flat Iron Park, Seminary Park and Library Park. The event features carnival rides, live music, food vendors, craft fair, water ski show, lighted boat parade and fireworks display.
The Venetian Festival features a variety of food vendors for hungry attendees.
One of the more popular events during the Venetian Festival is the fireworks display.
Pig races will be a new event at this year's Venetian Festival in downtown Lake Geneva.
The Lake Geneva Tourism Commission on July 21 unanimously approved awarding $30,000 to the Lake Geneva Jaycees to help the organization promote its annual Venetian Festival.
The Jaycees plan to use the money to promote and market the event in Walworth County, Madison Milwaukee and northern Illinois.
Jaycees board president Keith Felt said the five-day event, which is scheduled for Aug. 19-23 at Flat Iron Park, Seminary Park and Library Park in downtown Lake Geneva, is expected to attract about 20,000 attendees.
"When Illinois schools are going back into session, we're trying to pull them back for one more summer hoorah, booking hotels and everything here in the area," Felt said.
However, the grant award was not approved without some discussion.
The commission had about $26,200 left budgeted for tourism promotion and municipal development grants for 2026, and about $206,000 in reserves for upcoming grant requests.
Earlier in the meeting, members had approved a $7,000 grant to help promote the Fat Tire Charity Ride, which is scheduled for Sept. 19, and a $30,000 grant to help promote the Bridal Expo, which is set for Jan. 16, 2027.
Luke Pfeifer, the commission's chair, expressed concern about going over the commission's budgeted amount for this year.
"When Illinois schools are going back into session, we're trying to pull them back for one more summer hoorah, booking hotels and everything here in the area."
Keith Felt, Jaycees board president
"I'm struggling what to do here," he said. "I will be honest, it has to do with being fiscally responsible with the funds we have and how we use them."
The commission is expected to receive additional funding from the city's room tax revenue.
The city retains about 30% of the room tax money, VISIT Lake Geneva receives about 51% and the Tourism Commission receives about 19%.
Pfeifer said that he would like the commission to establish guidelines for how much grant funding is awarded for specific events each year so that "we're not in this position."
Venetian Festival activities
Venetian Festival is set to feature live music, carnival rides, food vendors, craft fair, carnival games, cornhole tournament, water ski show, lighted boat parade and fireworks display, as well as a second annual car show and an inaugural bike show.
A new event this year is pig races, which are scheduled to be held every hour from noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 22 and noon to 5 p.m., Aug. 23 at Seminary Park.
VISIT Lake Geneva President and CEO Stephanie Klett said pig races are a popular event at other festivals.
"Believe it or not, it's a massive draw," Klett said. "That's why I go to the Wisconsin State Fair every year, to see it. It's fantastic."
Proceeds from the festival are donated to nonprofit organizations, school groups and city departments.
"It does a lot for the city. I don't think there's any question about that," Pfeifer said. "The Jaycees give a lot back."
For more information, visit www.venetianfest.com.
