Venetian Festival returns Wednesday
Pig races are scheduled to occur in Seminary Park this weekend.
Without the Venetian Festival, there would be no summer in downtown Lake Geneva.
There would be no lighted boat parade, water skiing show or fireworks. No Ferris wheel, no beer tent hosting a stacked cast of local music acts.
But fear not, the 64th Annual Lake Geneva Jaycees Venetian Festival returns with a ribbon cutting Wednesday, Aug. 19, in the beer tent at 5 p.m.
The beer tent will be in Flat Iron Park, along with food booths and carnival rides. All Venetian Festival activities are in Flat Iron, Seminary and Library parks.
New to Venetian this year are the inaugural pig races, which will be Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22 and 23, in Seminary Park.
"It's fast, funny and exactly the kind of unexpected festival fun that makes Venetian weekend even better," states the Venetian Festival Facebook event page on the pig races.
Various performers will perform at Venetian Festival, including Lunch Money Bullies, the Toys, Too Hype Crew, Terry Byrne Band and the Big Al Wetzel Band.
Children's rides and the Sunday Car & Bike Show will be in Seminary Park.
Arts & Crafts Fair and seating for the water ski show, boat parade and fireworks is in Library Park.
There is no admission charge to walk the festival grounds. However, tickets are sold for access to rides, and there may be admission charges for the beer tent and other special events.
Below is a schedule for this year's Venetian Festival, culled from information at the Lake Geneva Jaycees event website, www.venetianfest.com.
Unless otherwise noted, music performances occur in the beer tent, which is accessible to guests age 21 or older.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19
Venetian Festival Ribbon Cutting — 5 p.m., Beer Tent, Flat Iron Park.
Carnival — 5-10 p.m., Flat Iron and Seminary parks. All-you-can-ride wristbands for $40 per person. To purchase wristbands online, go to venetianfest.com/ carnival to find the link.
Beer Tent — 5 p.m.-midnight. Cover charge of $5 starting at 6 p.m. Ages 21 and older.
Lunch Money Bullies — 8-11:45 p.m., Beer Tent. High-energy rock and pop. Cover $5.
THURSDAY, AUG. 20
Carnival — 5-10 p.m. All-you-can-ride wristbands $40 per person.
Beer Tent — 5 p.m.-midnight. Cover of $5 starts at 6 p.m.
The Toys — 8-11:45 p.m., Beer Tent. Performing classic hits and crowd-favorite anthems. Cover $5.
FRIDAY, AUG. 21
Carnival — 5-11:30 p.m.
Beer Tent — 5 p.m.-midnight. Cover of $5 starts 6 p.m.
Kelly Daniels — 8 p.m.-midnight, Beer Tent. Nashville-based country singer-songwriter. Cover $5.
SATURDAY, AUG. 22
Arts & Crafts Fair — 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Library Park. Over 90 vendors are expected at the 31st Annual Venetian Festival Arts & Crafts Fair. Local Cub Scouts will provide food and beverages at the Brat Stand.
Baggo Tournament — 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Beer Tent. Cost $40 per team. Double elimination straight to 21.
Inaugural Pig Races — Noon-7 p.m., Seminary Park.
Touch a Truck — Noon-4 p.m., Seminary Park. Children can explore real trucks, emergency vehicles and heavy equipment. Free to participate.
Carnival — Noon-11 p.m. All-you-can-ride wristbands for $40 per person until 5 p.m.
Beer Tent — Noon-midnight. Cover of $5 starts at 6 p.m.
Terry Byrne Band — 3-6 p.m., Beer Tent. Byrne brings rock and classics to the stage. Free admission.
Too Hype Crew — 8 p.m.-midnight, Beer Tent. Tribute to hip hop from the 1980s-2000s. Cover $5.
SUNDAY, AUG. 23
Arts & Crafts Fair — 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Library Park.
2nd Annual Car Show — 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Classic cars, hot rods, customs and crowd favorites will be on display.
Carnival — Noon-11 p.m.
Inaugural Pig Races — Noon-5 p.m.
Beer Tent — Noon-midnight. Cover of $5 starts at 6 p.m.
Rock Central — Noon-3 p.m. Local music school students performing.
Big Al Wetzel Band — 3-6 p.m. “If you know Lake Geneva, you know Big Al,” states the Jaycees website.
Water Ski Show — 6 p.m., Library Park. The Wonder Lake Ski Team performs in front of Riviera Beach.
Venetian All Stars — 8 p.m.-midnight, Beer Tent. Local music legends close out the live music portion of the festival. Cover $5.
Lighted Boat Parade — Dusk, Library Park. Vene-tian-style lighted boats will cruise past the park by Riviera Beach. To enter and for more details, go to www.venetianfest.com/fireworks.
Fireworks — After dusk. Lake Geneva Jaycees recommends being anywhere along the downtown Lake Geneva waterfront for best views of the display. “For our 64th annual celebration, we’re pulling out all the stops to make this one of the biggest and brightest yet,” states the website. Oh, ask a Lake Geneva Jaycee near the waterfront to get a glow stick for the kids.
