Door County is known far and wide for its beautiful towns, scenic shoreline, and some of the best hotels and lodges in the region. Communities like Fish Creek give you the opportunity to experience small town charm, while having an assortment of activities and amenities to enjoy.
It’s no mystery why Door County and its 19 communities are regularly ranked among the top vacation destinations in the Midwest. If the beautiful surroundings don't draw you in, the friendly people, parks, landmarks and attractions will. This is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, whether you're exploring the 300 miles of shoreline or hiking through the picturesque parks, the outdoors are always calling in Door County. To continue with the outdoor theme, the region is also home to a collection of wineries. The wineries are perfect for tours, purchasing wine, tastings and many of them host unique events. Foodies rejoice! Without traveling far, you’ll run into some great restaurants. From authentic German food to cutting edge culinary creations, you’ll find it all in Door County.
Located right in the heart of Door County, Fish Creek is a beautiful community perched directly on Green Bay. The town is home to a collection of fun and entertaining activities and attractions. The art and culture in the area is vibrant. You’ll find each on display at local museums, galleries and live entertainment venues. The parks here are beautiful and just waiting for you to explore. Local tours of historic sites and the beautiful shoreline are great ways to learn more about the area and have a blast while doing it. A great time to visit Fish Creek is during one of the community events like Summer Fest Concert and Fireworks.
For two and a half decades, Summer Fest Concert and Fireworks has been a major event in the community and surrounding areas. Great for all ages and backgrounds, the event features a wide assortment of activities and entertainment including a talented live music act, massive fireworks display, dinghy parade and the list goes on. When it comes to food and refreshment, the festival will have picnic and festival faire, as well as treats and drinks. Make your next summer excursion one you’ll remember fondly and head to Fish Creek for Summer Fest! We got the chance to interview Jackie Nelson, Marketing and Events Coordinator for Fish Creek Civic Association, to talk about Summer Fest Concert and Fireworks.
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RAL: How long has the event been running? JN: That’s a tough question, one I’ve been trying to figure out myself for some time. Essentially, Fish Creek has had a festival occurring in the early part of July for roughly 25 years. At one point it was called “Old Peninsula Days”, and there was also the “Fireman’s Festival”, but all of those really morphed into the current day Summer Fest. RAL: How many annual participants do you draw and who are they demographically? JN: It’s hard to say, it’s a very large crowd. If I had to guess, I’d say roughly one to two thousand people come to Fish Creek annually for Summer Fest.
Families, couples and young people generally make up the crowd. Having Big Mouth and the Power Tool Horns draws a lot of young people as well as retirees. Our event is great for anyone who wants to kick back, relax and have a good time. RAL: What makes this event unique? JN: Many towns have events comparable to Summer Fest, with tents, beer sales, t-shirts, live music, etc. However, having the BEST band in Door County (Big Mouth and the Power Tool Horns) combined with a venetian dinghy parade (25+ dinghy are decorated with lights and parade around the harbor) and the BEST fireworks display in Door County, really up the ante at our festival. The fireworks are the best in Door County because we’ve significantly expanded the show and finale from previous years. We may even have to get a second barge to shoot off fireworks because there’s so many! No other town has the number of shells we do this year. Additionally, the location of Summer Fest and being on the water, really makes it special. We also have roughly five nonprofit organizations who work concessions sales. This is one of their biggest fundraising events all year (if not THE biggest). RAL: What can attendees expect at the festival? JN: We have a lot to offer attendees, and some of things you’ll find include dancing to live music, corn roasting, cotton candy sales, beer sales, lemonade sales, watching the dinghy parade and fireworks.
For food we will have an assortment of picnic fare (hot dogs, burgers, etc) as well as concessions listed above provided by local nonprofit organizations
The overall environment is fun, festive and it's a true Door County summer experience. Being on the water in downtown Fish Creek is pretty special in itself. With a festival added into the mix, it’s even more incredible. RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging? JN: All of the accommodations in Fish Creek are “mom-and-pop” businesses, even the larger scale resorts. Our largest resort is owned by a small family who lives on premise, and although the resort can accommodate groups of up to 100 people, the business owners still know hundreds of guests by name, and many come back year after year. See all of our great accommodations here on our website. Also, make sure to plan in advance because lodging can fill up quickly this time of year. RAL: Does this drive business to your local economy? JN: Yes, the Fourth of July weekend is notoriously one of the busiest weekends in our town. It is one of the primary weekends when our small business owners are able to be “in the black”, and as a town where the majority of the businesses are only open from May to October, this weekend is incredibly important.
RAL: Why should people come to your event? JN: Fish Creek is a special place any day of the year. Having been born and raised in Door County, I can say that it is easily the most special town in Door County, with the best mix of businesses, nightlife, history, cuisine, downtown, etc. When a festival such as this one, is added to an already unique and special town, it’s guaranteed that festival will be amazing. We have families, groups, couples, grandparents and babies in attendance. People of all kinds come year after year because it’s an excellent place to let go of your stress and have pure fun! For more information about Summer Fest Concert and Fireworks, please visit their website. |