Venetian Festival begins Wednesday
IF YOU GO
What: 49th Annual Venetian Festival.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 17, through Sunday, Aug. 21.
Where: Flat Iron Park at Center Street and Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva.
Events: A carnival and musical performances will be part of this year’s entertainment. Among the highlights are the Wonder Lake Ski Show at 6 p.m. Sunday and the boat parade beginning at dusk Sunday with the fireworks show immediately following.
Info: A complete schedule with prices for entertainment is available online at lakegenevajaycees.org.
LAKE GENEVA — The annual Venetian Festival begins Wednesday, offering five days of music and entertainment on the city’s lakefront.
The festival will undergo a few changes this year. Jeremy Kinsey, who serves on the Lake Geneva Jaycees’ board of directors, said organizers will try to appeal to a wider range of visitors.
Bands will play during the day Saturday and Sunday—something Kinsey said wasn’t done in the past. Brat stand and beer tent hours also will be extended, partially to accommodate other events at the festival.
Kinsey said that, in the past, brats were not sold during the fireworks display on the festival’s last day.
Historically, the Venetian Festival draws anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 visitors. Kinsey said he considers it the county’s second biggest event behind the Walworth County Fair.
Proceeds from the event are used to fund various projects throughout the region. Kinsey said the Jaycees typically donate money to the Lake Geneva and county food pantries. The Jaycees also use the revenue to fund its Christmas generosity program, where members purchase clothes, toys and other gifts for children in need.
The also will include a water ski show, carnival and boat parade during its five days. The theme of this year’s boat parade is “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Kinsey said the vendors are all local civic groups like the Boy Scouts, YMCA and Lions Club. They each offer their own unique snack to help fund their organizations.
The festival also will have a new beer distributor this year, offering Budweiser and several local microbrews. Kinsey said it’s the widest range of products ever offered at the event.
An arts and craft fair will be held beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The ski show and boat parade take place Sunday.
Aug 16, 2011 at 8:07 a.m.
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