May 19, 2026 (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) – Fond du Lac Festivals is excited to kick off the start of summer with Walleye Weekend (June 12th – 14th, 2026). 2026 marks Walleye Weekend’s 47th year as the largest free family-friendly festival in Fond du Lac and the surrounding region. Fond du Lac Festivals, with the support of several partner organizations and hundreds of volunteers continue the tradition of creating community through this one-of-a-kind event.
In 2025, Holly Brenner (C.D. Smith) and Grant Monroe (The Arc of Fond du Lac) were selected as Junior Co-Chairs. This year, they will serve as Senior Co-chairs imparting their experience and knowledge of the event with our newest members of the Walleye Weekend family.
In 2026, we welcome Junior Co-Chairs, Jen Nicklas (BCI Burke) and Aaron Sadoff (Marian University, Fond du Lac) to join Holly and Grant. “We are excited to have so much support in this community and be surrounded by great individuals each and every year,” shares Executive Director, Pete Wilke.
In addition to the awesome music line-up and long-standing traditions at Walleye Weekend like the SSM Health Walleye Run/Walk and Mercury Marine National Walleye Tournament, we are adding some fun new elements.” Wilke continues. “New in 2026, Walleye Weekend brings in a Sand Sculpting Showcase, K-Pop Demon Hunters Dance & Sing-a-long, and some first-time performers to the Walleye Weekend Stages, including Crazy Train – America’s favorite Ozzy Tribute Band and Wasted on Wallen – a Morgan Wallen Tribute. Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts is organizing the 2nd year of the Chalk Art Contest right on-site and there’s so many other fun and free opportunities for the whole family. Returning crowd-favorites include Fun on the Run Animal Racing, the Wild World of Animals Exotic Animal Show, Pier Pups Jumping Canines Show, as well as crowd-favorite musical acts – Road Trip, Driftwood, Milwaukee Tool Shed Band, and The Glam Band.
When patrons purchase food and drinks at Walleye Weekend, they are also supporting the festival itself and giving back to the community. Fond du Lac Festivals’s mission is to raise money for other non-profit organizations in the community through the festivals that they host. In recent years, an average of over $200,000 a year has been raised and poured back into the
Fond du Lac community through Walleye Weekend alone thanks to the multitudes of sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who attends the event.
To learn more about this year’s co-chairs and events, please visit: https://www.fdlfest.com/walleye-weekend-co-chairs/
