Winter Rec-Fest

(written by Megan, Archives staff)

The first Winter Rec-Fest was held in February 1987.

La Crosse Tribune 25 January 1987 p20

Announced activities included cross country skiing, ice fishing, broomball, snowman building, ice skating, and a figure skating exhibition.  The planned event, designed to encourage people to get out and participate in winter outdoor activities, was sponsored by the La Crosse Parks and Recreation Department, along with other local agencies.  Highlighting the continuing weather unpredictability, several events were postponed due to lack of snow.

La Crosse Tribune 2 February 1987 p26

Future Winter Rec-Fest events continued to offer many activities.

1993 Winter Rec-Fest flyer

Sledding, 1999

Ice skating race with an obstacle course, 1999

Broomball, 1999

Broomball is played by wearing rubber soled shoes with members of each team using a “broom”, a long pole with a rubber device that looks like a broom on the end.  Team members try to send a ball into the other team’s goal to score points.  

The 2007 Winter Rec-Fest had added had added fireworks, a fish fry, and a lighted sled hill.

2007 Winter Rec-Fest program

The 2018 Winter Rec-Fest also included snow shoeing, snow volleyball, a torchlight hike and indoor activities like scrabble, euchre, darts and sheepshead, as Winter Rec Fest continued to change and evolve.

While the 2020 Winter Rec-Fest had to be cancelled due to lack of cooperative weather, next year promises to be better than ever.