The Lake Geneva Jaycees held their first Venetian Festival in 1962. This year’ s five-day festival, 57 years later, began Wednesday and goes through Sunday, Aug. 18. It features activities at Flat Iron, Library, and Seminary parks in downtown Lake Geneva.
The festival is a five-day event that features family entertainment including a craft fair, carnival, water ski show, local cuisine including a brat stand and beer tent. It’s capped off on Sunday with a traditional Venetian Style lighted boat parade followed by the area’s largest fireworks display high above Geneva Lake.
On stage
The entertainment for the final three days of Venetian Festival this year include:
Friday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m. to midnight, Boy Band Review – called by some the best Boy Band Tribute Show in the country. Bringing full production lights, video, choreography, harmonies and energy, Boy Band Review has captured the hearts of fans with their boyband shows that transport audience members back to the days of frosted tips and hunky front men professing their undying love.
Saturday, Aug. 17, 3-6 p.m., Matt Meyer. “Not many bands shift from rap to redneck without missing a beat, but these guys are nothing if not eclectic,” wrote Bill Robbins in the Kenosha News.
Saturday, Aug. 17, 8 p.m. to midnight, Too White Crew, with their tribute to all the classic hip hop hits from 80s, 90s and early 2000s, featuring all-live music from a six piece band, accompanied by choreographed “Fly Girl” dancers.
Sunday, Aug. 18, noon to 6 p.m., Lake Geneva House of Music.
Sunday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m. to midnight, Dirty Canteen, which was formed by Jeff Walski and Jason Nelson who met at an open jam and instantly found common ground between Walski’s powerful vocal range and Nelson’s blues and 80s metal style guitar playing.
Other activities
The Venetian Festival Craft Fair will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Library Park on Main Street.
The carnival will operate on Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10:30 p.m, Friday 5 to 11:30 p.m., Saturday noon to 11:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon till 10 p.m. in Flat Iron and Seminary Parks.
The Wonder Lake Water Ski Team will perform on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. between Library Park and The Riviera.
The annual fireworks display will take place following the Venetian Festival Lighted Boat Parade, which will begin at dusk.
For more than half a century, Venetian Festival has been the banner event for the Lake Geneva Jaycees Chapter. It represents the largest revenue generator for the club. The net profits all go back into the local community and organizations.
As Venetian Festival has grown over the years, so have the donations. Some of the organizations that continue to benefit from the proceeds are: the Lake Geneva Police Dept., Lake Geneva Fire Department, Geneva Lakes YMCA, Badger High School Scholarships, Geneva Lakes Women’s Association, United Way, Big Brother’s/Big Sisters, Beat the Heat, VIP Services, the Special Olympics Dream Team, Adult Special Olympics, WC Food Pantry, Lake Geneva Food Pantry, Kisses From Keegan, Geneva Lake Water Safety Patrol and Destination Imagination.
Hours for this year’s festival are 5 p.m. to midnight through Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday.
For more information visit venetianfest.com or lakegenevajaycees.org.
