Fond du Lac
Around Fond du Lac
Photo: Cmarsch · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Wisconsin · 104k people
Fond du Lac
“The City by the Lake”, “Fondy”
A lakeside town with a big Wisconsin heart.
NavyRed
Welcome to Fond du Lac, where Lake Winnebago is your backyard and Friday fish fry is a sacred tradition. Get ready for friendly folks, supper clubs, and plenty of lake life. Whether you're here for the summer or settling in, you'll find a community that loves the outdoors and a good time.
Clubs for Fond du Lac
No clubs for Fond du Lac yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Fond du Lac. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Fond du Lac. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Lake Winnebago Wisconsin's largest inland lake, great for fishing and boating.
- Horicon Marsh Largest freshwater cattail marsh in the US, a wildlife refuge.
- Lakeside Park Lakeside park with a lighthouse, pier, and picnic areas.
- Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts Performing arts venue in downtown Fond du Lac.
- Children's Museum of Fond du Lac Interactive museum for kids.
- Herr-Baker Field Home of the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders baseball team.
- Outdoors Fish or boat on Lake Winnebago
- Outdoors Hike or birdwatch at Horicon Marsh
- With kids Visit the Children's Museum of Fond du Lac
- With kids Spend a day at Lakeside Park
- Evenings Live music at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
- Evenings Drinks and dinner at a classic supper club
- Locals love Supper clubs
- Locals love Fish fry restaurants
Through the year
- Walleye Weekend Festival June A lakefront celebration with fishing contests, food, and live music.
- Fond du Lac County Fair July County fair with rides, livestock, and local exhibits.
- Horicon Marsh Bird Festival May Guided birding hikes and educational programs at the marsh.
- Ripon Summerfest June Small-town summer festival with music, food, and a parade.
- Waupun Fine Arts Festival September Juried art show and craft fair in downtown Waupun.
Fond du Lac has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Late spring through early fall
Talk like a local
- “FDL”
- Short for Fond du Lac
- “Bubbler”
- Drinking fountain
- “Cheesehead”
- Wisconsinite
- “Up north”
- Northern Wisconsin, often a vacation destination
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Fond du Lac Dock Spiders Northwoods League
Also rooting for Green Bay Packers (NFL), Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Friday fish fry A Wisconsin tradition, often served with coleslaw and rye bread
- Bratwurst Grilled or boiled, often with sauerkraut
- Cheese curds Fresh, squeaky curds, often fried
- Supper club dining Classic Wisconsin supper clubs with relish trays and old-fashioneds
Where people go
- Lake Winnebago parks and marinas Lakeside parks, boat launches, and fishing piers
- Supper clubs Traditional Wisconsin supper clubs with relish trays and old-fashioneds
- Fish fry restaurants Local taverns and restaurants serving Friday fish fry
- Horicon Marsh wildlife area The largest freshwater cattail marsh in the US, great for birdwatching
- Historic downtown Brick streets, historic buildings, and local shops
Heritage and traditions
Fond du Lac is proud of its deep-rooted German and Irish heritage, its role as the gateway to Lake Winnebago, and its claim as the birthplace of the Republican Party in Ripon. Locals cherish their small-town atmosphere, Friday fish fries, and the natural beauty of the Horicon Marsh.
Say it like a local: “Bubbler” — A drinking fountain.
Festivals
- Fond du Lac Irish Fest September Celebrates the city's Irish roots with live music, step dancing, and traditional food.
- Waupun Sculpture Celebration Summer Unveils new sculptures and honors the city's public art collection with events and tours.
Landmarks with a story
- Little White Schoolhouse Where the Republican Party was founded in 1854, now a museum.
- Galloway House and Village A Victorian-era home and recreated 19th-century village with period buildings.
- Cathedral Church of St. Paul the Apostle The seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac, known for its beautiful architecture and history.
- Waupun Sculpture Collection Over 40 sculptures scattered through the city, earning it the nickname 'City of Sculpture'.
- Octagon House A rare eight-sided home built in the 1850s, now a museum.
- Fond du Lac County Historical Society Museum Showcases local history, including pioneer artifacts and agricultural tools.
Food traditions
- Sturgeon After the winter spearing season, families cook their catch in various ways, from smoking to frying, often at fish fries or backyard gatherings.
- German potato salad A tangy, warm potato salad with bacon and vinegar, served alongside bratwurst and at family reunions.
Music and arts
- Public sculpture Waupun's extensive collection of sculptures makes it a unique outdoor art gallery.
- Polka music Polka remains popular at local festivals and events, reflecting German and Polish heritage.
A little history
- 1854 Republican Party founded
- 1836 Fond du Lac County established
- 19th century German and Irish immigration
- 1930s Horicon Marsh restoration
Rivalries
- Fond du Lac vs Oshkosh Friendly competition for Lake Winnebago bragging rights.
- Ripon vs Waupun Small-town high school sports rivalry.
- Packers vs Bears NFL rivalry that divides families and friends.
- Brewers vs Cubs MLB rivalry with plenty of banter.
- Game day Sturgeon spearing
- Outdoors Sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago
- Outdoors Walking the sculpture trail in Waupun
- With kids Visiting the Waupun sculpture park
- With kids Exploring the Octagon House
Locals speak with a typical Wisconsin accent, using 'ope' for 'oops' and calling a drinking fountain a 'bubbler'. They also pronounce 'Fond du Lac' as 'Fond du LACK' and often end sentences with 'then' or 'hey'.
Only here
- Ripon is the birthplace of the Republican Party.
- Waupun is known as the 'City of Sculpture' with over 40 public sculptures.
- Lake Winnebago hosts a unique sturgeon spearing season each winter.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Fond du Lac' as 'Fond du LACK'—the 'Lac' rhymes with 'back'.
- Embrace the Friday fish fry tradition—it's a social staple at supper clubs and taverns.
- Prepare for cold winters; invest in warm gear for ice fishing and outdoor activities.
- Visit the Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon to learn about the Republican Party's origins.
- Don't miss the sturgeon spearing season in February—even if you don't participate, it's a spectacle.
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Nearby
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Fond du Lac, WI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.