Cedarburg Winter Festival

The vitality and energy of Historic Cedarburg’s downtown shopping district has been enhanced by well-attended annual festivals. Begun in 1973, Winter Festival and Wine and Harvest Festival have been successful in bringing thousands of visitors and residents alike to celebrate the charm and beauty of this beautiful downtown, named to the National Historic District in 1986. In 1985, Strawberry Festival was begun, while in 2005, the first Cedarburg Cycling Classic was undertaken and in July, 2008 the first annual German Festival will join the list. Community volunteers, Cedarburg’s retail merchants and non-profit groups, along with the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce have worked hard to create and sustain festivals. In 2001, festivals had grown so large that for charitable purposes, a 501(c)3 organization was founded; Festivals of Cedarburg, Inc., with a board made up of nine volunteer members.  The Festival Executive Director manages the day-to-day operations and along with two Festival Coordinators, organize the festivals while the Festival board and community and retail members continue to volunteer in partnership roles. Festival meetings are held monthly at Cedarburg City Hall and are open to everyone. The purpose of Festivals of Cedarburg, Inc. is to continue to work toward sustaining a vital and healthy business and retail community by showcasing the city’s attributes, encouraging tourism and fostering civic, cultural and educational interests.  Non-profit groups in Cedarburg also benefit financially by their participation, enabling them to fund their own operations and charitable contributions. Those groups include the Cedarburg Garden Club, Cedarburg Cultural Center, Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, Cedarburg Lion’s, American Legion, Scout Troops, Big Brothers and Sisters of Ozaukee County, Cedar Creek Settlement Merchants Association, Ozaukee Art Center and area Churches to name several. After expenses are paid and the Festivals financial cushion is assured, profits made by Festivals are given back into the community via enhanced festival events and a Grants Program. Grant applications are received bi-annually and funds for those grants are disseminated in July and December. Some of the grants include funding Summer Sounds, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, upgrading computers for Festivals of Cedarburg, the Cedar Creek Riverwalk Project, Cedarburg Police Department K-9 Unit, the Cedarburg Tourism, Promotional & Development Committee for advertising and city flower baskets, Cedarburg Merchants Organization, the Rivoli Theatre, the American Red Cross and many other groups.