On September 5, 1962 a 20 lbs. piece of Russian Sputnik IV landed in the middle of the street on the corner of N. 8th and Park in Manitowoc. The community celebrates every year with Sputnikfest, As organizers have said, “Sputnik landed here…Why don’t you?”
Manitowoc’s annual space festival has been named one of the Top Five Funkiest Festivals in the country by Reader’s Digest. I’ve been told it’s great fun for the entire family. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll find at the September 12th event.
- What: Sputnikfest 2026
- When: September 12; 12 – 6pm
- Where: Rahr-West Art Museum; 610 N Eighth Street, Manitowoc
Schedule of events:
- 12:00pm-2:00 pm: DJ Dan
- 12:00pm-1:30 pm Masquers Inc. Police officers discover Sputnik
- 12:00pm 5K Run/Walk
- Vendor Space – Dean Konop Caricatures, Lakeshore Robotics,
- Sputnik Gonna Stump Ya (Trivia Hunt)
- Art Space and Kid’s Games (open through 5:00pm)
- 1:00pm: Alien Pet Costume Parade & Contest
- 1:30-3:00pm 501st Wisconsin Garrison
- 2:00 & 2:30pm Masquers Skit in Coach House
- 2:00 – 5:00pm Live Music with Groove Therapy
- 3:30pm Cosmic Kids Costume Parade & Contest
- 5:00pm Adult Captain Space Debris Parade & Contest
- 5:30pm Masquers Present: The Sputnik Story
- 6:00 Alien Drop Raffle
There is also a 5K that you can enter. To register (cost is $40) visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Manitowoc/Sputnikfest5KWalkRun
For more information on Sputnikfest: https://www.manitowoc.org/1109/Sputnikfest
For more information, click here.
Fans of reading may be interested in my other website, Bargain Sleuth Reviews. The majority of books I review are Advanced Reader’s Copies, which are given for free. Or I get my books to review from The Brown County Library.
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