One of Hayward’s biggest summer celebrations returns this weekend as the 76th annual Musky Festival gets underway.
The festival first began in 1950 after Cal Johnson caught a world-record 67½-pound musky on Lac Courte Oreilles in 1949.
“Really the genesis behind Musky Fest was to celebrate this world-record muskie that was caught right here in Hayward area waters,” said Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chris Ruckdaschel. “Apparently it went off well that first year that folks decided, ‘Why don’t we do this every summer?'”
Today, the festival has grown into a weekend-long celebration that draws thousands of people to downtown Hayward each year.
Throughout the weekend, downtown Hayward will host live music, carnival rides, a large handmade arts and crafts show, family activities and food vendors.
The weekend will also feature a three-day fishing contest, the crowning of the Musky Queen and Sunday’s Grand Parade.
Ruckdaschel said the variety of activities is what makes Musky Festival unique.
“We look at it as like 25 events rolled into one. It’s truly what Muskie Fest is,” he said. We definitely look forward to seeing the smiles on people’s faces and just the enjoyment and a chance to enjoy summer in the Northwoods.”
Along with the variety of events, Ruckdaschel said the festival’s fishing heritage and sense of community have kept Musky Fest going for 76 years.
“I think when you mesh all that together, those reasons make an event like this an enduring type of thing,” Ruckdaschel said.
Beyond the festival itself, he said Musky Festival also showcases the Hayward area to thousands of visitors each year.
“We think that economic impact is large and lasting because it exposes people to what a beautiful, quaint and unique town and area that we have,” Ruckdaschel said.
A complete schedule of events is available at MuskyFest.com.