Be a Sport
A community with a long track record for active sporting venues, the Fox Cities has invested tremendous resources to develop exceptional facilities for sports ranging from minor league baseball to adult recreational leagues and youth sports. Baseball, soccer, hockey and football can be viewed both during the day and under the lights at facilities such as Fox Cities Stadium, USA Sports and the Appleton Family Ice Center.

Fox Cities Stadium is home to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, a Class A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. The stadium is an ideal facility for Midwest League action as well as Wisconsin intercollegiate athletics tourneys, and family-oriented entertainment such as Music Under the Stars and concerts by nationally known entertainers. Packers quarterback Brett Favre always draws a sold-out crowd for his charity baseball game, and notables such as Michael Bolton and the Beach Boys have performed here.

Each September, elite runners from around the world join local enthusiasts to compete in the Fox Cities Marathon. In addition to the 26-mile event which traverses all seven of the Fox Cities' main communities, the Fox Cities Marathon include a half-marathon and children's walk/run events to get the whole community involved. Corporate relays and a pasta supper featuring a national personality help round out the event.

Fox Citians jam-pack their seasons with sporting activities, and folks bolster their winter activities by playing and competing in winter sports such as hockey, skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, curling and hiking at facilities including two regional ice arenas and several well-maintained environmental centers that incorporate miles of groomed or boardwalk trails. A well-developed system of trails crisscross the Fox Cities, providing opportunities for hiking and biking through scenic neighborhoods and interesting natural environments.

A Place For Leisure

The Fox River is also a source of relaxation and recreation.  Playing as hard as we work is a part of our regional character.

The Fox River flows north from Lake Winnebago, one of the largest lakes in the country. The lake supports a remarkably diverse and productive fishery, including a world-famous walleye population and a unique winter sturgeon spearing season.

Along the lake's northeastern shore is High Cliff State Park, which offers marina services, attractive sand beaches, camping sites, prehistoric effigy mounds, and beautiful panoramas from the crest of its escarpments.  Nestled into the park is a scenic and challenging golf course, one of nearly a dozen public and private courses in the area.

Big League Neighbors

From the Fox Cities, it's easy to expand your recreational horizons.  Within a two-hour drive, you can be enjoying the rustic serenity of Wisconsin's Door County, standing waist-deep in a rushing trout stream in our state's north woods, cheering for the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, or taking advantage of unique cultural and sporting events available in Milwaukee. Fans enthusiastically support the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks.

Featured Festival

     
Autumn is a fabulous season in Wisconsin, and the Fox Cities never passes up the opportunity to celebrate fall by hosting the largest community festival in the region: Octoberfest.  This huge two-day festival kicks off on the final Friday of September with License to Cruise, closing the entire length of College Avenue in the immediate downtown area of Appleton for collections of vintage and classic autos to showcase their vehicles. Live music and plenty of food and beverages round out this evening event.

Then bright and early Saturday morning, the same stretch of the downtown becomes the venue for more than 100 non-profit organizations who sell food items to raise funds for their programs and operations. This huge family event features seven music stages offering entertainment for all tastes and ages. In addition, more than 250 arts and crafts vendors sell their wares on the adjacent campus of Lawrence University.  Check out the Octoberfest website at www.octoberfestonline.org.