Some events this month, including a chili cook-off and the downtown soup walk, will feature food sampling.
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FOND DU LAC – It’s 2026, and Fond du Lac is starting the year with a variety of events.
From sampling soup to engaging in entertainment for a good cause, here are seven events to check out in the Fond du Lac area in January.
Hmong Fond du Lac New Year Celebration
Hmong American Community of Fond du Lac will host the Hmong New Year Celebration Jan. 10 at the Recreation Center at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds, 520 Fond du Lac Ave.
Doors open at 9 a.m., and the day’s activities will include lunch, entertainment and a cornhole tournament. After the main event ends at 3 p.m., evening entertainment starts at 6 p.m. with Miracle Band.
The event is free and open to the public.
Night at the Movies with Impact Theatre Company
Impact Theatre Company’s next Theatre on the Rocks event is “A Night at the Movies,” Jan. 16 and 17 at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, 51 Sheboygan St.
Local artists will perform movie-inspired scenes, invoking “the nostalgia of a Blockbuster night out” as the audience sips on cocktails or alcohol-free alternatives.
Guests will also get opportunities to donate to Impact Theatre’s upcoming season, and each donor throughout the night can nominate a cast member to drink, influencing the show’s dynamics.
Local and state businesses have sponsored a variety of raffle baskets for the night. Designated drivers can also get a coffee shop gift card, while supplies last, “because keeping our community safe deserves a reward,” the event listing reads.
Each performance starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 — a two-drink minimum to reserve your spot — available at thelmaarts.org.
Navy Club Ship 75’s 12th annual Chili Cook-off
Navy Club Ship 75 will hold its 12th annual Chili Cook-off starting at 3 p.m. Jan. 17 at American Legion Post 75, 500 Fond du Lac Ave.
In addition to the chili, the event will have silent auction items and 50/50 raffles.
Downtown Fond du Lac Soup Walk
Downtown Fond du Lac’s 2026 Soup Walk kicks off at 11 a.m. Jan. 17, with several participating businesses dishing up homemade soup samples.
Ticketholders can check in at the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership offices, 131 S. Main St., starting at 10 a.m. the day of the event to get this year’s map.
Tickets are $15, available at downtownfdl.com.
Campbellsport Fire Department Soup Sampler
Campbellsport Fire Auxiliary will host a Soup Sampler featuring local cooks from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at Campbellsport Fire Department, 548 E. Main St.
The event also includes live music and raffles.
All proceeds will benefit the Campbellsport Fire Auxiliary, and attendees can get $1 off the soup price with the donation of two non-perishable food items.
Casino Night with Fond du Lac Soccer Association
Fond du Lac Soccer Association’s Casino Night will feature not only casino games, but also raffles to support the association from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Jan. 30 at Korneli’s on the Avenue, 603 Fond du Lac Ave.
Tickets are $40, available through a link on the Facebook event listing, and includes starter money for the gaming tables and complimentary pizza and snacks.
Downtown Fond du Lac Galentine’s Day
Downtown Fond du Lac will celebrate Galentine’s Day Jan. 31, with participating businesses offering sales, specials and activities.
The main event is free, but a VIP experience is also available for $25, including a gift from participating VIP businesses and a commemorative tote bag. Tickets are limited to 300 and are available at downtownfdl.com.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@usatodayco.com.