Hodag Heritage Festival
Saturday, May 17th, 2025 at Pioneer Park
Join us in Rhinelander for the Hodag Heritage Festival, a celebration of the legendary creature that has captivated our community for generations! Whether you're a long-time Hodag fan or just discovering this mythical beast, the festival offers something for everyone.
Kick off your day with a traditional pancake breakfast and enjoy activities like the Hodag Calling Contest, live music, the Hodag Historical City Bus Tour, speakers, and more!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this one-of-a-kind experience and connect with the spirit of Rhinelander!
Purchase Your 2025 Hodag Heritage Festival T-Shirt and Receive it in Time for the Festival!
Click here to purchase your t-shirt! You can choose to send it to your home, or pick up at the Rhinelander Chamber May 12-May 16th 8am-4pm. Ordering closes April 30th. Adult unisex sizes and youth sizes available.
Food & Drink
Saturday May 17th-Pioneer Park with the VFW
8am-11am - Pancake Breakfast
9am-7pm  - Variety of Food Trucks including: Badger Kettle Corn, JPN Concession, Dublin Paddy Wagon, SB Concessions, Say Cheese Curd Company, Enzo's Frozen Treats
11am-8pm - Beverage Tent (Water, Non-Alcoholic Options, Beer, Hodag Beer)
*FOOD VENDOR SPACES ARE FULL FOR 2025*
Vendors & Exhibitors
Saturday May 17th
9am-6pm
See some of the most unique vendors and exhibitors in the northwoods! Buy some hodag merch, see some hodag crafts, find some cryptid playing cards, and meet all kinds of experts on cryptids and the Hodag!
Interested in having a booth? If your booth contains some items with a folklore, Rhinelander, the Hodag, northwoods, cryptid or logging theme you qualify! Join us by filling out an application!
***VENDOR SLOTS ARE FULL FOR 2025***
*Vendors Please Note*
Once your application is received, it will be reviewed and you will receive notification of acceptance via email with payment options. Your slot is not reserved until payment is received.
Friday Night Only: Attack of the Hodag, film showing with legendary independent film director Bill Rebane
For a once-of-a-lifetime experience, join the Hodag Heritage Festival for their Friday night showing of Attack of the Hodag! Film director, Bill Rebane, will give a brief history, show the film and follow it with a Q&A session afterwards. Join other hodag aficionados and partake in this one-time offering!
Event will be held at The Hilgermann Center for Community in the heart of historical downtown Rhinelander at 25 S. Brown St. Doors open at 6:30 with show starting at 7pm. Seats are limited. Tickets are $20 and only available pre-sale at this link below. Ticket comes with a beverage.
See you there!
Hodag Historical City Bus Tour
It's the one and only Hodag Historical City Bus Tour! This ONLY takes place during Hodag Heritage Festival! You have the ability to join the Hodag Historical City Bus Tour for just $5 per person! Hear from Rock 105.3's Duff Damos as he narrates your tour to various historical stops around town. Learn more about the hodag at every stop! Tour lasts about 35-45 minutes.
Tours leave at 10am, 11am, and 12pm
Rhinelander Lodging
If you're visiting from out of town, there are plenty of lodging options in the Rhinelander area to book a stay. Choose from a variety of resorts and cabins, hotels, campgrounds and more! Visit https://business.rhinelanderchamber.com/list/ql/lodging-travel-15 to view options.
All Things Hodag Items ListÂ
May 12th-May 17th
Annually, we create what we call the All Things Hodag list for the week of the Hodag Heritage Festival. This list is made of food, beverage, or retail items with a Hodag theme that you can find in the Rhinelander area at local businesses. You can pick up a physical copy at the Hodag Store or Chamber. Some Hodag items are permanent; some are for a limited time so hurry in and check out your local businesses. Hodags love it when you shop local!Â
Logging Museum & Pioneer Park Historical Complex (With Speeder Rides!)
Saturday May 17th
9am-5pm
Pioneer Park Historical Complex (PPHC) is first opening for the season on Saturday May 17th for the festival. PPHC is seven museums in one. Visit May 17th or later during the summer to see Red's Sawmill, The Rufal Schoolhouse Museum, The Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, The Rhinelander Fire Equipment Museum, Duke's Outboard Motor and Boat Museum, The Rhinelander Logging Museum, and the Rhinelander Railroad Museum.
Hodag Calling Contest
Have you ever heard a hodag howl? Join us May 17th for the annual Hodag Calling Contest!
All ages and abilities welcome. Get up and grunt, howl, bark, or call your way to the winner's seat! No need to pre-register, just head for the stage and get in line where we will give you your number and get your name! Judges will choose a winner based on originality. All ages and abilities welcome.
Art Contest
This year the Hodag Art Contest entries can be viewed just inside the Pioneer Park Historical Complex. Artists of ALL AGES with mediums of all sorts are entered into two contests: one for adults and one for children (0-12 yrs). One winner in each of the two age groups will be chosen by YOU! Each museum guest will receive one voting card per age group to place in their favorite piece's bucket!
'Hodags Throughout the City' Scavenger Hunt
The week of May 12th and all year round
Take advantage of our chamber's traditional scavenger hunt around town. Pickup an information sheet at the chamber the week of May 12th, or print one here and have fun combing the city for Hodag murals and statues. Not all statues look the same so keep your eyes peeled! Bring your checked off form to the chamber any weekday between 8am and 4pm and receive a Hodag prize! You may also bring your form to info booth at Pioneer Park on May 17th for your prize!
Event Partners
Entertainment Sponsors
Beverage Pavilion Sponsor
Kids Activity Sponsor
Hodag Bus Sponsors
Heritage Helper Sponsors
Friend of the Hodag Sponsors
Phoenix Counseling, LLC
Media Partners
