ROUND LAKE -- Something fishy went down Main Street in Round Lake Saturday, as more than 25 area fishermen showed off their ice fishing houses in the town's first Winterfest parade Saturday.
"Who else is going to have a Winterfest parade with ice houses?" said Julie Sanwick, who announced the parade entries along with Dawn Murphy. "It's original. No one else is doing it."
The sun shone down and helped offset the chilly November air, so spectators lined up along Main Street before the parade began. Other people simply parked their cars facing the street and sat inside waiting for the festivities to begin.
Some of them had already nibbled brats for lunch at the local American Legion and others were waiting for the big chili fest, karaoke by Mary and Denny Echternauch, and the prize drawing after the parade, but everyone was looking forward to the fish house parade.
"It's going to start. We have to wait," said Ashley Williams, 3, who attended the parade with her mother, Shellie Williams.
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Shellie saw the fish houses going by her house and thought she'd check out the parade. "There's not too many (communities) that have a parade in the winter."
The parade began with a color guard and the American flag, followed by the Round Lake Fire Department's truck. After that came the fish houses, many of them bedecked with festive Christmas lights and holiday garlands.
Jeff and Lynn Spessert's fish house featured a fiesta theme with garlands, lights and Santa. Tony Wood's just had a satellite dish. Santa Claus peeked out from the inside of Tom Johanning's ice house, and candy canes decorated the door.
After the parade, parade-watchers got to check out the inside of the fish houses -- many of which were even more beautiful than the exteriors -- and vote on the best ice house.
Some of the fish houses featured as many amenities as a house -- ovens, pull-out couches, surround sound stereos, microwaves, flat screen televisions and even, in one case, a Kozy Heat fireplace.
"In the wintertime, (ice fishing) is what we do for a hobby," said Tim Tungland, who fishes with his wife, Wendy. The Tungland ice house was made by Roger Johanning, with a hydraulic frame made by Ernie Malchow.
Larry and Amy Yeske of Round Lake won first place for their ice house, with Roger Johanning receiving second place, Larry and Donna Anderson earning third place and Tim Tungland receiving fourth place.
The festival was organized by Steve Nelson, Joel Hattendorf, Lexy Wood, and Donna and Larry Anderson.
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