Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge
About Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge
August 11th - 13th, 2023
The Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge, a festival and celebration of powerboat racing, brings the Powerboat P1 and F1 Powerboat race series together on the same weekend in the same location for the first time ever! This iconic event is sponsored by Mercury Racing out of Fond du Lac as part of its 50th Anniversary. More than 40 race teams are expected to participate with competitors from around the world, including Australia, Italy, Sweden, Canada, and Norway.
Speed seekers, water enthusiasts, and families will all enjoy this inaugural competition and exhibition weekend in Sheboygan, WI on the pristine waters of Lake Michigan right in front of Blue Harbor Resort. Bring your own chairs or blankets, food and drinks for watching the races from one of the public viewing areas. You will also find food trucks stationed in various spots near the viewing areas.
VIEW EVENT MAP
EVENT FLYER
Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Photos
Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Block Party & Boat Parade
Friday, August 11th
6pm-10pm
Kick off this historic event weekend with the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Block Party & Boat Parade Friday, August 11th from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at City Green in the heart of downtown Sheboygan, WI. You'll enjoy live music from Past Curfew along with food trucks and family fun. This is your chance to meet the race teams and see the boats up close!
BLOCK PARTY MAP
Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Spectator Schedule
Saturday, August 12th
| START | END | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 10:30am | 11:00am | F1 - Testing / Qualifying / 4 Minutes + 1 Lap | F1 Race Course |
| 11:00am | 11:30am | OPENING CEREMONY | Color Guard |
| 11:00am | 6:00pm | BRAT FRY - Beer garden, brats, burgers (cash) | Sheboygan Yacht Club |
| 11:30am | 12:00pm | F1 - Heat 1 / 6 Minutes + 1 Lap | F1 Race Course |
| 12:00pm | 12:30pm | F1 - Heat 2 / 6 Minutes + 1 Lap | F1 Race Course |
| 12:30pm | 1:30pm | MILITARY DEMONSTRATION | Shoreline Behind BHR |
| 1:00pm | 2:00pm | Class 1 - Race 1 - 12 Laps | Offshore Race Course |
| 2:30pm | 3:30pm | F450R Race 1 - 9 Laps | Offshore Race Course |
| 3:30pm | 4:30pm | Superstock 1 - Race 1 - 9 Laps | Offshore Race Course |
| 5:00pm | 6:30pm | RIVER PARADE / CLASS WINNERS ONLY / MEET THE LEGENDS | River/Blue Harbor Resort Lakeside Terrace |
Sunday, August 13th
| START | END | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 10:30am | 11:00am | F1 - Heat 3 / 6 Minutes + 1 Lap | F1 Race Course - Marina |
| 11:00am | 6:00pm | BRAT FRY - Beer garden, brats, burgers (cash) | Sheboygan Yacht Club |
| 11:30am | 12:30pm | Superstock - Race 2 - 9 Laps | Offshore Race Course |
| 12:30pm | 1:30pm | F450R - Race 2 - 9 Laps | Offshore Race Course |
| 1:30pm | 2:30pm | Class 1 - Race 2 - 12 Laps | Offshore Race Course |
| 2:30pm | 3:30pm | F1 - Finals / 17 Minutes + 1 Lap | F1 Race Course - Marina |
| 6:00pm | AWARDS | VIP Area Behind BHR |
*Schedule as of August 3, 2023 and subject to change.
Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Tickets
Free spectator viewing is available for the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, WI! Follow the ticket link below to order a free ticket and receive a full agenda and map sent straight to your inbox.
**FREE Fan Area & Vendors located at the end of South Pier Drive
VIP packages are also available to purchase if you would like front row reserved seating with up-close-and-personal viewing of the powerboat races plus hospitality services.
**VIP Tent located at the end of of South Pier Drive
GET TICKETS
Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Public Parking and Trolley Route
Park and ride for free to Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, WI near Blue Harbor Resort! The Trolley runs Saturday, August 12th from 9:00 am to 6:00pm and Sunday, August 13th from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Parking is also available on most city streets and indicated lots.
Trolley Stop Boarding:
- Parking Lot 14 (:25 and :55 past the hour) - Parking lot entrance on Niagara Avenue
- Parking Lot 13 (:25 and :55 past the hour) - Parking lot entrance on N 7th Street
- Parking Lots 7, 8, and 9 (:00 and :30 past the hour) - Across the street at the Shoreline Metro Bus Terminal
- Riverfront Parking Lot (:15 and :45 past the hour) - Riverfront Drive at the corner of Virginia Avenue
- Harbor Center Marina (:20 and :50 past the hour) - Broughton Drive across from the YMCA
- South Beach Viewing Area (:08 and :38 past the hour) - Corner of S 7th Street and Indiana Avenue
- South Pier Viewing Area (:10 and :40 past the hour) - Corner of Blue Harbor Drive and Lakeview Drive
VIEW PUBLIC PARKING & TROLLEY ROUTE
Local Events During Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge
Axe throwing is BOGO this week for walk-ins only.
Axe throwing is $25/person. This week 2 throwers are just $25 plus tax.
Wednesday – Thursday open at 4pm
Friday & Saturday open at 4pm
9am - 11am
VFW Post #9156
552 S Evans Street, Sheboygan
Come to the VFW for a breakfast buffet. All veterans eat free, courtesy of Good Boy Vodka. The buffet will be open to all and is priced at $14 per person. There will also be $2 Bloody Mary Specials during the breakfast.
Join us for the JMKAC Levitt AMP Music Series Thursdays this summer on the City Green with free live music, art-making, food trucks, and a beverage tent.
We are proud to sponsor these community events to leverage the power of free, live music to strengthen the social fabric of communities—creating places people love while amplifying local pride, injecting joy into underused public spaces, and fostering more equitable, thriving, and sustainable communities one concert at a time.
6:00 p.m.
Opening Band: Ben Mulwana
Afro Soul Rock
Kenosha, WI
7:00 p.m.
Headliner: QUITAPENAS
Tropical Afro-Latin
Los Angeles, CA
LOCATION
City Green
710 New York Ave
Grounds open 5:30 p.m.
Music from 6:00–8:30 p.m.
FREE, family friendly
Live Music by Jacob Fannin
FRI, AUG 11TH | 7PM-10PM
LAKESIDE PATIO
ON THE ROCKS BAR & GRILL
ENTRANCE #2, 2ND FLOOR
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Sheboygan Pops Concert Band playing live music at Der Sheboygan Biergarten, your destination to "Make friends the Sheboygan way...over a beer!" This authentic beer and wine garden is set in beautiful Kiwanis Park by the Sheboygan River, with a pier for boaters!
**Show your Blue Harbor Resort key card for $2 off all beer or wine purchases August 11th - 13th!**
Stop by The GameBoard downtown Sheboygan during store hours. Kids will get popsicles and glow in the dark wrist bands! Also look for The GameBoard in the vendor area.
10 am - 11:30 am
Take a seat in the Gardens and listen to your favorite stories read by a volunteer at Bookworm Gardens!
Friday
- 4 pm - 8 pm Sheboygan's Largest Fish Fry featuring LIVE POLKA by The Ryan Kautzer Band
Saturday
- 11 am MDA Summer Camp Brat Fry + more LIVE POLKA with The Ryan Kautzer Band
- Noon Pasty Baking Contest (Winners announced at 2pm)
- 6 pm - 9 pm FOAK 10th Anniversary Party featuring LIVE MUSIC by The Chris Schmidt Experience
Sunday
- 9 am - 2 pm Bloody Mary Bar & Beer Garden featuring LIVE MUSIC by Andy Lorge
Live Music by Scotty Meyer
SAT, AUG 12TH | 7PM-10PM
LAKESIDE PATIO
ON THE ROCKS BAR & GRILL
ENTRANCE #2, 2ND FLOOR
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Above & Beyond Children's Museum is celebrating the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Powerboat Racing Event in Sheboygan, WI with this Build A Boat event. Your kiddos will put their boat building skills to the test creating their own boat and testing it out by setting it to sail.
Ages 2-12
Included with Admission: $8
10 am - 3 pm
As a special Centennial offering to the community, you’re invited to drop-in and celebrate hands-on history for absolutely FREE each month.
On August 12th, visitors will be able to see artifacts from the museum's collection in our 100 Years / 100 Objects: A Century of Collecting special exhibit as well as learn more about our new Middle School Education Program.
Come again, see more, do more, bring a friend!
- September 9 | 10th Annual History Hill Music Fest
- October 20-22 | Plank Road Rendezvous
- December 9 | Holiday Memories with Prange’s Animation Display
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Strike while the iron is hot, hear the “clang” of the hammer and feel the heat from the forge as you craft your own project during an interactive blacksmithing workshop at Wade House. Forging items with your own hands is a unique experience you will never forget. Learn the art of Blacksmithing from our skilled tradespeople in the 1860s Dockstader Blacksmith Shop.
Knife Making: Forge 2 unique knives from various materials! Customize the handles with your own design to make distinctive knives only you have.
COST
Adult (18-64): $225
Teen (13-17): $225
Senior (65+): $225
Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge FAQs
Typically offshore powerboat racing is for ocean-going powerboats at speeds over 160 mph and consists of races hosted by Powerboat P1 USA.
Mercury Racing builds marine and automotive propulsion systems, accessories, and part and is headquartered in Fond du Lac, WI.
The Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge combines Powerboat P1 and F1 Powerboat races in Sheboygan, WI to celebrate Mercury Racing's 50th Anniversary.
"Mercury Racing was born out of competitive racing," shared Stuart Halley, general manager for Mercury Racing. "Sponsoring Powerboat P1 demonstrates our continued commitment to high horsepower and high performance."
Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge will be held August 12th and 13th, 2023, with events throughout each day.
The Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge will be held on Lake Michigan off shore below South Pier in front of Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, WI as well as above North Pier.
There are several viewing areas along the Lake Michigan shore in Sheboygan, WI where you will be able to view Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge. View map.
Free spectator viewing is available for the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, WI! Follow the ticket link below to order a free ticket and receive a full agenda and map sent straight to your inbox.
VIP packages are also available to purchase if you would like front row reserved seating with up-close-and-personal viewing of the powerboat races plus hospitality services.
The Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Block Party & Boat Parade will be at City Green in the heart of downtown Sheboygan, WI. View map.
The Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Block Party is Friday, August 11th from 6pm-10pm.
There is no cost to attend the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Block Party, but food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge Hotel Reservations
Make your hotel reservations early!
