Two Rivers proves to Manitowoc once again that it is the coolest city in Wisconsin.
Two Rivers City Manager Greg Buckley stormed into Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels’ office and threw snow on the mayor’s desk yesterday, recreating an incident in 1936.
Then City Manager E.E. Donnelly put a pile of snow on the desk of Manitowoc Mayor Arthur Schuetze, which was found in the middle of a July heat wave when the crew was working on a park project in Two Rivers.
Schuetze didn’t believe it was real, so Donnely brought the snow to the Clipper City.
It’s all part of the recognition of the 50th year of SnowFest, which starts today (July 25th), beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Neshotah Park.
Mayor Nickels then read an executive order, allowing the citizens of Manitowoc to go to SnowFest.
It reads, in part, “I do hereby declare on the record and in bold font that as of Friday, August 8th, 2025, when Greg Buckley no longer has seniority over me, accept in age, that the City of Manitowoc is in fact cooler than Two Rivers, because we have so many different things including zero invasive carp, the mayoral form of government, and the S.S Badger which literally sails across Lake Michigan like a floating mic drop.”
With the teasing all in good fun, Nickels also said Manitowoc recognizes SnowFest as a legitimate winter wonderland and congratulated Two Rivers for being able to throw a party without “melting under pressure.”
Buckley then read his own proclamation from the Two Rivers City Council recognizing 50 years of the snow-themed event.
It reads, in part, “Therefore be it resolved, the city council of the City of Two Rivers does hereby extend thanks and congratulations to the SnowFest organization and its board of directors and to all the sponsors and community volunteers who make the event possible. Be if further resolved in the event that there be any lingering skepticism in the City of Manitowoc, City Manager Buckley is directed to deliver a fresh bucket of snow to Mayor Nickels”.
A crowd gathered in the mayor’s office and then threw some snowballs to solidify the friendly rivalry between the two lakeshore cities.
Friends of Two Rivers SnowFest President Ann Gretz told SeehaferNews.com that the event was postponed for some time, but the friends brought it back in 2021 because they wanted families to have fun, just as she and her family did when she was a kid.
Snow Fest gets underway with music tonight and a parade going through downtown Two Rivers tomorrow (July 26th) beginning at 11:00 a.m.
For more event information, visit trsnowfest.org.
