The Menomonie Klunker, officially the Menomonie Lions Club’s Car on the Ice contest, is one of Wisconsin’s strangest winter traditions. Each year, the Lions put an old car on the frozen surface of Lake Menomin and sell raffle tickets to people trying to predict exactly when the “Klunker” will break through the ice as winter gives way to spring. The person with the winning date takes the top cash prize, with additional prizes awarded to other ticket holders. The fundraiser has been a Menomonie tradition since 1961, and proceeds support Menomonie Lions Club projects, including the Lions Game Park and other community programs.
There is no fixed sinking date. The Klunker typically disappears sometime from mid-March through early April, depending on how quickly Lake Menomin thaws. Historical sinking dates include March 24 in 2020, March 16 in 2021, April 9 in 2023, and March 28 in 2026. The tradition even made its way into Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, which features a similar car-on-the-ice ritual inspired by Menomonie.
