Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026
Time: 12:00-2:45PM
Location: Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse @ UW–La Crosse
Cost: Free admission
Who it’s for: Youth 8th grade and under (children must be accompanied by an adult; waiver/registration required to participate.)
Charlie’s Kids Fest
PRESENTED BY BUBBA’S FUND — HOSTED BY UWL ATHLETICS AND UWL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL — A free, high energy kids festival to kick off Bubba’s Youth Day — presented by Bubba’s Fund and built for families, movement, and community fun.
Wristbands provided at entry — registering ahead of time = faster entry.
What is Charlie’s Kids Fest?
Inflatables + obstacle course
Activity stations & games led by volunteers
Sport & movement stations (kid-friendly + drop-in)
Community partners on-site with resources and opportunities for families
Info on UWL youth sport camps and ways to stay active year-round
UWL Concessions will be open throughout CKF & BYD
This is built to be come-and-go friendly — you can stay the full time or pop in for part of it.
Charlie’s Kids Fest is a free indoor kids festival inside of Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse — designed for kids to move, play, explore, and try new activities. Expect a fun mix of inflatables, obstacle-course energy, games, and partner booths, all run by UWL Student-Athlete volunteers and community partner organizations.
What to Expect
A high-energy lead-in to Bubba’s Youth Day WIAC Women’s Basketball Matchup between UW- La Crosse Eagles and the UW-Platteville Pioneers with tip-off at 3:00 PM right after
Who It’s For
Charlie’s Kids Fest is for youth 8th grade and under.
Important: All children must be accompanied by an adult; waiver/registration required to participate at all times at CKF.
Location
Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse @ UW–La Crosse
(Same building as the gymnasium — CKF is in the Fieldhouse.)
Parking/entry details will be posted here and on the Facebook event page as we get closer.
FAQ
Is it really free?
Yes — Charlie’s Kids Fest is free admission.
Do I have to register?
A waiver/registration is required for kids participating in activities. Registering ahead of time is strongly recommended for faster entry.
Do kids need to be with an adult?
Yes. Children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Can older siblings come?
Yes — youth 8th grade and under may attend and participate with a completed waiver/registration and must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Older siblings are welcome to attend, but they are not permitted to participate in Charlie’s Kids Fest programming.
What should we bring?
Comfortable clothes, gym shoes if possible, and water. Expect lots of movement.
Can we come for only part of the time?
Absolutely — it’s designed to be flexible.
Where do we go after CKF for the game?
Bubba’s Youth Day is in Mitchell Hall Gymnasium — same facility.
Help Us Fill Mitchell Hall
If you’re coming, do us one favor: invite one more person to join.
Two free events. One big community day.
Charlie’s Kids Fest is presented by Bubba’s Fund and hosted by UW–La Crosse Athletics & UW–La Crosse Women’s Basketball.
Fill Mitchell Hall
On Saturday, January 10, we’re aiming higher — not for headlines, but for a statement: La Crosse shows up for kids, for families, and for Charlie.
Mitchell Hall seats 2,880 for UWL athletic events. (UW La Crosse Athletics)
The WIAC single-game high we’re chasing is 2,112 (UW-Whitewater vs. Transylvania on March 9, 2024). (WIAC Sports)
Let’s pack the place.