2026 Project G.R.I.L.L. taking place Friday, May 8

Six schools that are participating in this years Project G.R.I.L.L. will be unveiling their creations in the Festival Foods parking lot Friday, May 8, 2026.

Students from Fond du Lac, Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Laconia, Lomira, North Fond du Lac, and Central Wisconsin Christian high schools have partnered with area manufacturing businesses to create a unique cooking grill design.

Project G.R.I.L.L., now in it’s 18th year, teaches students all the steps of taking an idea from concept through production with the end result being a fully functional grill.

Manufacturers taking part in the project are JF Ahern, Kondex Corp., Mercury Marine, Fives, Mayville Engineering, Wabash and Manowske Welding.

The program starts at 11 am today with each team talking about their grill, and then all teams will fire up the grills and cook food on them.

Best in Show and Community Choice Awards will be presented and the program also offers two academic scholarships, with the winners being announced during the event.

After the event, the grills will be on display outside the Festival Foods entrance doors.