Boat Excursions, Guided Tours for 24th Annual Door County Lighthouse Festival

The 24th Annual Door County Lighthouse Festival, held June 9-11, includes boat excursions and guided land-based tours spotlighting 11 historic Door County lighthouses. This much-anticipated festival gives visitors access to lighthouses that aren’t typically open to the public, including Chambers Island, Plum Island and Sherwood Point lighthouses.

Many of the boat excursions are unique to the Lighthouse Festival weekend. New this year is the Lakeshore Lighthouse Cruise out of Baileys Harbor. The tour will offer the opportunity to see a number of lights from the water, including Cana Island lighthouse, the old Baileys Harbor “bird cage” light as well at the Baileys Harbor Range Lights. The possibility of seeing several shipwrecks also exists on the tour. Returning boat trips include the popular excursion from Gills Rock to Plum Island. There are four tours spread over Saturday and Sunday with limited seating available.

The excursion to Chambers Island is another once-a-year opportunity. Although a larger-capacity boat permits more people to visit Chambers Island, it will continue to be a hot ticket item. Participants need to be prepared for a scenic island hike covering three miles round trip to the lighthouse and back to the dock.

Cana Island and Eagle Bluff Lighthouses maintain regular seasonal hours throughout the weekend. Both the Sherwood Point Lighthouse and Sturgeon Bay Canal Light are operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and offer free admission over this weekend only. The range lights at the Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor, with its newly restored lower light, will also welcome visitors from 10 am to 2 pm, Friday through Sunday, for a free-will offering.

For more detailed information on tours and pricing visit dcmm.org. Tickets can be ordered by calling 920.743.5958.