Door County Holiday Celebrations and Tree Lightings

By Door County Pulse , Peninsula Pulse – November 15th, 2023

Christkindlmarkt. Submitted.

Holiday Events at a Glance

Nov. 17-19: Christmas By the Bay, Sturgeon Bay
Nov. 19: Christmas Tree Lighting, Ellison Bay
Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Day Parade, Jacksonport
Nov. 24-26, Dec. 1-3, Dec. 8-10: Christkindlmarkt, Sister Bay
Nov. 24-25: Holly Days, Egg Harbor; Capture the Spirit, Sister Bay
Dec. 2: Christmas in the Village, Ephraim
Dec. 9: Harbor Holiday, Baileys Harbor

Christkindlmarkt, Sister Bay

Christkindlmarkt has drawn big crowds in its first two years at Corner of the Past Museum. Photo by Rachel Lukas.

The Sister Bay Historical Society’s Christkindlmarkt at the Corner of the Past Museum will take place Nov. 24-26, Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10. The Christkindlmarkt Door County event features handcrafted, locally-made goods from numerous vendors, and unique northern European fare prepared by local chefs in a food court located inside the property’s large Koessl Barn. Food trucks will provide special menus near the main vendor tent.

The Gibraltar Area Schools concert band will perform from 1-3 pm on Nov. 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. DJ David Watkins will play selections from vintage Christmas vinyl albums from 2-5 pm, Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9.

Buses will continuously ferry attendees from nearby parking lots located at the former Shopko Hometown (2541 S. Bay Shore Dr.). Stella Maris Catholic Church (2410 S. Bay Shore Dr.), and First Baptist Church of Sister Bay (2622 S. Bay Shore Dr.).

Corner of the Past Museum is located at 10310 Fieldcrest Rd. in Sister Bay.

Capture the Spirit, Sister Bay

The light tunnel at Sister Bay’s Capture the Spirit. Photo by Len Villano.

Santa arrives in Sister Bay for Capture the Spirit to light up the village on Friday, Nov. 24 at the entrance to Waterfront Park. See Santa’s reindeer and his elves, enjoy hot cocoa and songs, and see the village lights come to life with Santa.
Check out the Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at the village hall from 10 am – 4 pm, see reindeer and elves from 3:30-5:30 pm, and meet Santa at 5 pm. At 5:30 pm, join Santa for story time at the Sister Bay Library.

On Saturday, Nov. 25, the Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair continues at village hall from 10 am – 4 pm, and you can make holiday craft projects at the library from 11 am-2 pm.

Holly Days, Egg Harbor

Santa arrives at Holly Days. Photo by Len Villano.

Egg Harbor Hosts two days of holiday fun on Nov. 24 and 25 at Holly Days. A Children’s Elf Hunt kicks things off at 10 am.

At 4:30 pm, Santa arrives on a fire truck at Harbor View Park for tree lighting and caroling. Enjoy free hot cocoa and cookies with Santa. There will be horse-drawn carriage rides from noon – 3 pm departing from Mojo Rosa’s, and kids can write letters to Santa at the Kress Pavilion, make ornaments at Cupola House, make crafts at the Maker Space at the Kress Pavilion, visit Candy Cane Lane at Wish, or get glitter tatoos at Be Beauth from 10 am – 2 pm.

On Saturday play breakfast bingo at the Kress at 10 am, run the One Barrel 2.62 Fun Run on Whitecliff Road at 10 am, and get pictures with Santa from 10 am – 1 pm at the Kress. Carriage rides, kids games and the children’s elf hunt continue Saturday as well. Plus, you can join the therapy dogs for story time at the Kress at 10:30 am.

Get complete times and details here>>

Holiday Cheer In Ephraim

Reindeer at Ephraim’s Christmas in the Village. Submitted.

The Ephraim Business Council will host Christmas in the Village event on Dec. 2. Throughout the day, participate in the Spot the Snowmen activity by visiting open houses at participating businesses. Find the five different-colored snowmen and report the findings to Ephraim Village Hall between 3-4:45 pm to receive a special Ephraim gift.

Colin & Friends will hold free concerts at 1 pm and 5:45 pm at the Ephraim Moravian Church. Music from The Nutcracker and traditional carols will be featured. Complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides are available from 2:30-4 pm at the village hall. At 3 pm Santa will make his grand arrival on a fire truck at the village hall. Santa will then meet up with his reindeer and elves at Olson Park, in front of Chef’s Hat Café. From 3-5 pm there will be craft activities and cookie decorating for all ages, in addition to visits with Santa. At 5 pm, Santa and this year’s Fyr Bal Chieftain, G.G. Paschke, will make their way to the Harborside Park gazebo to officially begin the holiday season by lighting the Christmas tree.

Visit ephraim-doorcounty.com for more information.

Harbor Holiday, Baileys Harbor

Holiday activities at the Ridges Sanctuary followed by family fun throughout the town, a visit from Santa and his elves and reindeer and the lighting of the tree at the town hall. Activities at the town hall from 6-8 pm with the tree lighting at 7:30 pm with cookies, cocoa and crafts. More info>>

Previous Events

Christmas By The Bay, Sturgeon Bay

Christmas By the Bay 2022. File photos by Rachel Lukas.

Sturgeon Bay’s Christmas by the Bay Weekend takes place Nov. 17-19.

The weekend kicks off with the Unwrapping Sturgeon Bay community car cruise at 5:30 pm on Friday Nov. 17. The cruise route is new this year: from Door County Fairgrounds, turn left on Egg Harbor Road, proceed down Jefferson Street, turn left on 3rd Avenue, turn right on Michigan Street, cross the Steel Bridge to Madison Avenue, follow Green Bay Road and then disband at the Door County Cooperative parking lot. The car cruise will pass participating businesses as they “unwrap” their storefronts for the first time this holiday season and unveil their festive displays.

The tree lighting ceremony will take place at 7 pm at Community Foundation Square on 3rd Avenue. Enjoy live music by Josh Gregory, Mike Raye, Hervy Hodges and Paul Taylor, and warm up with hot chocolate from Door County Mobile Bar.

On Saturday Nov. 18, the Christmas by the Bay parade begins at 10 am. Santa and Mrs. Claus will lead the parade as it travels from Sawyer Park via Oak Street, down Madison Avenue, crossing the Michigan Street bridge, down 3rd Avenue, finishing at Jefferson Street. Parade participants will be entered in either the ‘Best Non-Profit’ or ‘Best Business’ float competitions. After the parade, Santa will be at the Door County Historical Museum for a meet and greet from 11 am – 1 pm, and free trolley rides will be available around downtown Sturgeon Bay from 11 am – 3 pm.

During Saturday’s events, Third Avenue Playworks (TAP) will host its first winter market of the season, 10 am – 2 pm. The market will feature local Sturgeon Bay area vendors. TAP will host five indoor markets this winter which will fall on the third Saturday of each month, November through March.

The weekend comes to a close during brunch with Santa at Stone Harbor Resort on Sunday, 9:30 am – 12 pm. Tickets include breakfast, photos with Santa, and treats for kids. Reservations can be made at 877.746.0700.

Get more information here>>

Tree Lighting, Gobble Wobble In Ellison Bay

Ellison Bay tree lighting in 2022. Submitted.

The Ellison Bay Service club will host a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and holiday sing-a-long at 5 pm on Nov. 19. Complimentary chili and cookies will be served after the illumination of the tree. The event will be held at the corner of Highway 42 and Mink River Rd.

Ellison Bay will host its 3rd annual Gobble Wobble family run/walk on Nov. 23 from 9-11 am. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Town of Liberty Grove Parks Department. Advanced registration not required. No entry fee for children 12 and under.

Thanksgiving Parade In Jacksonport

The Jacksonport Thanksgiving Day Parade raises funds to support local families. File photo by Len Villano.

Jacksonport will hold its 27th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade & Benefit on Nov. 23. Anyone wishing to be in the parade should meet at the fire station at 9:30 am. Funds from this year’s parade will benefit Stephanie Losnoski, a resident experiencing serious health issues. Donations will be accepted along the parade route and at Island Fever Rum Bar & Grill before and after the parade.