Category: Door County Festivals
2023 Door County Festivals
Door County festivals offer great opportunities to sample food from the area’s amazing restaurants, find beautiful arts and crafts, pick up fine artwork from more than 100 galleries, or just enjoy a day strolling with friends in the sun.
Door County Festival of Nature: May 26-28 
Join the Ridges Sanctuary for the 21st Annual Door County Festival of Nature May 26-28. Discover all Door County’s nature has to offer through guided field trips with titles ranging from Birding by Ear and The Sex Life of Plants.
Jacksonport Maifest: May 27 & 28
Celebrate the 5oth anniversary of Jacksonport Maifest May 27 and 28. The weekend kicks off with an art fair and parade Saturday morning, and will feature face-painting, games, and a memorial day ceremony. Fireworks on the beach and a performance by the Sevastopol Senior Choir end the day. Sunday, May 28, the festival opens with the 40th annual Maifest 10k run, and continues with more live music, and a horse stunt performance.
Door County Lighthouse Fest: June 9-11
Discover Door County’s 11 lighthouses by land, air, and boat June 9-11. Visitors will have access to unique excursions and exclusive access to lighthouses that aren’t typically open to the public, including Chambers Island, Plum Island and Sherwood Point lighthouses. A portion of proceeds will go to the Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society.
Roofing of the Goats & Goat Fest: June 10
Welcome the famous goats back to the roof of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant with a parade! Saturday, June 10, watch the goat’s trip down Highway 42 and up onto the roof. This year’s Parade will be followed by the 6th Annual Goat Fest next store at Stabbur with live music and a Swedish Pancake-Eating Contest.
Fyr Bal Festival: June 17
Ephraim Fyr Bal festival is set for June 17 – but the celebration will kick off with three June 16 concerts at the Ephraim Moravian Church. Festivities will include a yoga class at Anderson Dock, a pancake breakfast at Ephraim Village Hall and a pet parade. The highlight of the festival is the chieftain ceremony, fireworks and the lighting of the Fyr Bal pyr.
Door County Beer Festival: June 17
Celebrate father’s day weekend with craft beer, culinary artisans, and live music on the shores of Baileys Harbor. Sample over 150 beers from dozens of Door County, Wisconsin, Michigan and Midwest breweries, enjoy food from some of the best restaurants on the peninsula, and enjoy live music at the Maxwelton Braes grounds. The Peninsula Century Spring Classic bike ride takes place in conjunction with the festival.
Door County Wine Fest: June 24
The Door County Wine Fest, located on the grounds of Maxwelton Braes, showcases the eight wineries on the Door County Wine Trail. Tickets include unlimited tasting of up to 58 different kinds of wine. There will be food trucks and live music throughout the event, from 12pm – 4pm.
Fourth of July Celebrations
Egg Harbor 4th of July Parade and Celebration: July 3 & 4
Enjoy live music (5-9pm), food & refreshments (4-9pm), and fireworks (dusk) on July 3. On the 4th, come watch the Parade, which runs south along Hwy 42 from the north end of Church Street to Hwy T at 1:30. Food and Refreshments all day.
Baileys Harbor Celebrates the 4th: July 4
Celebrate our country’s birthday the Baileys Harbor way! The day starts with a Fire Department pancake breakfast from 7:30 am – 10 am at 2404 Park Road. The Independence Day Parade starts at 10 am, and runs from Ridges Road to Summit Road on Hwy 42. Stick around for an arts and crafts fair, food, and music all day at Kendall Park. Enjoy fireworks, live music, beer and food vendors at Anclam Park at dusk to end the fun-filled day!
Sturgeon Bay Independence Day Celebration: July 4
Sturgeon Bay Celebrates presented with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding —Join the 4th of July fun and festivities at Sunset Park! Food and drinks available beginning at 5 pm along with live reggae music by Unity leading up to a spectacular firework display at dusk!
Gills Rock Celebrates: July 4
Celebrate the 4th with music, food & drink, a fish fry fundraiser for the Deaths Door Maritime Museum and of course FIREWORKS! The celebration begins around 5pm. The boat parade is typically about an hour or so before sunset and the fireworks begin at dusk.
Door County Plein Air Festival: July 23-29
Watch artists from across the country paint Door County from July 23 to 29. Artists will be on location 11am – 2pm at Edgewood Orchard Galleries, Fish Creek and The Hardy Gallery, Ephraim July 24, July 25 at Jacksonport Farmer’s Market, Downtown Jacksonport and Downtown Baileys Harbor, July 26 at Horseshoe Bay Farm, Egg Harbor and The Garden Door – UW Extension, Sturgeon Bay, and July 27 at Downtown Ellison Bay and Hidden Acres Farm, Beach Rd, Sister Bay. End the weekend with a quick paint from 9am – 11am in Fish Creek, and live auction at 12:30.
Door County Fair: August 9-13
The 151st Door County Fair is an experience the entire family will love, with old-school, small-town fun. Enjoy carnival rides, food stands, 40H animal barns, and grandstand events. Grandstand attractions include stock car races, a demolition derby, and motorcycle racing. Carnival rides, concession stands & exceptional bands fill the fair midway. Hundreds of art, crafts, and animal entries showcase the talents of Door County exhibitors.
Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week: August
The City of Sturgeon Bay honors its rich maritime heritage.
Attend the Door County Classic & Wooden Boat show August 5 & 6 at the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay.
Celebrate Lake Michigan with the city of Algoma August 11 through 13. Enjoy live music Friday, August 11 from 4pm – 8pm, before the Shanty Days 5k run/walk Saturday, August 12. Enjoy a parade, car cruise and show, 150+ arts and crafts & street fair vendors, a beach volleyball tourney, fireworks, kid’s area, fishing contest, book sale and entertainment for the entire family all day Saturday and Sunday.
Sister Bay Marina Fest: September 2-4
Highlights of the Sister Bay Marina Fest are a vintage boat show and performance by Jerry Voelker and the Jolly Gents Saturday, September 2 at the Sister Bay Marina. This Labor Day celebration includes live music at the Marina, a kids carnival and boatbuilding, and a food court at the Sister Bay Village hall pavilion.
Sturgeon Bay Harvest Fest & Street Art Auction: September 16
Usher in the spirit of autumn on Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay starting at 8 am. Features include a classic car show, craft show, food booths, in-store specials, the “Tapping of the Firkin” stein holding contest, and live entertainment. Preview the “Bass Around the Bay” Street Art Project at Martin Park before the virtual auction closes at 5 pm.
Baileys Harbor AutumnFest: September 23
Celebrate fall in Baileys Harbor with live music, food and drinks, and and arts and crafts fair. Highlights of Pin-Ups and Pistons day include a Classic Auto and Motorcycle Show and pin-up photoshoot, plus the Hey Hey 5k Run at Door County Brewing Co. Remember to bring your classic car or motorcycle to when you visit Autumnfest!
Autumn Lighthouse Festival: September 29-October 1
Discover Door County’s 11 lighthouses by land, air, and boat again this Columbus Day weekend. Visitors will have access to unique excursions and exclusive access to lighthouses that aren’t typically open to the public, including Chambers Island, Plum Island and Sherwood Point lighthouses. A portion of proceeds will go to the Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society.
Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch Festival: October 7 & 8
Egg Harbor celebrates fall with one of the year’s largest festivals. Fall food favorites, carnival rides, arts and crafts vendors, silent auction, live music, scarecrow and pumpkin displays, magicians, food, refreshments and more at the Kress Pavilion Lawn and Harbor View Park.
Sister Bay Fall Festival: October 13-15
Close out the season with Sister Bay’s annual fall bash! Featuring live music all over the village, a huge arts and crafts fair, games and activities for kids, and food, including the Lion’s Club Fish Boil and Pancake Breakfast. Join the Fall Fest Parade Saturday morning, and don’t miss Sunday’s annual Ping Pong Ball Drop and Derby Race.
Jack O’Lantern Days: October 28-30
This festival puts the “eek!” in Fish Creek! A true, hometown Halloween festival at Fish Creek’s Top of the Hill Shops, Jack O’ Lantern Days will entertain little witches and goblins of all ages. Highlights include a festive costume contest, town hall games, town-wide trick-or-treating, a costume parade, live owls, mask making and so much more! This festival is full of surprises and will give your family a Halloween filled with good memories they’ll remember forever.
Thrills and Chills: October 28
A day of festive Halloween fun for the entire family! Start the holiday with a Costume Parade begins at 10 am from the Old Bell Tower and concludes at Martin Park in Sturgeon Bay. Activities include making your own trick-or-treat bags, costume parade, haunted house, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating throughout downtown Sturgeon Bay from 10 am-3 pm.
Sturgeon Bay Christmas by the Bay: November 17-19
Unwrap Sturgeon Bay with Christmas by the Bay Weekend presented in partnership with Door County Daily News. Join in the community car parade as Sturgeon Bay stores “unwrap” their festive storefronts to kick off the holiday season followed by the annual tree lighting ceremony near the Old Bell Tower on Third Avenue on Friday, Nov. 17! The fun continues Saturday, with a parade and meet and greet with Santa. The weekend comes to a close during brunch with Santa at Stone Harbor Resort on Sunday.
Sister Bay Capture the Spirit Festival: November 24 & 25
Celebrate the season with a holiday arts and craft fair and cookie decorating at Sister Bay Village Hall, visit with Santa’s elves and reindeer. Watch Santa arrive to turn on the holiday lights and read a wintertime story on Friday, November 24. Create holiday craft projects at Sister Bay Library, Saturday November 25.
Egg Harbor Holly Days: November 24 & 25
Enjoy an old-fashioned winter weekend with children’s activities, horse-draw wagon rides, caroling, tree-lighting, and more. Meet Santa and Egg Harbor’s Therapy Dogs Friday, November 24 for tree lighting and caroling. Saturday, November 25, meet Santa for breakfast and Bingo with the Egg Harbor Historical Society at Kress Pavillion. Join One Barrel Brewing for a fun run, before an elf-hunt, hot chocolate bar, and photos with Santa, and live music.
Ephraim Christmas in the Village: December 2
Celebrate with Santa and his reindeer with holiday crafts and snacks at the Village Hall December 2 from 3-5:30. Take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the village and join Santa at Harborside Park with his elves and reindeer to light the Christmas tree. Visit Ephraim business’s open-houses all day.
Baileys Harbor Holiday & Tree Lighting: December 3
Meet Santa and his elves and reindeer at Baileys Harbor Town Hall. Taking place from 6 – 8 pm Saturday, December 3, enjoy crafts, family activities, and tree lighting all with hot chocolate and cookies.
Christkindlmarkt: November 24-26, December 1-3, December 8-10
Located at the Corner of the Past Museum in Sister Bay, shop local weavers, knitters, potters, photographers, jewelers, painters, woodworkers, glass blowers and more! At Door County’s traditional European Christmas market, enjoy a warm, spicy mug of Glühwein and delicious winter food. The Market is open from 11am – 7pm Friday and Saturday of weekend’s one and two, and 11am – 6pm weekend three. Hours Sunday’s during the season are 11am – 3pm.
Sister Bay New Year’s Eve Celebration: December 31
Sister Bay celebrates New Year’s Eve with shopping, ice skating, dining specials, fireworks, and a bonfire. The FM 106.9 The Lodge Cherry Drop hosts the evening, with music and fun. Leading up to midnight, watch the giant sparkling cherry cherry drop to welcome the new year!
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Third Coast Percussion in Residence for Winter Water Fest
Inspired by this year’s Celebrate Water Door County initiative, Door Community Auditorium (DCA) is holding Winter Water Fest, a fun-packed weekend of activities. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, Chicago’s classically trained, Grammy-winning ensemble Third Coast Percussion will be in residence at DCA. The residency will consist of school performances on Jan. 30-31, followed by […]
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Wine Festival Tickets Now On Sale
The fourth annual Door County Wine Festival returns to Sturgeon Bay on June 22 at a new location: Sunset Park. Savor unlimited tasting of award-winning wines from eight local wineries located on the Door County Wine Trail – highly acclaimed for its wineries’ expansive selection of fruit wines, especially cherry and apple. In addition to […]
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The Gibraltar Historical Association (GHA) is back with All Things Chocolate, a tantalizing way to fundraise for the 2019 season. Visit the Old Town Hall in Fish Creek Feb. 2, 10 am – 4 pm, during Winter Festival. Chocolate-covered Oreos, pretzels and cherries, plus French silk pie, chocolate cheesecake and chocolate-cherry cake are a few […]
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Fish Creek Pulls Plug on Independence Day Fireworks
Fish Creek has pulled out of the Independence Day entertainment business – a decision that isn’t sitting well with many members of the community. The Fish Creek Civic Association (FCCA) sent a letter to members in early January informing them that the Fish Creek Summer Fest, held the Saturday after July 4, is not in […]
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2019 Door County New Year’s Events
New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop Dec. 31, 8 pm – 12 am The New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop event adds more fun activities to ring in the new year in Sister Bay. Watch a professional ice sculptor carve unique designs; ice skate with friends and family; see a fireworks show; get your picture taken at the […]
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Sister Bay New Year’s Cherry Drop
UPDATED: More than one thousand people converged on the hill in Sister Bay for the 2018 New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop, Dec. 31, 2018. If you missed it you can still get a look at the scene in the video below. The Sister Bay Advancement Association is putting the cherry on top of 2018 with […]
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The New Year’s Eve FM 106.9 The Lodge Cherry Drop event is adding more fun activities to ring in the New Year. Watch a professional ice sculptor carve unique designs; ice skate with friends and family; see a fireworks show; get your picture taken at the Cherry Drop photo booth; buy Cherry Drop gear; listen […]
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34 Things We Love About Winter in Door County
I used to hate winters. Though some friends loved the day when the tourists disappeared, the restaurants cleared out and the shops closed for the winter, I dreaded it. The Monday after Fall Fest was always one of the most depressing of the year. But after returning to Door County in 2017 after living in […]
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On Dec. 31, the Friends of the Kress Pavilion will host its second annual New Year’s Eve Party. The event is aimed to raise funds for the 100+ free programs that take place throughout the year. The evening will begin with live piano covers by Fran the Piano Man and a wide array of heavy […]
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Jingle, Jingle, Mix & Mingle Gala
On Dec. 11, 5:30–8:30 pm, the Door County Maritime Museum’s (DCMM) Merry-time Festival of Trees culminates with the popular Jingle, Jingle, Mix & Mingle Gala. Guests will enjoy live seasonal entertainment, heavy hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Thyme Cuisine, along with a live and silent auction and tree raffle drawing. The gala offers a fun evening at […]
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Natural Christmas Saturday, Dec. 8 The Ridges in Baileys Harbor will once again hold its annual Natural Christmas event, 3-6 pm. Spend a few hours this holiday season surrounded by the natural beauty of The Ridges Sanctuary. Stroll down the softly lit Hidden Brook Boardwalk, enjoy an outdoor campfire, and listen to music in the […]
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Tickets to the 2019 Door County Beer Festival are now available at DoorCountyTickets.com, just in time to add them to your Christmas gift list. The festival has earned a reputation as a favorite of beer lovers, with more than 40 breweries represented and more than 150 beers available for sampling. The festival returns to Baileys […]
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Saturday, Dec. 1, will be a busy day in the county. From Sturgeon Bay to Baileys Harbor and Ephraim, there are many options to get in the festive spirit this weekend. Many of the following celebrations are, or are becoming, holiday traditions with families. If you’re really ambitious or just a really big fan of […]
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On Dec. 1, 1–4 pm, the Ephraim Historical Foundation (EHF) will host a Holiday Open House at the historic Svalhus Library, 3060 Anderson Lane. With ornament decorating and heritage games, this event offers fun for the whole family. The historic Norwegian building is decorated for the holidays, with EHF staff on hand to share the […]
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Each year, the Ephraim Business Council holds a Christmas in the Village celebration the first Saturday in December — this year, Dec. 1. In addition to the open houses, kids’ events and the official lighting of the village Christmas tree, the Ephraim Moravian Church holds a special ADVENTure from 11 am to 2 pm at […]
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On Dec. 1, enjoy a Christmas parade of lights, arts and crafts plus a tree-lighting ceremony in Baileys Harbor. Take a stroll through downtown and check out all the trees that local businesses and families have decorated before the parade. Walk along the parade route on Guy Street that follows Santa on a fire truck […]
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Door County Christmas celebrations kick into high gear the weekend after Thanksgiving. Both Sister Bay and Egg Harbor hold their annual celebrations this weekend — keeping Santa busy with plenty of tree lightings. The weekend really starts, however, with the Jacksonport Thanksgiving Day Parade — a parade with a big heart that gives to members […]
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Christmas in the County: Sturgeon Bay Parade, Ellison Bay Tree Lighting
This weekend, Nov. 16–18, kicks off the holiday season in Door County. Festivities start in Sturgeon Bay with the Christmas by the Bay celebration, and Ellison Bay closes out the weekend with a community tree lighting. In the weeks ahead, the Pulse will highlight holiday celebrations taking place throughout the peninsula. Christmas by the […]
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During Egg Harbor’s Holly Days celebration, Nov. 23–24, Chief Oshkosh Native American Arts will hold a trunk show with leather/feather artist Ed Smith of the Ojibwe Nation. He is a self-taught artist who earns his living from his creations. He will have his works for sale and will demonstrate his technique 12–5 pm on both […]
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Egg Harbor’s Holly Days Festival, Nov. 23–24, is a weekend full of old-fashioned holiday fun. Start the weekend with Breakfast with Santa at the Landmark Resort on Nov. 23, 8:30–10:30 am. Enjoy a delicious breakfast, get photos taken with Santa, decorate cookies and create arts and crafts. Holly Days features a Children’s Elf Hunt and […]