Category: 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.
2022 Door County Festivals
Egg Harbor 4th of July Parade and Celebration
July 3-4, 2022
Parade at 1:30 pm on July 4, fireworks July 3, and fun and food throughout the village all day. Details>>
The Main Street Market crew performs “death-defying” stunts at the 2017 Egg Harbor 4th of July parade. Photo by Len Villano.
Baileys Harbor 4th of July Celebration
July 4, 2022
Kick off the fourth in Baileys Harbor with the 4th of July parade, live music, great food, arts, and crafts. Parade at 10 am July 4. Fireworks at dusk.
The 4th of July Parade in Baileys Harbor draws thousands. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.
Sturgeon Bay Celebrates the 4th
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 5pm along with live music by Unity leading up to a spectacular firework display at dusk! Details>>
Door County Plein Air Festival
July 24-30, 2022
Free events throughout the week at various Door County locations provide attendees the opportunity to meet featured artists at their easels; this includes the Featured Artists’ Quick Paint, followed by a live auction at noon of the festival artists’ freshly created work. Among ticketed events are the Collector’s Preview and Gala Auction.
Carlsville Day
TBD July 2022
Parade, craft fair, music, food, pie eating contest, doggie contest, cherry stomp, free waterslides, pet psychic readings and more fun for the whole family.
Door County Fair
August 10-15, 2022
John Miles County Park, Sturgeon Bay
Old-school, small-town fun at the fair. Carnival rides, food stands, 4-H animal barns, grandstand events, kids and family tents.
Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week
August 6-13, 2022
The City of Sturgeon Bay will once again honor its rich maritime heritage with a diverse collection of entertaining and fun-filled events.
August 12 – 14, 2022
Featuring a parade, car cruise and show, 150+ arts and crafts & street fair vendors, 5k walk/run as part of the Bellin Title Town Series, food, beach volleyball tourney, fireworks, kid’s area, fishing contest, book sale and entertainment for the entire family.
Sister Bay Marina Fest
Labor Day Weekend, September 3 – 5, 2022
Live entertainment and music at the Sister Bay stage next to the beach, food & drinks, wooden boat show, kid’s carnival, and fireworks over the bay (Saturday).
Sturgeon Bay Harvest Fest
September 17, 2022, Sturgeon Bay
Usher in the spirit of autumn with a bountiful day on Third Avenue. Features include a classic car show, craft show, food booths, in-store specials, children’s activities, and live entertainment. Preview unique street art and attend the live auction at 5:30pm.
Bailey’s Harbor AutumnFest
September 24, 2022 Baileys Harbor
Baileys Harbor celebrates the fall with live music, food and drinks, arts and crafts, a Classic Auto and Motorcycle Show, plus the Hey Hey 5k Run at Door County Brewing Co. on Saturday morning. Check out the farm market on Sunday from 9am-1pm.
AutumnFest’s car show. Photo courtesy of the Baileys Harbor Community Association.
Autumn Lighthouse Festival
Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2022
The Door County Maritime Museum is offering a couple of its most popular tours Columbus Day weekend.
Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch Festival
October 8-9, 2022, Egg Harbor
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, food, refreshments and more.
Townline Art Fair
October 8-9, 2022, Ephraim
A juried art fair exhibiting the work of more than 75 professional artists from across the Midwest at Fine Line Designs Gallery in Ephraim. Featuring glass, pottery, metal sculpture, paintings, photography, fiber art, and woodworking.
Sister Bay Fall Festival
October 14-16, 2022, Sister Bay
Sister Bay’s annual end-of-season bash features live music all over the village, a huge arts and crafts fair, games and activities for kids, amazing street food and beverages.
2016 Sister Bay Fall Festival. Photo by Len Villano.
Jack O’Lantern Days
October 28 – 30, 2022
Both visitors and locals look forward to Fish Creek’s annual Jack O’Lantern Days every year. Enjoy family mask-making, live owls, a costume contest and parade, and trick-or-treating.
Thrills and Chills
October 29, 2022
Watch out for the spooky characters you may come across at the 6th annual Thrills on Third event happening throughout historic Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. Enjoy family-friendly activities like pumpkin painting, slime making, the Boys & Girls Club haunted house, and the famous costume parade.
Sturgeon Bay Christmas by the Bay
November 19, 2022
Join Sturgeon Bay as they usher in the holiday season during the annual Christmas by the Bay Celebration! This holiday celebration includes a tree lighting ceremony on historic Third Avenue, horse drawn wagon rides, a festive holiday parade and breakfast with Santa.
Sister Bay Capture the Spirit Festival
Photo by Len Villano.
November 25, 2022
Warm up your holiday spirit, tune up your caroling voice, bundle up the kids and join the festivities at the Sister Bay Capture the Spirit event! The downtown will glow with luminaries as you and your family enjoy the Village Christmas tree lighting, storytelling and crafts with Santa, his elves and his favorite reindeer, holiday cookie decorating and a holiday arts and crafts show.
Egg Harbor Holly Days
Photo by Len Villano.
November 25 – 26, 2022
An exciting old-fashioned winter weekend including Breakfast with Santa, an elf hunt for children, Mistle Dough shopping contest, tree lighting & caroling, horse-drawn wagon rides, and more.
Ephraim Christmas in the Village
December 3, 2022
Featuring fun family crafts, soup and chili, and a meet-and-greet with Santa and his sled dogs.
Harbor Holiday & Tree Lighting in Baileys Harbor
December 3, 2022
Fish Creek Winter Tour of Lights
TBD December 2022
Christkindlmarkt
TBD November – December 2022
Sister Bay Historical Society welcomes Advent with Door County’s first Christkindlmarkt.
The event will be held at Corner of the Past Museum, 10310 Fieldcrest Road in Sister Bay, as a re-creation of a pioneer homestead during the late 19th century. Vendors will include weavers, knitters, potters, photographers, jewelers, painters, woodworkers, glass blowers, and makers of maps, clothing, furniture, candles, leather goods, puzzles, health products and more. A wide range of Door County food vendors will also occupy the “food court” inside the property’s large Koessl Barn.
Celebrating Winter on Washington Island
TBD 2023
Take part in a week long celebration of ice and snow with food, fun, adventure and entertainment at the biggest of the winter Door County festivals. Sample chili entries for $5 at the annual Chili Cook Off, enter a photo contest, or register with the Lions Club to participate in the Fishing Derby and more! Don’t forget the local food specials, bake sales, live music, Island Players performances, and a “surprize” event!
Sturgeon Bay Fire & Ice Festival
TBD 2023
Stroll around town or climb aboard the Door County Trolley for a complimentary tour of the community. Witness novice, intermediate, advanced and professional carvers transform blocks of snow and ice into works of art. On Saturday evening, join us for the annual Fire & Ice Dinner, Dance and Auction at Stone Harbor Resort with live music.
Sturgeon Bay Shipyard Tours
May, 2023
For one day each year, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and CenterPointe Yacht Services open their doors to the public for tours of the shipbuilding industry.
Door County Festival of Nature
May 27-29, 2022 (with additional programs all season long)
Join the 20th Annual Door County Festival of Nature! For two decades, The Ridges Sanctuary and community partners have engaged thousands of people to revel in the natural beauty of the Door Peninsula. New this year, celebrate at the Memorial Day Weekend Festival Event plus additional programming all summer long.
Jacksonport Maifest
May, 2023
The first of the summer Door County festivals includes a parade Saturday morning with Flag Ceremony honoring our servicemen and women to follow, plus children’s activities, live music, horsepull, 10K and 2 mile fun run, a variety of food and beverages, and of course, the art fair.
Roping with Chewy at the Jacksonport Maifest.
Door County Lighthouse Festival
June, 2023
Boat excursions and guided land-based tours to all 11 historic Door County lighthouses giving visitors access to lighthouses that aren’t typically open to the public, including Chambers Island, Plum Island and Sherwood Point lighthouses.
Roofing of the Goats & Goat Fest
June, 2023
Live music outside by Cardinal Harbor, fun kids games, Swedish pancake eating contest, goat drop contest, food and beverages available.
Photo by Justin Anderson.
Fyr Bal Festival
June, 2023
Artists, food, musical entertainment and family activities along the picturesque shoreline of Eagle Harbor welcome the arrival of summer. Hop on the trolley or stroll through the village and visit Ephraim’s iconic landmarks, shops, galleries and restaurants.
Photo by Len Villano.
Door County Beer Festival
June, 2023
A celebration of craft beer, culinary artisans, and live music on the shores of Baileys Harbor. Meet Wisconsin’s leading brewers, Door County’s top chefs, and expand your ale horizons. Sample from more than 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. Cyclists can join the fun in the morning at the 31st annual Peninsula Century Spring Classic ride that takes place in conjunction with the festival.
Beer Fest. Photo by Len Villano.
Door County Wine Fest
June, 2023
Enjoy unlimited tasting of award-winning Door County wines from eight local wineries and live music. This year’s event will be held at Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay. For more information visit doorcountywinefest.com.
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Don’t let the name fool you. Although the stumpf fiddle – sometimes called a polka-cello, bumbass or hum strum – melds percussion and string instruments, it is in no way a fiddle. Most commonly, the homemade instrument consists of door springs for strings, a pie tin, horns and any other noisy adornments the maker fancies. And although […]
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Sweet Treats from All Things Chocolate
All Things Chocolate, the annual fundraising event for the Gibraltar Historical Association, is on hiatus for another year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean chocolate lovers can’t get their fix of decadent desserts. This Winterfest weekend, treat your sweet tooth to these tried-and-true favorites submitted by All Things Chocolate volunteers. Grandma Sylvia’s […]
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Fish Creek’s Winterfest Is Back
Stumpf fiddle contest introduces pro division; disc golf takes to the ice Winterfest – Fish Creek’s longest-standing tradition – will return Saturday, Feb. 5, with all the trimmings: the toilet-seat toss, minnow racing, ice bowling and the stumpf fiddle contest. This year’s musical competition, now in its seventh year of showcasing the quirky percussive instrument, will take […]
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Wine Fest Moves to Baileys Harbor in 2022
After a two-year hiatus, the Door County Wine Festival will return in June of 2022 with a new location. This year’s event will be held on the grounds of Maxwelton Braes on Saturday, June 25, and will feature wines from the eight wineries on the Door County Wine Trail: Lautenbach’s Orchard Country, Stone’s Throw, von […]
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Start honing your skills for the toilet-seat toss, minnow racing and ice bowling – Fish Creek’s Winterfest is back Feb. 5-6. On Saturday, attendees will find great food, music and fun in and around the large, heated tent in Clark Park starting at 10 am. Compete in the stumpf-fiddle contest, head to Lautenbach’s Orchard Country […]
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Do you want to sponsor a Fall Fest Derby Car for 2022? The derby committee is placing orders for White Super Stock soap box derby car kits, including wheels, and you can get in on the order. Kits will cost approximately $800 each. The deadline for orders is Jan. 31, and purchasers must pay with […]
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Photos by Rachel Lukas Door County got in the New Year’s spirit with creative outdoor activities in Sister Bay, Jacksonport and Egg Harbor over the weekend. Photographer Rachel Lukas hopped around to capture the scenes as we said hello to 2022. A “Balmy” Day for a Polar Plunge The 35th Jacksonport Polar Plunge drew a […]
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If you want to start 2022 feeling better about your winter tan or physique, try heading to Jacksonport to watch a sea of pure Wisconsinite hit the lake for the 35th Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge. The swim returns after a one-year COVID-19 pause in 2020. Organizer J.R. Jarosh said participants are welcome to make up […]
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Egg Harbor Hosts New Year’s Day Parade
Egg Harbor’s New Year’s Day Parade will be back Jan. 1, 1 pm. The 41st edition of the parade will run north from Stella Maris through town to County E. Want to be a part of the parade instead of watching? No formal registration is required. Just dress up, take your pets, push or pull […]
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Dropping into 2022: New Year’s Eve Highlights
New Year’s Eve used to be a relatively simple affair in Door County. You hit the supper club, wolfed down a steak or a lobster tail fresh from the bay, then maybe counted down to midnight with some friends wearing silly hats at a bar. If you were lucky, there might be a band playing. […]
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NEW YEAR’S EVE Here’s your guide to New Year’s Eve activities throughout Door County as of Dec. 20, 2021. Check DoorCountyPulse.com for the latest updates! Cherry Drop in Sister Bay The giant cherry is bouncing back to Sister Bay for New Year’s Eve, when the Cherry Drop, presented by FM 106.9 The Lodge, will return […]
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Lights, Decorations Abound in Sturgeon Bay
Holiday lights are twinkling throughout Sturgeon Bay since the annual Christmas by the Bay holiday parade helped to kick off the city’s celebrations Nov. 20 with a total of 27 festive float entries. The award for the Best Nonprofit Entry went to Sunrise Elementary School; DC Automotive earned the Best Business Entry; and the Jingle […]
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Cherry Drop Is Back for New Year’s Eve
Sister Bay hosts activities to ring in 2022 The giant cherry is bouncing back to Sister Bay for New Year’s Eve, when the Cherry Drop, presented by FM 106.9 The Lodge, returns to Husby’s Garage Bar as the clock runs down on 2021. The six-foot-wide, 300-pound cherry – made of lights, no less – will be […]
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PHOTOS: Christkindlmarkt Kicks off in Sister Bay
The first Christkindlmarkt drew a crowd to the grounds of Corner of the Past Museum in Sister Bay over the weekend. The event continues Sunday, then returns Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12.
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Photo Poll: What is your special Thanksgiving tradition?
Photos by Rachel Lukas Kristine Lukas said, “Everyone gets to request one menu item and contribute one. That way, we can spend time together in both the preparation and consumption!” “Towel slapping when you’re washing dishes,” said Sarah Carlson (middle right) and Jen Lenies (middle left), who are joined by their towel-slapping crew. Margo Wauters […]
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2021 Door County Holiday Celebrations
Here’s a guide to holiday parties, tree lightings and more Door County holiday celebrations in 2021. Egg Harbor Holly Days Nov. 26-27, throughout Egg Harbor An exciting old-fashioned winter weekend including Breakfast with Santa, an elf hunt for children, Mistle Dough shopping contest, tree lighting & caroling, horse-drawn wagon rides, and the One Barrel 2.62 […]
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Fish Creek (visitfishcreek.com) will be extra merry and bright this winter courtesy of new holiday light displays throughout town. Last year, the Fish Creek community came together to purchase 70-plus new holiday decorations, so look for and enjoy the new light additions: a snowflake arch in Clark Park, lights in the new Noble Square gazebo […]
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Harbor Holiday will kick off at 6 pm on Dec. 4 with a parade to the town hall. Santa, his elves and his reindeer will gather to light the tree at 6:30 pm, followed by caroling, hot cocoa and a few more surprises. Baileys Harbor will not be able to hold its usual Adopt-a-Tree program […]
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Santa’s on His Way to Light Up Sister Bay
Santa, his elves and his favorite reindeer will visit Sister Bay during the annual Capture the Spirit holiday lighting Friday, Nov. 26, 3-5 pm. Enjoy hot chocolate and treats before Santa arrives at 4:30 to light the village Christmas tree and holiday light display; then join Santa in singing traditional Christmas carols. Sister Bay businesses […]
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Santa Brings His Elves and Reindeer to Ephraim
The Ephraim Business Council will present its annual Christmas in the Village on Saturday, Dec. 4. Tour downtown Ephraim on a complimentary, horse-drawn wagon, 2:30-4 pm. Santa will arrive on a fire truck at 3 pm at the Village Hall, 9996 Hwy 42, and will be available to greet visitors inside. Take home a bit […]