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.
2023 Door County Festivals
Sturgeon Bay Fire & Ice Festival
February 17-18, 2023
Stroll around town or climb aboard the Door County Trolley for a complimentary tour of the community. Watch novice and professional carvers transform blocks of snow and ice into works of art. On Saturday evening, head to the Fire & Ice Gala at Stone Harbor Resort.
Sturgeon Bay Shipyard Tours
May 6, 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
Spring 2023
Enjoy the natural beauty of Door County with the Ridges Sanctuary. Field trips and nature activities for all ages.
Jacksonport Maifest
May 27-28, 2023
Enjoy children’s activities, live music, food, an art fair, a horse pull, a 10K and a 2-mile fun run.
Roping with Chewy at the Jacksonport Maifest.
Door County Lighthouse Festival
June 9-11, 2023
Boat excursions and guided land-based tours to all 11 historic Door County lighthouses. Visitors will have 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 10, 2023
Live music, kids games, a Swedish pancake eating contest, a goat drop contest and a goat parade.
Photo by Justin Anderson.
Fyr Bal Festival
June 17, 2023
Welcome summer with art, food, music & family activities along the picturesque shoreline of Eagle Harbor. A bonfire & fireworks wrap up the festival.
Photo by Len Villano.
Door County Beer Festival
June 17, 2023
A celebration of 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. The Peninsula Century Spring Classic takes place in conjunction with the festival.
Photo by Brett Kosmider.
Door County Wine Fest
June 24, 2023
Enjoy unlimited tasting of award-winning Door County wines from eight local wineries and live music.
Egg Harbor 4th of July Parade and Celebration
July 3-4, 2023
Fun and food throughout the village all day.
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, 2023
A patriotic parade, live music, great food, arts, and crafts. Fireworks at dusk.
The 4th of July Parade in Baileys Harbor draws thousands. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.
Sturgeon Bay Celebrates the 4th
July 4, 2023
Food, live music & fireworks.
Door County Plein Air Festival
July 23-29, 2023
Free events throughout the week at various Door County locations. Watch featured artists working at their easels.
Carlsville Day
July 2023
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 9-13, 2023
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, 2023
The City of Sturgeon Bay honors its rich maritime heritage.
August 11-13, 2023
Featuring 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.
Bailey’s Harbor AutumnFest
September 2023
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.
AutumnFest’s car show. Photo courtesy of the Baileys Harbor Community Association.
Autumn Lighthouse Festival
September 29 – October 1, 2022
The Door County Maritime Museum is offering a couple of its most popular tours Columbus Day weekend.
Sister Bay Fall Festival
October 13-15, 2023
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, and street food.
2016 Sister Bay Fall Festival. Photo by Len Villano.
Jack O’Lantern Days
October 2023
Make masks, see live owls, compete in a costume contest and trick-or-treat at local businesses.
Thrills and Chills
October 2023
Paint pumpkins, make slime, venture through a haunted house and walk in a costume parade.
Sturgeon Bay Christmas by the Bay
November 2023
Watch a tree lighting, take a horse drawn wagon rides, watch a festive holiday parade and eat breakfast with Santa.
Sister Bay Capture the Spirit Festival
Photo by Len Villano.
November 2023
Watch a tree lighting, meet, Santa, his elves and his favorite reindeer, decorate holiday cookies and peruse local art.
Egg Harbor Holly Days
Photo by Len Villano.
November 2023
Enjoy an old-fashioned winter weekend including Breakfast with Santa, an elf hunt, tree lighting, caroling & more.
Ephraim Christmas in the Village
December 2, 2023
Celebrate with Santa and his reindeer at the Village Hall. Take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the village and join Santa at Harborside Park to light the Christmas tree.
Harbor Holiday & Tree Lighting in Baileys Harbor
December 2023
Meet Santa, his elves & reindeer. Then, do holiday crafts, enjoy treats & watch the tree lighting.
Christkindlmarkt
November – December 2023
Local weavers, knitters, potters, photographers, jewelers, painters, woodworkers, glass blowers and more sell their work. Traditional European eats available.
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Rain couldn’t dampen spirits or keep the crowds away from Sister Bay on Fall Fest weekend Oct. 14-16. Residents and visitors gathered for non-stop live music, brats, the art fair, parade, fireworks, and the Fall Fest Derby Race.
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If you can’t stand a crowd, it’s not your thing. If you don’t like music, it’s probably not for you either. If you don’t like fun – it’s definitely not for you. It’s Fall Fest, Door County’s largest party and Sister Bay’s annual farewell to the season. And yes, it’s crowded. Thousands will pack the […]
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Diving Into the Fall Fest Bloody Factory
When you order your Bloody Mary at the outdoor bar at Husby’s on Fall Fest Saturday morning, it may look like a simple process to fulfill your order: The bartender turns to grab a freshly salted drink off the table and trades it for your cash within a few seconds. But the journey for that […]
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It will be a hotly contested battle in the second year of the revamped Fall Fest Derby on Sunday, Oct. 16. Following a two-decade hiatus, the derby returned in 2021 with six competitors. This year, it will feature 24 cars. The race for kids ages 7-13 driving gravity-powered vehicles down the hill takes place Sunday […]
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Celebrate Fall at 49th Townline Art Fair
The lawn at Fine Line Designs Gallery will be filled with artists, artisans and their creations when the gallery hosts its 49th Townline Art Fair on Oct. 8, 10 am – 5 pm, and Oct. 9, 10 am – 4 pm, rain or shine. “This is a wonderful juried art show celebrating the fall colors […]
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This Oct. 15-17, Sister Bay will celebrate its 75th Fall Festival. The big party was postponed for a year because of COVID-19, which means that residents and visitors will be even more fired up to commemorate the annual end-of-season bash. The festival is a huge moneymaker for nonprofits and local businesses, some of which make […]
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JOIN THE SISTER BAY FALL FEST PARADE
The Sister Bay Advancement Association welcomes businesses, groups and individuals to be part of the 76th Sister Bay Fall Fest Parade. Participation is free, and the winning entry will receive the Best Float trophy. The parade will take place Oct. 15, 11 am. Participants can line up as early as 9 am, east on Maple/County […]
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Fall Fest Derby Registration Open
Registration is open for the Sister Bay Advancement Association’s 2022 Fall Festival derby race, set for Oct. 16. Girls and boys ages 7 to 13 may build (with assistance from an adult) and then race their gravity-powered cars during the double-elimination event. The weight limit for the car, driver and wheels is 200 pounds. Mandatory […]
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Fire Fest on Washington Island
Join the Washington Island Fire Department (WIFD) and Washington Island Community Center on Oct. 1 for Fire Fest: a day filled with food, fun and festivities whose entire proceeds will be split between the two organizations. The community center will use its proceeds for community projects, and WIFD’s proceeds will go toward a new rescue […]
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Rock Death’s Door Brings Southern Twang Way Up North
Once peak tourist season is over in the fall, Washington Island gets pretty quiet, according to Washington Island Campground co-owner Kayla Stults. But Sept. 23-24, a new music festival – Rock Death’s Door – will break the silence at the campground. The weekend country-and-rock festival will be the first of its kind on Washington Island, with […]
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CELEBRATE OKTOBERFEST AT HÜGEL HAUS
For some, fall means pumpkins and apple cider. For others, it’s synonymous with frothy steins of beer, German cuisine, music and fun. If you fall into the latter category of autumn enthusiasts, be at Hügel Haus, 11934 Hwy 42 in Ellison Bay, on Sept. 24 for its Oktoberfest celebration. Featuring an outdoor tent, food, beer […]
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Celebrate Autumn in Baileys Harbor, Sept. 24
If you couldn’t make it to the classic-car display at Harvest Fest – or you can’t get enough of awesome autos – Baileys Harbor’s Autumnfest will feature the Pinups & Pistons photo shoot, hot rods and live music rocking the Midway Stage, 11 am – 3 pm. See a complete schedule of events and registration […]
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It’s a sight not easily missed when the usual traffic is replaced by a line of cars that appear to be traveling through the wrong decade. Chevy Corvettes, Thunderbirds, Cobras, Model Ts – these wheeled windows into the past not only conjure feelings of nostalgia for many, but also stir excitement in those from younger […]
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DKAF Brings Movers and Shakers to Baileys Harbor
Kinetic art is a broad category, encompassing any creative endeavor that moves, according to Door Kinetic Arts Festival (DKAF) producer Alan Kopischke. And, he said, DKAF’s goal is to “celebrate and inspire” a range of media that fit under the kinetic-arts umbrella. The sixth annual DKAF lineup reflects that aim through a performance by a […]
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Break out the hoodies, and whip up the pumpkin-spice lattes – it’s fall, baby! Well, close enough. Although the autumnal equinox won’t take place until Sept. 22 at 8:03 pm, the peninsula is gearing up to celebrate the harvest season. Here’s the rundown on where you can get your fill of all things fall. Harvest […]
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2022 Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch Festival (Oct. 8 – 9)
Egg Harbor’s Pumpkin Patch Festival is one of the great family traditions in Door County, with kids activities, carnival rides, great food, drink, and fun!
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Fun for Kids, Boaters at Marina Fest Sister Bay’s Marina Fest includes fun for the whole family Sept. 3-5, with food, beverages, kids’ games, boat building for kids, arts and crafts, a tractor-pull contest and music spread from Waterfront Park to Marina Park. Saturday, Sept. 3 7-10 am: Pancake breakfast on the grounds north of […]
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Marina Fest Celebrates Sister Bay’s Boating History
When Marina Fest takes over the Sister Bay Marina Labor Day weekend, it may look like just another festival. But its roots run much deeper. “Yes, it’s another fall festival – or the start of the fall festivals – but it’s also a celebration of the end of the boating season,” said Scott Baker, one […]
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Sneak Peek: Labor Day Music and Events
Starting to plan your holiday weekend? There’s plenty to do in Door County, whether you fancy time on the land or water, peace and tranquility, or live music. Here’s a sampling of some of the places, tunes and events you won’t want to miss. See the complete event line-up for the long Labor Day weekend […]
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Fresh Bands Help Fishstock Age Gracefully
If you’re familiar with Fishstock – the annual concert series held in a repurposed dairy barn – it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that it started out as a party. Homemade admission buttons, sold for $5, helped to cover the cost of food, beer and music: a winning combination that drew crowds of […]