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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2017 Fish Creek Winter Festival (Feb. 3 – 5)
The 29th annual Fish Creek Winter Festival features a kickball tournament, fireworks, games and much more. Full schedule and details here.
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Valmy Thresheree 2016 Schedule
August is a time to reflect on the days gone by, and in Valmy, things are cranking up because it’s thresheree time. See first-hand agricultural equipment in operation that was used from the years of 1900 until about 1960. The thresheree runs Aug. 19 – 21. Below is a schedule of events. Friday, Aug. […]
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Belgian Kermiss, Kite Festival & More Weekend Plans
Summer is quickly coming to a close. Be sure to take advantage of the beautiful August weather. Survey the land on Plum Island, watch some Shakespeare in Potawatomi State Park or spelunk through the Horseshoe Bay Cave. Friday, Aug. 19 Honey Dewdrops Take a picnic dinner and a bottle of wine to enjoy before Woodwalk […]
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Belgian Kermiss Celebration Aug. 21
The Belgian Heritage Center is hosting its annual Belgian Kermiss on Aug. 21, 11 am – 4 pm. A kermiss is a traditional harvest celebration that is open to the whole community featuring Belgian food, beer, music and camaraderie. The variety band Mad Cats will play their mix of country, rock and pop music from […]
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Maritime on Madison Street Festival Arrives Aug. 13
Calling all pirates, scallywags and landlubbers! Shine up your boots, put on your eye patch and sail down to Maritime on Madison street festival, Aug. 13, 11 am – 5 pm. Stroll the decks along Madison Avenue from Maple to Oak Streets, jigging and swinging to music by Whiskey Ditch and Glas Hamr. Test your […]
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Classic & Wooden Boat Festival Celebrates 26 Years
The Door County Classic & Wooden Boat Festival marks its 26th year with a new look. There will still be plenty of classic vessels and the Sikaflex Challenge boat building competition, but new this year is an art exhibition, ArtMart, featuring some of the county’s most accomplished artists. This year’s event is scheduled for Aug. […]
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Washington Island Lit Fest is One for the Books
One of the best-kept secrets in literary circles these days is that of the Washington Island Literary Festival (WILF). Now in its fourth year, the WILF hosts fewer than 10 authors and not more than 125 participants. It’s a small, intimate celebration of books and the people who write them, as well as the people […]
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Sharing the Artistic Process in Sister Bay
Artistic demonstrations at art festivals may be commonplace, yet few festivals require every artist to demonstrate their craft for the public as artists do at the invitational Door County Festival of Fine Arts (DCFFA). The 14th annual DCFFA is Aug. 13, 10 am-5 pm, at Sister Bay’s Waterfront Park. Each artist who participates in the […]
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Meteor Shower, Kyle Megna Duo & More Weekend Plans
The peninsula is home to a variety of artists, and there’s an opportunity to see their work every day this weekend. Assess finely crafted wooden boats, watch artists demonstrate their talent, or browse through an arts and crafts fair to get a taste of what these artists have to offer. Friday, Aug. 12 Door County […]
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At 75, Eric Burdon Wants You to Keep Rockin’
It’s hard to believe that it was more than a half-century ago when a gruff-voiced young Geordie from the northern English coal mining town of Newcastle and his bandmates – known as The Animals – recorded the revolutionary sounds of “The House of the Rising Sun.” Fast forward from the summer of 1964 to now. […]
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Food and Fun for All Ages at Jacksonport’s Cherry Fest
Come to Lakeside Park, Hwy. 57, in Jacksonport for the 22nd Annual Cherry Fest on Aug. 6, 7 am – 4 pm. The day is packed with fun for the whole family. Savor the great food including fresh cherries, cherry brats and cherry hamburgers as well as an assortment of cherry desserts. Stroll through the […]
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Six Best Spots to See the Tall Ships
The flotilla of nine tall ships is expected to arrive in Sturgeon Bay late Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 3, after finishing the Lake Michigan portion of the Tall Ships Challenge Race earlier in the day in Algoma. The parade and overnight stop in Sturgeon Bay is the prelude to the three-day Tall Ships Festival Aug. 5-7 […]
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Island Music Festival, The Dead Soldiers & More Weekend Plans
August has arrived, and with it some of the season’s best events. Witness some professional mini golf, take in some dark southern tunes and learn about stained glass artistry. Friday, Aug. 5 Opening Reception Make your way to Algoma for James May Gallery’s opening reception, featuring mixed media by Donny Gettinger, jewelry/metalsmithing by Emily […]
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Vendor Space Still Available for Cherry Fest
Showcase your creative talents at this year’s 22nd Annual Cherry Fest in Jacksonport on Saturday, August 6th. Craft booth space is still available. Contact Vicki Bley at 920.823.2316 and leave a message if interested.
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Maritime on Madison Street Festival Aug. 13
Calling all pirates, scallywags and landlubbers! Shine up your boots, put on your eye patch and sail down to Maritime on Madison street festival, Aug.13, 11 am – 5 pm. Stroll the decks along Madison Avenue from Maple to Oak Streets, jigging and swinging to music by Whiskey Ditch and Glas Hamr. Test your luck […]
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Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week Begins July 30
The City of Sturgeon Bay will once again honor its rich maritime heritage with a diverse collection of entertaining and fun-filled events taking place July 30 to Aug. 13. Officially titled “Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week: A Salute to the U.S. Coast Guard,” the celebration includes many long-standing annual waterfront events and activities. In addition to […]
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Rec Run, Blues Disciples & More Weekend Plans
July may be coming to an end, but the fun summer events just keep coming. Try some unusual chocolates, catch a new production of an old favorite, or take part in a ukulele jamboree. Friday, July 29 Planetarium Program for Adults and Families Check out the night sky during the daytime. Author and amateur astronomer […]
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Culture Club: So You Want to Have a Book Festival?
by Helene Meyer Bookstores have long been a favorite hangout of mine. I liked bookstores so much that I went to work at one on Washington Island, where I live. For eight years, I thoroughly enjoyed working with Kathleen Dixon, the owner of Islandtime Books and More. Our association began as many such do, […]
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International Food Festival, “Julius Caesar” & More Weekend Plans
Whether you enjoy delicious foods, dramatic performances or deft jazz musicians, Door County has you covered. Learn about the night sky at Newport or take a few pointers from a ceramic artist this weekend. Friday, July 22 International Food Festival Get a taste for flavors around the world with this delicious food festival. Sponsored by […]
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Fly-In Fish Boil, “Hate Mail” & More Weekend Plans
Whether you enjoy eating tasty treats, listening to talented musicians, or biking Door County’s back roads, there’s something for you to do this weekend. Check out model trains, amazing artwork or the monarch butterfly nursery to see the kinds of unique opportunities Door County has to offer. Friday, July 15 Symphony Concert Take in performances […]