This Weekend in Door County: Freedom Fest, Kayaks, and a Day for the Birds (July 8-10)

You thought the Independence Day celebrations were over? Not so fast!

Last night’s rain postponed fireworks in Baileys Harbor, Gills Rock and Sturgeon Bay. Gills Rock and Baileys Harbor will shoot them off Tuesday night, July 5, while Sturgeon Bay will hold them for a special Maritime Week celebration in August.

But that still isn’t the last of it, as Sister Bay’s Freedom Fest is back at Waterfront Park this weekend. Learn more about that and other highlights for the weekend in Door County below.

Sister Bay Freedom Fest

There has traditionally been a big post-4th lull in Door County as businesses, locals and visitors recover from the long holiday. A few years back Sister Bay decided to fill that gap with Freedom Fest, a low-key celebration with a Sister Bay Lions Club brat fry and a great fireworks show over the bay at dusk on Saturday night.

Rutabaga Sea Kayak Symposium

Up at Rowleys Bay Resort you can get your feet (and butt) wet with on-water classes for all kayaking skill levels, on-land workshops, brown bag lunch seminars, paddle tours, naturalist-led paddles and youth programs. Bonus – if you’ve never been to Rowleys Bay you’ll love the escape to a very beautiful, quiet corner of the peninsula. Friday through Sunday. Get details here>>

Open Day at the Open Door Bird Sanctuary

Love birds? Check out the raptors at the Open Door Bird Sanctuary in the Town of Jacksonport Saturday, July 9. Enjoy the live raptor programming every 20 minutes throughout the day. Raptor geeks can get in-depth with the Head Bird Guy (1 pm). $10/adult. $7/ages 5-12. Free/ages 5 & younger. More>>

Root Beer Festival

On Saturday, The Heritage Village at Crossroads at Big Creek opens up for the 8th annual root beer festival on Saturday. Root beer tastings, root beer floats (of course!). Buy food from Tom’s Team B-B-Q, check out blacksmithing and tool demonstrations at the Madden Tool Museum, historical displays, potato sack races, a chance to win some of the root beers featured, a cakewalk, live music and more. Great for families, history buffs, and the old tool nerds among us. More on Crossroads and the Heritage Village here>>

Live Music

Check out singer-songwriter Pat McKillen at the Peach Barn Friday from 3-6 pm for a chill afternoon on the lawn. On Sunday, Washington-based singer/songwriter Brittany Jean brings a blend of Americana and folk to the concert barn at Fishstock at 7 pm to cap your weekend.