2021 Door County Holiday Celebrations
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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 fun run!
Festivities will kick off Friday, Nov. 26, with some new and returning activities. Kids of all ages will be on the lookout for elves hidden in participating businesses. When they find and record 10 elves on their entry form, they may turn it in at the Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church St. – on Nov. 26 between 10 am and 1 pm and on Nov. 27 between 10 am and 2 pm – in exchange for a prize.
The Kress Pavilion will help kids write letters to Santa, Nov. 26 – Dec. 12; and Big Easy will be creating coffee- filter snowflakes.
Capture the Spirit in Sister Bay
Nov. 26-27, throughout Sister Bay
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.
3-5 pm. Enjoy hot chocolate and treats before Santa arrives at 4:30 pm to light the village Christmas tree and holiday light display; then join Santa in singing traditional Christmas carols.
You can have more family fun while making holiday crafts at the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library, 2323 Mill Road, on Nov. 26 and 27, 11 am – 2 pm. Also shop at the Friends of Gibraltar’s Holiday Art Fair at the Sister Bay Village Hall, 10693 Hwy 42, on Nov. 26 and 27, 10 am – 4 pm.
Christkindlmarkt
Nov. 26-28, Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12, Corner of the Past Museum, 10310 Fieldcrest Road in Sister Bay
This year the Sister Bay Historical Society will welcome 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.
Christkindlmarkt events always feature Glühwein – a spiced, hot red wine – and the historical society will serve the popular drink in a special drink booth along with hot chocolate, hot apple cider, coffee and Kinderpunsch: the hot, mulled, nonalcoholic cider that’s a regular fixture at Christkindlmarkt events throughout the world.
The market will be held over three weekends: Nov. 26-28, Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12. On Fridays, the event hours are 11 am – 9 pm, and the shuttle hours are 10 am – 10 pm. On Saturdays, the event runs 11 am – 10 pm, and the shuttle runs 10 am – 11 pm. Attend the event on Sundays 11 am – 3 pm, when the shuttle runs 10 am – 4 pm.
Ephraim’s Christmas in the Village
Dec. 4, Ephraim
Featuring fun family crafts, soup and chili, and a meet-and-greet with Santa and his sled dogs.
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 of holiday cheer by creating a free holiday craft, 3-5 pm. Santa’s reindeer and elves will visit Olson Park, 3-5 pm, and at 5 pm, Santa will make his way to the Harborside Park gazebo to light the Christmas tree.
Children can pick up a craft bag and book at the Ephraim Library, adjacent to the Ephraim Village Hall, 10 am – 2 pm; and don’t miss out on learning about Scandinavian holiday traditions by walking Tomte’s Reindeer Trail at the Ephraim Historical Foundation, 12-3 pm. This new outdoor activity – designed for ages 3-10, but fun for all ages – will be held rain or shine. Children who complete the trail will receive a complimentary tomte activity bag. After walking the trail, stop inside the Anderson Barn to create a tomte ornament. Masks will be required inside the building.
Harbor Holiday
Dec. 4, downtown Baileys Harbor
Pick up your grab-and-go craft bag at the Baileys Harbor library, then head to the winter farmers market in the town hall (same building). Evening festivities begin at 6 pm with a parade through town.
Fish Creek Winter Tour of Lights
Dec. 4, Fish Creek
Fish creek 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 and a flagpole christmas tree in Fish creek Park.
Kick off the holiday season at the Gibraltar Historical Association’s annual holiday tree-lighting and caroling event Dec. 4, 5 pm, at noble Square. Sing carols by candlelight, and ring
in the spirit of the season with “o Tannenbaum.” Afterward, stroll to the blue Horse beach cafe, 4113 main St., to enjoy cocoa and cookies. Santa’s elf mentioned that a special guest will be visiting to spread holiday cheer.
Also walk or drive through town to take in the Winter Tour of Lights. Pick up a map highlighting extra-festive locations and photo ops at the visitor Information center, 4097 Hwy 42; at select businesses; or at visitfishcreek. com. The Winter Tour of Lights will wrap up following the return of the annual Winterfest, set for Feb. 5-6.
Ridges Natural Christmas
Dec. 11, The Ridges Sanctuary, 8166 Hwy 57 in Baileys Harbor
Enjoy cider and cookies as you surround yourself with nature; then partake in a wreath-making workshop and more. More information>>
New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop
The big cherry is back in Sister Bay on New Year’s Eve. The annual Cherry Drop brought to you by the folks at 106.9 The Lodge takes place at Husby’s where you can ring in the new year with a thousand friends in Sister Bay.
PAST HOLIDAY EVENTS
Sturgeon Bay’s Christmas by the Bay
Nov. 19-21, downtown Sturgeon Bay
The festivities begin during Unwrapping Sturgeon Bay, when Santa leads the car parade through Sturgeon Bay, “unwrapping” festive holiday displays at the businesses he passes. The fun will continue Saturday with a parade at 10 am and an appearance by Santa at the Door County Historical Museum, 18 N. 4th Ave. Santa will also have brunch at Stone Harbor Resort, 107 N. 1st Ave., on Sunday, 9:30 am.
Ellison Bay Tree Lighting
Nov. 21, visitor center
Enjoy the lighting at the visitor center’s parking lot across Hwy 42 from the Viking Grill from the comfort of your car. Tune your radio to 89.1 FM to listen to live Christmas carols and holiday readings by local residents.
