The Holiday festivities are so close we can almost taste them! From early Christmas celebrations to Thanksgiving Dinners to tree-lighting ceremonies and orchard sleigh rides, the county is full of the spirit and ready to show it in our decorations, our good deeds, and of course delicious Holiday meals and desserts. Here are some upcoming events and offers you shouldn’t miss!
MERRY-TIME FESTIVAL OF TREES – NOV. 16 – DEC. 10, 2013
The Merry-Time Festival of Trees, a new initiative to joyously celebrate the holidays, promotes Sturgeon Bay and the greater Door County community, and helps raise much-needed Door County Maritime Museum operating support. Replacing the Museum’s long-standing Ports of Call gala, the new initiative will expand the Holiday Ornament & Decoration Showcase, which will run Nov. 16th – Dec. 10th, 2013! Check out the Maritime Museums great line up of events HERE and receive Free Friday Admission on Friday, Nov. 22nd and Dec. 6th with the purchase of a $5 Festival of Trees raffle ticket!
CHRISTMAS BY THE BAY – NOV. 22-24, 2013
Celebrate the holidays with Christmas by the Bay in Sturgeon Bay, November 22 – 24, 2013. The festivities begin with the annual tree lighting ceremony and entertainment from Elliot Goettelman & Josh Gregory on Friday, Nov. 22nd. Spend the weekend strolling through historic downtown Sturgeon Bay; check out the decorated shops and get going on your holiday shopping with special extended hours. On Saturday, Nov. 23rd, don’t miss the Santa parade at 10am, followed by special children’s activities and hay wagon rides. Catch Santa again for photos and brunch on Sunday morning, Nov. 24th!
THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE – NOV. 28, 2013
Door County’s only annual Thanksgiving Day Parade travels down Highway 57 each year through the small town of Jacksonport. This year, the 17th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin on November 28, 2013 at 10am.
THANKSGIVING DINNERS – NOV. 28, 2013
Harbor Fish Market & Grille in Baileys Harbor offers a Thanksgiving Buffet on Thursday, Nov. 28th, from 10am – 4pm. This sumptuous feast will include Oven Roasted Turkey with Old Fashioned Stuffing, Succulent Roast Lamb, Chef Carved Slow Roasted Prime Rib, Oven Roasted Lamb, Baked Alaskan Salmon with Chunky Cucumber Dill Sauce, and Baked Pit Ham, as well as Potatoes, Gravy, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes Au Gratin, Garden Fresh Green Beans, Creamed Corn, Sweet Garden Carrots with Brown Sugar, Freshly Baked Rolls with Sweet Creamery Butter, and a great selection of appetizers and salads, and a Deliciously Decadent Dessert Selection. At $19.95 per person and $8.95 for children under 11, you can bring the whole family – but call ahead, reservations are encouraged.
Experience a Thanksgiving Dinner to Remember at Chop in the Country Walk Shops of Sister Bay. This spectacular Four Course Dinner for $31.95 features a 1st Course of Waseda Farms Pork Belly with Balsamic reduction; a 2nd Course of Acorn Squash Bisque or your choice of a Classic Caesar Salad or CHOP House Salad. The Main Course is, of course, Roasted Turkey Breast served with all the trimmings or change it up and try Crispy Roast Duck with Door County Cherry Brandy Glaze. For Desert, enjoy your choice of Homemade Pumpkin or Apple Pie served with whipped cream. Thanksgiving Dinner as well as the full menu will be available on Thursday, Nov. 28th from 4 – 8pm. Call 920.854.2700 for reservations!
HOLLY DAYS – NOV. 29 – 30, 2013
Egg Harbor’s Holly Days will be November 29 – 30, 2013 and offers breakfast with Santa at the Landmark Resort from 8:30 – 10:30am on Friday, Nov. 29th, live music, a gorgeous tree lighting with complimentary cookies and cocoa, caroling, Christmas sing-along, and horse-drawn carriage rides. There is also the Children’s Elf Hunt and Mistle Dough Contest, Cookie Decorating at the Pink Bakery, story time, Holiday entertainment from Third Avenue Playhouse, and a “Reindeer Drop” at 1pm on Saturday, Nov. 30th!
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & TREE LIGHTING – NOV. 29 – 30, 2013
Holiday shopping has already begun, but don’t forget to support your local artisans! The Ellison Bay Holiday Open House on Friday and Saturday, November 29 – 30, will run from 10am – 5pm each day. Visit the studios and galleries of Ellison Bay Pottery, Gills Rock Stoneware, Clay Bay Pottery and Turtle Ridge Gallery in Ellison Bay to find unique, handmade gifts and well-crafted treasures to give to friends and family this year. Stay in town and enjoy Ellison Bay’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Sunday, December 1st.
CAPTURE THE SPIRIT – NOV. 29, 30 & DEC. 1, 2013
Capture the Spirit in Sister Bay on November 29, 30 & Dec. 1 2013. Get ready for caroling, creativity, and cookies! Sister Bay will be illuminated on Friday, Nov. 29th, beginning at 4:30pm with the lighting of the downtown luminaries and the Village Christmas Tree and decorations at the corner of Mill Road and Hwy 42, where light refreshments will be served. Then Father Christmas invites the kids to storytelling and crafts a the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library after the lighting. Decorate cookies at the Sister Bay Fire Station on Saturday, Nov. 30th, from 3 – 5pm, and celebrate Small Business Saturday by shopping locally at the annual Friends of Gibraltar Arts & Crafts Show inside the Village Hall from 10am – 5pm on Nov. 30 & Dec. 1.
A FEW MORE WINTER TO DOs IN DOOR COUNTY
As fall gives way to winter, evening Carriage Tours of Ephraim from Mayberry Carriages will make way for a favorite Door County winter To Do – Sleigh Rides from Mayberry Carriages at Orchard Country Winery in Fish Creek. Bundle up and enjoy a narrated tour of the orchard and winery as you glide through a winter wonderland. A popular activity, reservations are strongly recommended! Holiday Hours will be in effect from Dec. 22 – Jan. 1, 2014: 11am – 3pm (Christmas Day: 11am – 1pm). Call for more information, regular hours, and booking: (920) 743-2352 or (920) 421-1152.
Although Lavender Spa in Fish Creek is closed for the winter, they still offer Winter Massages by appointment as available so you can still be pampered, as long as you plan ahead! Call to reserve: 920-493-3524 or 877-398-9308.
Door County Coffee & Tea Co., Open year-round, is reason enough to visit Carlsville, and right now they are offering 5 incredible Holiday flavored coffees – Candy Cane, Door County Christmas, Hot Buttered Rum, Jingle Bell Java, and White Christmas. Need a great gift for the coffee fanatic in your life? Door County Coffee & Tea offers fabulous gift sets to please the senses! Throughout November 2013 receive 20% OFF of Door County Coffee & Tea’s Signature Blend “Intense Dark” coffee and Hazelnut Crème flavored coffee, in Pot Packs, 10 oz. bags or even 5 lb. bags, so you can stock up for the winter.