Come home to Door County for the holidays – you can feel like family on the Peninsula this time of year as locals and visitors alike gather to celebrate the season. There are holiday tree lightings to sing carols at, Christmas cookies to purchase, decorate and devour, ornament crafting to be done, chili suppers to warm up with, horse drawn wagon rides to hop on, holiday open houses to explore, local gifts to be found, a winter farmers market to shop, and more holiday cheer than you might think is possible on the very first weekend of December! Looking for a home base while you play this weekend? Visit Door County Lodging’s Last Minute Lodging blog for options!
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 – Christmas in the Harbor, Baileys Harbor
The Baileys Harbor community becomes one big family this weekend, so join in the fun! The festivities begin at 4pm at the Baileys Harbor Town Hall where you can make ornaments for your tree or for gifts with the Baileys Harbor Historical Society, enjoy food and drinks, and sit with Santa so you can tell him what you want for Christmas. At 6pm head out to the front lawn for the annual tree lighting and sing a carol or two with friends and family. Do some local gift shopping on Sunday at the Town Hall during the Baileys Harbor Farmers Market – Winter Edition which runs from 10am-2pm. Don’t forget to make your Christmas Buffet reservations at Harbor Fish Market & Grille – stop in or visit them online for reservations. Visit online or call (920) 839-2366 for more information
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 – Christmas in the Village, Ephraim
Ephraim is especially picturesque when lit up for the holidays, so bundle up and walk through town or hop a Horse Drawn Wagon Ride! Bring the kids for Holiday Stories at the Ephraim Library from 11:30am-12:30pm, and stop by the Ephraim Moravian Church for their ADVENTure & Sweets Sale from 11am-2pm. Visit with Santa from 1-3pm and check out the live Reindeer display! Inside the Ephraim Village Hall, warm up with Chili & Soup from noon until it’s gone, sponsored by Chef’s Hat Café and Summer Kitchen and Cookie Exchange Plates will be for sale. All afternoon, participate in cookie decorating, holiday crafts, and heritage games, then join in the Christmas Carol sing-along before heading outside to Harborside Park for the Tree Lighting Ceremony!
There will also be open houses at many Ephraim businesses including D.C. Specialty Foods (holiday items, 10am-4pm) and Eagle Harbor Inn (enjoy a smorgasbord of homemade holiday treats from 1-4pm). For more information and reservations at this beautiful B&B visit online or call (920) 854-2121. This event is free, though attendees are encouraged to bring a canned food item to donate to Koinonia Cupboard food pantry. Sponsored by the Ephraim Business Council, visit online or call (920) 854-4989 for more info.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 – Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony & Chili Supper, Ellison Bay
Gather and Giver at the River on Sunday for a complimentary chili supper and fabulous cookies at the Mink River Basin. At 5pm gather around for the lighting of the town Christmas tree, enjoy a reading of the Nativity, and sing carols! This free event is sponsored by Ellison Bay Service Club, call (920) 854-4937 for more info or visit Door County North. On your way north, stop in Fish Creek at the Northern Door YMCA between 1 and 2:30pm to visit with Santa!
Download the FREE, Green, Mobile, Door County Chefs Dining Guide App to find out what’s Open this Winter!