There’s lots to be thankful for in Door County this weekend! Check out our dining blog for Thanksgiving Brunches, Buffets, and Dinners at Door County Restaurants, visit our lodging blog for Last Minute Lodging Options so you can stay and play on the peninsula, and read on for festive events, shopping, and dining this weekend…
Nov. 27, 2014: Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in Jacksonport
The only Thanksgiving Day Parade in Door County takes place each year in the quiet town of Jacksonport and is an extra special event as the parade is always a benefit for a good cause. This year’s funds will help Maggie DeMeuse, a local resident of Institute (just north of Sturgeon Bay), who is in stage four of breast cancer. Parade attendance is a fun social gathering in which you can make a difference in someone’s life.
There will be a Raffle to help raise money, coordinated by the Gibraltar DECA Chapter and the Sevastopol Student Council and donations are still being accepted! The goal is to raise $1000 during the parade – so whether you drop your dollars when they pass the bucket, or purchase a bunch of raffle tickets, you’ll have fun and be a part of Neighbors Helping Neighbors this Thanksgiving.
Gather at the corner of Hwy 57 and Cty Rd. V for the parade (starts at 10:30am), and stop by JJ’s of Jacksonport to warm up with a drink and to find the Raffle Ticket booth and see what you might win!
Nov. 28-29, 2014: Holly Days in Egg Harbor
Egg Harbor Holly Days offers lots of festivities on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29! Meet Santa in Egg Harbor on Friday after Thanksgiving! You can have Breakfast with Santa at Landmark Resort from 8:30-10:30am; and from 4:30-5:30pm Santa will be in Harbor View Park where you can catch live music, enjoy Christmas Cookies and hot cocoa, sing carols, and watch the Tree Lighting. From 10am-4pm Friday, join in the Children’s Elf Hunt & Mistle Dough Contest at participating businesses, or hop a Guided Historical Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride through Egg Harbor.
Egg Harbor shops participate in Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29, so bring your gift lists and shop for something special this year! Grab some organic goodies at Greens N Grains, and a local 6 pack (and lunch) at Shipwrecked Brew Pub!
There will be kids’ activities from 1-am-3pm including cookie decorating, letters to Santa writing, button making and face-painting. From 10am-3pm you can still catch a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride departing from Mojo Rosa’s, and continue the Children’s Elf Hunt & Mistle Dough Contest – winners will be announced at 3pm at the Egg Harbor Visitor Center, where you should also bring your camera and kids to Santa Land to sit on Santa’s lap from 12-3pm! Third Avenue Playhouse will be in downtown Egg Harbor offering a Holiday Performance from 12-3pm, there will be holiday violin music at Main Street Shops from 1-3pm, and at 1pm head to Lena’s Lot across from Liberty Square for the Reindeer Drop! Saturday from Noon-2pm the kids can shop for their families at the Children’s Christmas Store at the Bertschinger Center. Organized by the Family Centers of Door County. For more info, call (920) 868-3717 or visit www.eggharbordoorcounty.org.
Nov. 28-30, 2014: Capture the Spirit in Sister Bay
Capture the Spirit is a festive three day event beginning after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014 in beautiful Sister Bay. Bundle up and gather downtown for the lighting of the village luminaries and Christmas Tree Friday night. There will be light refreshments available, donations are appreciated. Enter to win Birch Creek Music Performance Center 2015 concert tickets, and after the tree lighting, follow Father Christmas back to the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library for crafts and storytelling.
Don’t forget to stop for a delicious lunch at Base Camp Coffee House, Door County Creamery, JJ’s LaPuerta, and settle in for dinner at Inn at Kristofer’s or bowl a few frames with your supper at Sister Bay Bowl.
On Saturday and Sunday, get your holiday shopping in and warm up with delightful snacks, hot drinks, and warm meals at Sister Bay’s restaurants – download the Door County Chefs FREE Mobile Dining App to search for Door County’s Open in Winter restaurants; and visit comesisterbay.com for a list of stores having special sales and offering free holiday treats and refreshments during Capture the Spirit 2014.
From 10am-4pm both Saturday and Sunday, you can shop local at the Friends of Gibraltar Arts & Crafts Show inside the Village Hall. On Saturday only, bring the kids for Holiday Cookie Decorating at the Sister Bay Fire Station from 3-5pm, and Sunday only from 11am-1pm bring the kids to shop for their families at the Children’s Christmas Store at the Sister Bay Village Hall. Organized by the Family Centers of Door County. Visit Sister Bay online for list of shops offering special sales holiday treats & refreshments.
Nov. 30, 2014: Ellison Bay Christmas Tree Lighting
On Sunday, Nov. 30, get in the spirit in Ellison Bay – gather for the Christmas Tree Lighting, sing carols, and partake in a warm bowl of chili, sponsored by the Ellison Bay Service Club. Start your day with a breakfast to remember at Viking Grill & Lounge and grab lunch at Mink River Basin and watch the Packer Game.
MORE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND EVENTS:
Nov. 26, 2014: Pints for Pets at Mink River Basin
On Wednesday before you get stuffed with turkey and pie, stop in at Mink river Basin in Ellison Bay from 4-7pm and be a part of the Pints for Pets benefit for the Door County Humane Society. For $15, you can take home your DCHS Pints for Pets logo glass, enjoy your choice of a pint of beer or 5 beer samples, a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverages, and appetizers – all while supporting the animals at DCHS!
Nov. 28-29, 2014: Ellison Bay Holiday Open House
Shop Small in Ellison Bay Nov. 28 and 29, from 10am-5pm. Check out amazing handmade gifts and décor at local shops and galleries presenting a wide array of seasonal and traditional pottery, accessories, hand-dyed wearable art, a new children’s book, and tastings of cherry, apple, and pear ciders at Island Orchard Cider!
Nov. 29, 2014: Eagle Harbor Inn’s Old Fashioned Christmas Open House
On Saturday from 1-3pm, check out the beautiful Eagle Harbor Inn in Ephraim, decorate Gingerbread Men in their kitchen, string popcorn for their holiday tree, enjoy a Smorgasbord of homemade holiday treats, and get your signed copy of an Ephraim based novel – a perfect Door County gift!
Nov. 28-29, 2014: Northern Door Children’s Center Holiday Home Tour
From 4-8pm Friday, and 10-4pm Saturday, enjoy the Northern Door Children’s Center Holiday Home Tour – this self-guided tour features five Northern Door homes decorated beautifully for the season. First Baptist Church of Sister Bay will host the Bake Shoppe with home-baked treats for purchase at this fundraiser for Northern Door Children’s Center. $30/person in advance. $35/person on days of the event. Phone: 920.854.4244
Nov. 28-29, 2014: The Del Ray’s at Stone Harbor Resort
Friday & Saturday at 8:30pm catch live music with The Del Ray’s who will be playing a variety of rock & roll from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s at Stone Harbor in Sturgeon Bay.
Nov. 29, 2014: Capt. John Nolte at Brew Coffeehouse
Saturdays from 11am-1pm John Nolte performs nautical, folk, bluegrass, oldies, and Christmas favorites at Brew Coffeehouse in Ellison Bay.
Nov. 29, 2014: Modern Day Drifters at Sister Bay Bowl
Listen to classic rock and country tunes from Modern Day Drifters at Sister Bay Bowl Saturday night starting at 9:30pm.
Don’t forget to Download the FREE, Green, Mobile, Door County Chefs Dining Guide App to find out what’s Open in Winter!