Door County festivals celebrate everything from the first buds of spring, to the first cherries of the season, to the twinkling of lights on a tree, but the festival of festivals – dubbed the “Granddaddy” of Door County’s celebrations, is Sister Bay’s Fall Fest. Originally begun as a celebration and reward for the local workforce at the end of the tourist season, Fall Fest has grown into one of the most anticipated and exciting festivals of the year for locals and visitors alike.
This year, the 68th Annual Fall Fest will feature a Classic Car Show, arts and crafts fair, food booths, children’s activities, and of course a whole lot of live music! Fall Fest wraps up on Sunday, October 20 with the famous Ping Pong Ball Drop at 2pm, when 10,000 Ping-Pong balls are released, offering a one in ten chance of winning a prize from a participating Sister Bay business! Scroll down to see the Fall Fest Schedule of Events!
If you haven’t found Sven yet, there’s still time! The Grand Prize Drawing for the Seeking Sven Scavenger Hunt will be held on Sunday. The Grand Prize is a 2 night stay in the Boat House at Sister Bay Marina. For more information, stop at the Visitor Center or CLICK HERE
FREE WiFi will be available throughout Fall Fest grounds all weekend, so you can share your favorite moments from your smart phone! Facebook or Twitter, use #DoorCountyChefs and #SisterBayFallFest to share photos of your favorite Fall Fest foods and activities with us!
If you’re looking for a fabulous treat, stop by the 2nd Annual Go Bo! Foundation Bake Sale, taking place 9am-5pm on Friday and Saturday, and 9am-2pm on Sunday, next to Al Johnson’s in Sister. Support a great cause, and enjoy beautiful decorated cookies, donated by cookies artists from all 50 states and beyond, in addition to baked goods by local chefs. All proceeds from the event go to the Go Bo! Foundation.
While enjoying the festivities, stop in Bay Shore Outfitters‘ Sister Bay Outdoor Store located at 2457 S. Bay Shore Drive, and discover apparel, accessories, and equipment from the most trusted names in the business; clothing and footwear from The North Face, Prana, LOLE, Patagonia, Quicksilver, Keen, Horny Toad, and more. Kayak tours are finished for the 2013 season, but you can still check out the kayaks and plan next year’s adventure!
EAT & DRINK! Step away from the streets and savor a spectacular dining experience at Chop, located in the Country Walk Shops of Sister Bay, or stop in Drink Coffee, right in the middle of the festivities, for Fall Fest’s favorite treat – Pumpkin Pie in a Cup! For more fall dining options in Door County, check out our Fall Feast blog, and download our new Door County Chefs App – Free and available now for iPhone or Android!
STAY & PLAY! Still looking for a place to stay? Check out our blog Your Autumn Escape to Door County – Where to Stay to learn about great special rates and lodging packages from Birchwood Lodge, Coachlite Inn, Country House Resort, Nordic Lodge, Open Hearth Lodge, and Scandinavian Lodge.
68th annual Sister Bay Fall Fest Schedule
Friday, October 18:
9am-5pm: Classic Auto Show – West side of Mill Road – Sponsored by Sister Bay Lions Club
10am-5pm: Arts & Crafts Show – Mill Road – Sponsored by the Sister Bay Advancement Association
10am-5pm: Food & Drinks – Various places in Village
3-6pm: Music @ Grasse’s Grill: Dirty Deuce
3-7pm: Music @ Husby’s: Modern Day Drifters
5-8 pm: Fish Boil – Fire Station on Mill Road – Sponsored by Sister Bay Lions Club
6:30-7:30pm: Cake Walk in the Village Hall – Fundraiser for Gibraltar School Destination Imagination
8pm: Movie Screening & fundraiser in the Fire Station – for the D.C. Short Film Fest
10pm-close: Music @ Husby’s: Muddy Udders
Saturday, October 19:
7am-11am: Pancake Breakfast – Village Hall – Sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Northern Door
9am-5pm: Food & Drinks – Various places in Village
9am-5pm: Classic Auto Show – West side of Mill Road – Sponsored by Sister Bay Lions Club
9am-5pm: Mechanical Bull @ Sister Bay Bowl
9am-4pm: Inflatable Games/Bouncers, Bungee Jumping & More – Across the street from Al Johnson’s (weather permitting)
9am-4pm: Camel Rides next to the Bowl (weather permitting)
10am-5pm: Arts & Crafts Show – Mill Road – Sponsored by the Sister Bay Advancement Association
10am-1pm: Music @ Husby’s: Learning to Fly – Tom Petty tribute band
11am: Parade – Bay Shore Drive, Downtown
11:45am-3pm: Music next to Al Johnson’s: Whiskey Ditch w/ special guests
12:30-4:30: Music on Husby’s/Sister Bay Bowl Stage: Hoi Polloi
12-4pm: Music @ Grasse’s Grill: The original Big Mouth Quartet
1-3pm: Children’s Entertainer/Musician Randy Peterson – Gazebo by Village Hall (inside Village Hall if bad weather)
1-4pm: Music on the Husby’s/Bowl stage: Hoi Polloi
3:30pm: Wisconsin Cinderella Queens Coronation (Miss Cinderella scholarship pageant – inside Village Hall)
4-7pm: Music @ Husby’s: Happy Schnapps Combo
5-9pm: Music @ Grasse’s Grill: Bacchus Lotus
10pm-close: Music @ Husby’s: Hoi Polloi
10pm-Close: Music @ Sister Bay Bowl: Glas Hamr
Sunday, October 20:
9am-2pm: Classic Auto Show – West side of Mill Road – Sponsored by Sister Bay Lions Club
10am-4pm: Food & Drinks – Various places in Village
10am-4pm: Arts & Crafts Show – Mill Road – Sponsored by the Sister Bay Advancement Association
10am-4pm: Inflatable Games/Bouncers, Bungee Jumping & More – Across the street from Al Johnson’s (weather permitting)
10am-3pm: Camel Rides next to the Bowl (weather permitting)
11am-2pm: Pumpkin Bowling – on grass hill next to Sister Bay Bowl
11am-2pm: Music @ Grasse’s Grill: Double W
11:30am: Sloppy Joe Eating Contest – Sign up @ Bowl
12-4pm: Music between Husby’s/Sister Bay Bowl: Unity
Noon-3:30pm: Polka Man Dale with Bellows & Strings – near Village Hall
2pm: Ping Pong Ball Drop