November 7, 2025
by Tim Kowols, Door County Daily News

If last month’s debut of a Christmas movie featuring Door County or last week’s launch of non-stop holiday music on 96.7 WBDK didn’t get you into the spirit, Sturgeon Bay gets the first of two chances this Saturday. Destination Sturgeon Bay is hosting its annual Christmas by the Bay celebration beginning at 10 a.m., featuring a parade through the city, including along 3rd Avenue.

The festivities continue after the parade with Third Avenue PlayWorks holding its first Indoor Winter Market, the Door County Community Foundation welcoming live reindeer to its square, and the Door County Maritime Museum kicking off its Merry-Time Festival of Trees.

If one weekend isn’t enough, Destination Sturgeon Bay will host its Unwrapping Sturgeon Bay car cruise and Christmas tree lighting next Friday (11/21), followed by its Shop Small, Sip Local event the next day (11/22). Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Alexa Soto says they take their role in kicking off the holiday season in Door County very seriously.

Soto says you can still sign up to take part in Saturday’s Christmas by the Bay parade and find the rest of their holiday events at the provided link.

Door County communities will continue embracing the Christmas season in the coming weekends, with Ellison Bay hosting its tree lighting on November 23rd; Sister Bay, Carlsville, and Egg Harbor holding their events on November 28th; and Baileys Harbor, Fish Creek, and Ephraim following on December 6th.

Picture by Rachel Lukas