Experience Door County in a Different Season
When summer winds down, Door County takes on a whole new character. Brilliant fall colors sweep across the peninsula, harvest festivals fill the villages, and cooler days invite you to explore scenic roads, hiking trails, shops, galleries, restaurants and the shoreline at a more relaxed pace.
As autumn gives way to winter, Door County becomes quieter still, with holiday celebrations, winter festivals, snow-covered trails and plenty of reasons to settle in and enjoy a cozy getaway.
Planning a fall or winter visit? Here are some of the seasonal events worth building a Door County getaway around.
Harvest Fest
September 19, 2026 • Sturgeon Bay
Celebrate the arrival of fall in downtown Sturgeon Bay with live music, food, a craft fair, local shopping, and seasonal activities along Third Avenue.
Door County Kinetic Arts Festival
September 20–26, 2026 • Baileys Harbor
Enjoy a weeklong celebration of film, theater, music, and the creative process, with performances, staged readings, screenings, workshops, and conversations with artists at Björklunden.
Door County Fall Lighthouse Festival
October 2–4, 2026 • Door County
Explore Door County’s historic lighthouses against the backdrop of fall color, with special access and opportunities for boat, air, and self-guided tours of sites that are not normally open to the public.
Pumpkin Patch Festival
October 10–11, 2026 • Egg Harbor
Celebrate autumn with live music, carnival rides, arts and crafts, pumpkin and scarecrow displays, children’s activities, food, and family fun throughout downtown Egg Harbor.
Fall Fun Fest & Cider Pressing Party
October 10–11, 2026 • Washington Island
Welcome the harvest season at the Washington Island Farm Museum with an old-fashioned fall celebration centered around fresh apples, cider pressing, food, and island traditions.
Sister Bay Fall Fest
October 16–18, 2026 • Sister Bay
Enjoy three days of live music, local food, children’s activities, an arts and crafts fair, the Lions Club fish boil, pancake breakfast, and the annual Fall Fest parade.
Jack O’Lantern Days
October 31, 2026 • Fish Creek
Celebrate Halloween in Fish Creek with costume contests, games, trick-or-treating, a costume parade, mask making, and plenty of family-friendly Halloween fun throughout the village.
Egg Harbor Sweater Weather
November 13–14, 2026 • Egg Harbor
Kick off the cozy season with shopping, treats, giveaways, and local prizes as participating Egg Harbor businesses welcome visitors for a festive pre-holiday weekend.
Holly Days
November 27–28, 2026 • Egg Harbor
Celebrate the holiday season with children’s activities, an Elf Hunt, horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling, visits with Santa, and an old-fashioned Christmas tree lighting.
Capture the Spirit
November 27–28, 2026 • Sister Bay
Welcome the holiday season in Sister Bay with a festive community celebration filled with seasonal activities and small-town holiday spirit.
Christkindlmarkt Door County
November 27–29, December 4–6 & December 11–13, 2026 • Sister Bay
Experience a European-style outdoor Christmas market featuring artisan goods, northern European foods, holiday music, and seasonal festivities at the Sister Bay Historical Society’s Corner of the Past Museum.
Merry-Time Festival of Trees
November–December 2026 • Sturgeon Bay
Stroll through the Door County Maritime Museum transformed into a holiday wonderland of Christmas trees, wreaths, and festive displays decorated by local businesses, organizations, and residents.
Hometown Holiday
December 5, 2026 • Fish Creek
Celebrate the holidays in Fish Creek with Santa, seasonal activities, holiday treats, caroling, and the community Christmas tree lighting at Noble Square.
Christmas in the Village
December 5, 2026 • Ephraim
Enjoy an old-fashioned Door County Christmas with Santa, holiday crafts and snacks, horse-drawn wagon rides, open houses, and the lighting of the village Christmas tree at Harborside Park.
New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop
December 31, 2026 • Door County
Ring in the New Year with one of Door County’s signature celebrations as a giant illuminated cherry descends at midnight to welcome 2027.
Egg Harbor New Year’s Day Parade
January 1, 2027 • Egg Harbor
Start the year with one of Door County’s quirky winter traditions as locals and visitors gather along the village streets for Egg Harbor’s annual New Year’s Day Parade.
Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge
January 1, 2027 • Jacksonport
Welcome the New Year with hundreds of adventurous swimmers who brave the icy waters of Lake Michigan at Lakeside Park during this longstanding Door County tradition.
Winter Wellness Weekend
January 15–17, 2027 • Sister Bay
Start the new year with a restorative winter weekend in Sister Bay focused on wellness, relaxation, and embracing Door County’s quieter season.
Ground Hog Day Parade
February 2, 2027 • Ellison Bay
Celebrate Groundhog Day Door County-style with a lighthearted winter parade through downtown Ellison Bay.
Fish Creek Winterfest
February 6, 2027 • Fish Creek
Embrace the heart of winter with games and activities, live music, food and drinks, a chili cook-off, raffles, and the offbeat traditions that have made Winterfest a Fish Creek favorite.
Fire & Ice Festival
February 13, 2027 • Sturgeon Bay
See downtown Sturgeon Bay come alive with winter festivities highlighted by artists transforming blocks of snow and ice into elaborate sculptures and works of art.