25 things to do in Wisconsin during the holidays
The turkey has been trimmed. Now it's the tree's turn.
Wisconsin provides plenty of opportunities to get in the holiday spirit, from light displays to sleigh rides. Here are 25 ideas for exploring the state this holiday season.
1. Cut down a natural Christmas tree. Most state and national forests in northern Wisconsin allow visitors to cut down a tree for personal use. Get a $5 permit at a ranger station in the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest or the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, don some blaze orange and grab a saw for a Griswold-style adventure in the forest.
2. Milwaukee's Santa Cycle Rampage is a fun two-wheeled take on the Santa run. Thousands of Santas take part in the family friendly ride which changed its route in 2021. The new 12-mile loop travels from the Wisconsin Bike Fed's office, 187 E. Becher St., up to Cafe Hollander, 2608 N. Downer Ave., then back to the Bike Fed. Cyclists are welcome to join or leave at any point in the ride, but it officially kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Bike Fed office. Even if you're not actually riding, watching that many Santas ride bikes through downtown Milwaukee is a sight to behold. Registration is $24 for adults, $44 for two adults, or $5 for a child at wisconsinbikefed.org.
3. The Ridges Sanctuary lights its boardwalks with luminaries during a free Natural Christmas celebration from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 10. The nature preserve will also have holiday crafts, live music, hot cider and marshmallow roasting around a campfire.
4. Live reindeer make regular appearances at holiday parades and festivals around the state, and many of those come from Reindeer Games out of Erin. The farm posts where they'll be on their Facebook page, so you can find a reindeer appearance every weekend through Christmas.
5. Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride with Roden Barnyard in Cedarburg. The half-hour rides travel through light displays in the woods around the ranch and are offered throughout December. Tickets are $49 for adults and $29 for children ages 3 to 13. Reservations are required at rodenbarnyard.com/sleigh-rides.
6. Cave of the Mounds is filled with the echoing sounds of Christmas carols around the holidays, plus with a constant year-round temperature of 55 degrees, the cave is most likely warmer than being outside in December. The Caroling in the Cave series features performances from a capella groups on Dec. 2 and 3; proceeds benefit local charities. Tickets start at $20 at caveofthemounds.com.
7. Walk through a holiday lights display. The WPS Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens features botanical-themed displays, plus a campfire to warm up around. Enchantment in the Park in West Bend's Regner Park offers walk, drive and carriage-ride options; so does Rotary Winter Wonderland at Marshfield's Wildwood Zoo. Thousands of lights illuminate the Henry Vilas Zoo during Zoo Lights, which also has a holiday market.
8. See holiday lights by boat. Lake Geneva Cruise Line's Santa Cruise takes visitors past light displays on the shore. Tours aboard heated boats depart from the Gage Marina/Pier 290 Restaurant in Williams Bay daily from the day after Thanksgiving through Dec. 30 (no tours Dec. 24-25). Regular tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors (65 and older), $12 for kids (4-17) and free for children age 3 and under. Prime dates are $30 for adults, $28 for seniors (65 and older) and $18 for kids.
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9. Old World Wisconsin's Crossroads Village gets decked out for the holidays during Home for the Holidays Dec. 3-4 and 10-11. Visitors to the living history museum can see how early Wisconsin settlers celebrated the holidays, from traditional carols and wassail punch to horse-drawn bobsled rides. Tickets must be purchased in advance. They $19.99 for adults, $13.99 for kids (5-12) and free for kids 4 and under. Some activities have an additional cost.
10. Take a Christmas train ride with the East Troy Electric Railroad. The ride travels from the depot in East Troy to the Elegant Farmer, where kids can visit with Santa and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. Day and night trips are offered on weekends in December.
11. Large-scale model trains wind their way through poinsettias and evergreens at Olbrich Botanical Garden's "Holiday Express," on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Dec. 3-31 (closed at 2 p.m. Dec. 24 and all day Dec. 25). Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for kids age 6 and older.
12. The Old Rittenhouse Inn's Wassail Dinner Concerts are a Christmas staple in Bayfield. Three-course lunches and five-course dinners are accompanied by performances from the Rittenhouse Singers and holiday decorations around the historic Victorian home. The concerts are offered Dec. 3-18; lunch is $65 and dinner is $95. You don't have to stay at the Inn to enjoy the meals, but they often sell out in advance.
13. It's a progressive dinner, without any of the cooking or cleaning that comes with hosting. Door County's White Gull Inn and Thorp House Inn host a "movable feast" on weekends in December and the first weekend in January. The weekend kicks off with a wine and hors d’oeuvre reception at each inn on Friday. Saturday brings hors d’oeuvres, champagne and live music at the Thorp House followed by a four-course dinner at the White Gull Inn (with horse-drawn wagons providing transportation between the two). The dinners are only open to guests of the inns.
14. Travel by trolley to two wineries in Door County, then enjoy a sleigh ride and a fireside lunch at the English Inn during a Winter Wine Tour from Door County Trolley. The five-hour tour is offered on Saturdays, December through March. Tickets start at $84.95.
15. Cristo Rey Ranch's Live Christmas Nativity features actors and live animals re-enacting the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. The performances are held in a heated barn on the Mount Calvary ranch the second weekend in December. Advance tickets are required and are only available by calling (920) 753-1053.
16. You'll be dreaming of a "White Christmas" at The Fireside, where showgoers are treated to a meal before the show. The production is on stage through Dec. 23; tickets start at $79.25.
17. "The Nutcracker" comes to life inside the historic Paine Art Center and Gardens during Nutcracker in the Castle. Take a guided tour of the mansion, decked out to resemble the holiday classic. Self-guided candlelight tours make the display even more special; take one from 5-8 p.m. Sunday or 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. Tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for youth (ages 5-17).
18. Old World Christmas markets are good places to find unique, hand-crafted gifts. Try the Old World Christmas Market at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 3-12. Admission is $7 for adults and free for kids 14 and under when accompanied by an adult.
19. Get a dose of warmth inside at Milwaukee's Domes. See the Holiday Floral Show, "Calm & Bright," Nov. 19-Jan. 1. Admission is $7 for Milwaukee County residents; $5 for seniors, people with disabilities, students (with ID) and kids (6-17); and free for kids 5 and under.
20. See House on the Rock decked out in thousands of Santas during the holidays. More holiday decorations and Christmas songs add to the festive experience. The display is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, Nov. 17-Jan. 1. Admission is $27.95 for adults, $25.95 for seniors (65 and older), $15.95 for kids (7-17) and $2.95 for kids age 6 and under.
21. Welcome Santa to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum during the Christmas Tree Ship Day Dec. 3. The free event features make-and-take crafts, games, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and tours of the USS Cobia submarine.
22. Send your Christmas cards from Rudolph. The cancellation stamp at the post office in this little Wood County village features the famous red-nosed reindeer. Rudolph's Country Christmas celebration the second Saturday in December includes craft vendors, horse-drawn wagon rides and a 5K run/walk.
23. Take a candlelight hike at Devil's Lake State Park from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 17, then warm up around a campfire. Meet at the Rock Elm Shelter at the North Shore.
24. Hike on the longest night of the year. Head to the Zillmer Trails in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit (off County Road SS between County Road G and Highway 67 near New Prospect) for a group hike from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 21. The hike is best for families with kids older than 6.
25. Celebrate a Fort Howard Christmas at Heritage Hill State Historical Park. The park will be lighted with lanterns for the Christmas event from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10. Visitors can interact with costumed interpreters, enjoy live music and visit with Old World Santa.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 25 things to do in Wisconsin during the holidays
