Ringing in the new year in Door County? Here are six things to do

Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette
·12 min read

DOOR COUNTY - A gigantic cherry, lots of people getting cold and wet, and a parade are among the ways Door County is helping residents and visitors say goodbye to 2022 and welcome 2023.

As always, the Peninsula plays host to a number of unique and special events, indoors and out, both Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 as well as during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

So, to go along with your dinner out with loved ones, New Year's Eve parties, champagne, TV show binge-watching and football, here's a quick look at a few highlights of the last holiday weekend of the year.

Drop that 300-pound cherry!

Sister Bay's relatively new New Year's Eve tradition is back with The Lodge Cherry Drop.

Sponsored by rock radio station FM 106.9 The Lodge and first held in 2017, the annual Dec. 31 event hoists a 300-pound, 6-foot-around, lighted, metal cherry about 120 feet into the air from a crane outside The Garage at Husby’s Food and Spirits, 10641 N. Bay Shore Drive.

Crowds wait with anticipation as the 6-foot, brightly lit cherry descends from more than 100 feet in the air to bring in the new year at the stroke of midnight during last year's The Lodge Cherry Drop in Sister Bay. The giant cherry is back again for its annual Dec. 31 descent, along with fireworks, fresh beer, music and outdoor activities.
Crowds wait with anticipation as the 6-foot, brightly lit cherry descends from more than 100 feet in the air to bring in the new year at the stroke of midnight during last year's The Lodge Cherry Drop in Sister Bay. The giant cherry is back again for its annual Dec. 31 descent, along with fireworks, fresh beer, music and outdoor activities.

Then, at 10 seconds to midnight, the giant cherry will descend to the ground with a countdown to bring in the new year, like the giant ball that drops in Times Square in New York. The radio station will have its deejays playing party music live from the site starting at 10:30 p.m., which of course will be broadcast on the station.

And, just after the cherry hits the ground (figuratively speaking) and the calendar has turned to 2023, Bridge Up Brewing from Sturgeon Bay will tap a firkin of a stout beer they made especially for the Cherry Drop and pour the first beers of the new year at The Garage. From photos posted on Bridge Up's Facebook page, it seems the new brew likely will have maple and cocoa involved in its taste profile.

For more on the Cherry Drop, call 920-854-3400 or visit the "fm 106.9 The Lodge" Facebook page.

And, there's more happening in Sister Bay on New Year's Eve to ring out 2022 and ring in the new year.

The county's only New Year's Eve fireworks show, sponsored by the Sister Bay Advancement Association, is at 8 p.m. over the ice rink at the Sister Bay Sports Complex, off Mill Road at 2124 Autumn Court. Holiday light displays throughout the village and at the beach and Waterfront Park, including the community's tunnel of lights, will be in full glow. The Sports Complex will have a bonfire and be open for ice skating (both weather permitting), and village restaurants and bars will offer special menus and other specials before and after the fireworks.

For more information, call 920-854-2812 or visit sisterbay.com.

Beverages by trolley

People can sample alcoholic beverages while touring the Peninsula with a designated trolley driver through a variety of New Year's Eve tours offered by Door County Trolley.

The trolley's Wine, Spirits and Brew Tour, departing at 10 a.m. and lasting almost five hours, features tastings at a county winery, distillery and microbrewery. The four-hour Cocktail Tour that starts at 11 a.m. allows riders to have an adult beverage at three Door County establishments. Both tours include a chef-inspired lunch and dessert. The trolley also holds a Winter Wine Tour and Sleigh Ride on Dec. 31, but that is sold out.

All tours depart from the Door County Trolley Station, 8030 State 42, Egg Harbor. Cost of the Wine, Spirits and Brew Tour or Cocktail Tour is $84.95; both are for ages 21 and older only. Reservations are strongly recommended for these and all Door County Trolley tours, which frequently sell out. Alternate pickup and dropoff sites are available for an additional cost.

For reservations or more information, call 920-868-1100 or visit doorcountytrolley.com.

Walking off 2022

For a peaceful, back-to-nature way to bid farewell to the old year, several Wisconsin State Parks and Door County nature preserves offer hikes during the holiday week, including on New Year's Eve and Day. In all cases, hikers should dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear for the conditions.

The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor is hosting Holiday Luminary Walks from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 26 to 30. Visitors can stroll between the luminarias softly lighting the third-mile-long, 8-foot-wide, accessible Hidden Brook Boardwalk that starts outside the Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center and passes through ridges, swales and its namesake brook.

The nature center at The Ridges is at 8166 State 57, Baileys Harbor. Cost to use the trails is $5 for adults, free for members. For more information, call 920-839-2802 or visit ridgessanctuary.org.

Hikers stroll along the Hidden Brook Boardwalk during a Holiday Luminary Walk at The Ridges Sanctuary. The Baileys Harbor nature preserve is holding these walks on its accessible boardwalk from Dec. 26 to 30.
Hikers stroll along the Hidden Brook Boardwalk during a Holiday Luminary Walk at The Ridges Sanctuary. The Baileys Harbor nature preserve is holding these walks on its accessible boardwalk from Dec. 26 to 30.

Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay holds its “Sunset in the Old Year Hike” on Dec. 31. The free guided hike starts at 3:45 p.m. heads out from the parking lot at 2041 Michigan St., over the Utah Street Bridge to the estuary at Crossroads’ The Cove Preserve to watch the sun set on 2022. A one-hour hike also will be held at 2 p.m. New Year’s Day. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

Crossroads is located just east of the roundabout on State 42/57, Sturgeon Bay. For schedule updates and more information, call 920-746-5895 or visit crossroadsatbigcreek.org.

Also, a number of Wisconsin state parks hold First Day Hikes for walkers and snowshoers, conditions permitting, on Jan. 1, including Peninsula State Park between Fish Creek and Ephraim, Whitefish Dunes near Jacksonport and Newport near Ellison Bay.

Peninsula's guided First Day Hike will set off from its recently renovated White Cedar Nature Center. It is expected to last about 30 minutes, but the park has plenty of trails for those who want to hike longer. The nature center will be open for hikers to warm up before or after the hike, an outdoor fire pit will be blazing, and hot beverages will be available.

Whitefish Dunes will host a self-guided hike with no specific start or end time, according to the Wisconsin DNR website, but its picnic shelter will be open from 10 a.m. to noon with a warming fire and refreshments available inside. If enough snow has fallen, cross-country ski trails (classic stride only) will be available on groomed trails.

The First Day Hike at Newport is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m., covering about 1.2 miles on its Fern Trail. The hike will take a little more than an hour, and a bonfire, refreshments and games will be available at the shelter at Parking Lot 3. Hikers can park in Lot 3 for the start and should bring walking poles; snowshoes or Yaktrax cleats are allowed if conditions warrant.

Plus, trails will be open at Potawatomi State Park as well as county parks.

A vehicle sticker is required to enter state parks. Hikes may be canceled because of weather conditions. For more information, call Peninsula State Park at 920-868-3258, Whitefish Dunes at 920-823-2400, Newport at 920-854-2500, or visit dnr.wi.gov/events.

Holiday shows

Door County's well-known theater scene is taking part in holiday festivities with two companies staging holiday shows.

Northern Sky Theater will present its traditional "Home for the Holidays" show between Christmas and New Year's Eve, but with a slight twist this year. It'll still be a cheerful, warm evening filled with holiday humor and holiday songs, but it'll be performed by Northern Sky artistic director Jeff Herbst and recording artist Katie Dahl in a reprise of their popular "The Jeff & Katie Show" online series. Joining Jeff and Katie are guest artists Claudia Russell and Colin Welford.

"Home for the Holidays" shows are scheduled for 4 p.m. Dec. 27 to 31 in the Gould Theater on Northern Sky's Creative Center, 9508 County A, just south of County F, Fish Creek. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 students and $15 for ages 12 and younger; all seats are reserved. Guests can gather around an outdoor fire ring after shows, and bakery and refreshments will be available. Face masking currently is optional in the theater.

For tickets or more information, call 920-854-6117 or visit northernskytheater.com.

Also, Third Avenue Playworks in downtown Sturgeon Bay gives people the chance to experience an old-fashioned holiday in December with its production of "A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play."

Just like its title says, it's a 1940s-style radio play version of the Charles Dickens holiday classic, with five actors playing a total of about 40 roles, live musical accompaniment, a foley artist to provide live sound effects, and live 1940s-style radio ads. Written by Joe Landry, this show has been produced by theaters across the country.

"A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play" runs through Dec. 31 at Third Avenue PlayWorks, 239 N. Third Ave., Sturgeon Bay. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 and 22, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23, and 7:30 p.m. Dec 27 to 31. Tickets are $35 for ages 36 to 64, $25 ages 19 to 35, $29.75 (15% discount) for ages 65 and older and veterans, and $20 students. For tickets or more information, call 920-743-1760 or visit thirdavenueplayworks.org.

Cold, wet − and fun

Need something to snap you out of it the morning after New Year's Eve? Door County plays host to two polar plunges − participants run into the icy waters surrounding the Peninsula in swimsuits or little clothing, then run back out pretty quickly − on Jan. 1, and people can take part or watch and cheer from the sidelines.

One of these plunges is one of the largest, best-known and longest-running in the country, the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club's 36th annual New Year's Day dip into Lake Michigan. The other is the annual Polar Plunge at Waterfront Mary's Bar & Grill,

One of these plunges is one of the largest, best-known and longest-running in the country, the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club's 36th annual New Year's Day dip into Lake Michigan. The other is the annual Polar Plunge at Waterfront Mary's Bar & Grill in Sturgeon Bay.

New Year's Day revelers run into a frigid Lake Michigan at Lakeside Park in Jacksonport during a past annual polar plunge sponsored by the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club. Hundreds are expected to take part in the 36th annual swim Jan. 1.
New Year's Day revelers run into a frigid Lake Michigan at Lakeside Park in Jacksonport during a past annual polar plunge sponsored by the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club. Hundreds are expected to take part in the 36th annual swim Jan. 1.

The Jacksonport plunge has grown from just one "swimmer" — 14-year-old J.R. Jarosh, running into the lake to settle a losing bet with his father in 1986 — to three in 1989, to the hundreds nowadays who are expected to take part, along with hundreds of spectators cheering them on. The peak was an estimated 900 swimmers in 2010, and more than 500 people from 18 states as well as Spain and Hungary raced into the lake last year. Over the years, they've come from 43 states and 13 foreign countries. The plunge also was a focal point of the 2009 movie "Feed the Fish," filmed mostly in Door County and starring Tony Shalhoub.

Those thinking about taking part who haven't before should visit the club website, which has an "Tips and Forms" page. The required liability release for swimmers is downloadable from the site, which will save time if filled out in advance. Costumes are not required for participants but certainly are encouraged. While swimmers need to be careful of the temperatures in the water and out, the Jacksonport Fire Department does what it can to make sure they remain unharmed.

Registration and festivities begin at Lakeside Park at 10:30 a.m., with food and beverages served starting at about 11, all leading up to the 10-second countdown just before noon to send the swimmers into the water. A variety of Jacksonport Polar Bear Club merchandise, including T-shirts, hoodies and other items, will be available for purchase at the registration pavilion and online. Certificates of achievement will be available to all swimmers when they register.

The Jacksonport Polar Bear Club Plunge takes place promptly at noon Jan. 1 at Lakeside Park, State 57 in Jacksonport. Registration will be held in the park shelter closest to the lake. No charge is required to participate.

For more information, visit jacksonportpolarbearclub.com or the "Jacksonport Polar Bear Club Ltd" Facebook page.

Also at noon Jan. 1, Waterfront Mary's will have swimmers run into the channel cutting through Sturgeon Bay at noon for its annual Polar Plunge. Participants get a free T-shirt, and the event also offers loaded bloody Marys and hot cocoa, with proceeds benefiting the Southern Door Fire Department.

Waterfront Mary's is at Beach Harbor Resort, 3662 N. Duluth Ave. For more information, call 920-743-3690 or visit waterfrontmarysbarandgrill.com or the "Waterfront Mary's Bar & Grill" Facebook page.

Watch a parade, or march in it

It's not your typical Jan. 1 parade, but instead a quirky parade with local flavor that anyone can march in, when the village of Egg Harbor and the Egg Harbor Business Association hold its 44th annual New Year’s Day Parade at 1 p.m. Jan. 1.

To participate, dress up, bring your pets, decorate an old car, motorcycle or any piece of heavy construction equipment — the only limit is one's ingenuity and practicality — and line up at Stella Maris Parish, 7170 State 42. Registration is not required and the parade will take place regardless of weather.

The parade route runs north through the village on State 42, starting at Harbor School Road and marching to County E. Parking is available on Church Street.

For more information, call 920-868-3717 or visit eggharbordoorcounty.org.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

MORE: Door County's Northern Sky Theater announces shows for 2023 season

MORE: Noel Coward, tap-dance musical, madcap Sherlock and more in Peninsula Players' 2023 season

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Six events that can help ring in the new year in Door County