What's going on for the holidays around Fond du Lac? A parade, lights and carriage rides, for starters
FOND DU LAC – Let the snow fall, the festive music play and the cookies bake: it's the holiday season in Fond du Lac.
Here's how Fond du Lac organizations are celebrating in December and where to find photo opportunities with Santa.
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Holiday Light Show kicked off the season in Lakeside Park
The Fond du Lac Noon Rotary Holiday Light Show in Lakeside Park held its first show on Thanksgiving and will play from 5 to 11 p.m. every night through Jan. 1.
Viewers can park in the temporary lot across the street, turn the car's headlights off and tune their radios to 89.1 FM to enjoy the free light show. The 30-minute show repeats throughout the night with a short intermission between each showing.
Christmas Parade of Lights theme is "HoliDazzle"
The KFIZ Parade of Lights will kick off at 4:15 p.m. Saturday on Main Street, traveling from Rees Street south to Veteran's Park.
According to the Facebook event, the theme is "HoliDazzle," and floats entered in the float contest are eligible to win prizes from three categories: Best & Brightest, Fan Favorite and the kids' prize Little Sparkler.
Sample cookies before the parade with the downtown Cookie Walk
Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership will host the Downtown Christmas Cookie Walk from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, inviting walkers to tour downtown and try sample-sized cookies from about 10 businesses.
Tickets are $10 and are available at downtownfdl.com. Check-in runs 10 a.m. to noon at the partnership's office, 131 S. Main St., for participants to get their Cookie Walk map and container.
St. Nicholas Faire transforms cathedral into traditional Christmas market
The Cathedral Church of Saint Paul will host its annual free St. Nicholas Faire from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the cathedral, 51 W. Division St.
The fair will look like a traditional Christmas market, featuring hand-painted ornaments, roasted chestnuts, mulled cider, cookies and other treats. There also will be a silent auction and a shop for gently-used Christmas decorations, as well as a photo opportunity with St. Nicholas with pictures printed on-site.
As always, this year's new cathedral mouse, the Gingerbread Man, will make its first public appearance at the fair. The Mouse Factory will fill orders for this year’s mouse and will offer additional roof and raffle mice.
Lighthouse Big Band will present two opportunities for Christmas music
The Lighthouse Big Band will present two free concerts highlighting holiday favorites at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 20 in the Fountain City Jazz and Dance Club at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, 51 Sheboygan St.
Guest singers will join the band in both concerts with their renditions of Christmas classics.
Festival of Trees at THELMA features decorated tree auction
The Festival of Trees organization will showcase more than 35 decorated trees displayed at THELMA and available for silent auction from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10.
Area individuals, families, organizations and businesses contributed decorated artificial trees for the event, which also includes refreshments, live music and photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus. In addition to the trees, specialty items will be available for bidding. The silent auction benefits Fond du Lac nonprofits.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 4 to 12. Children under the age of 3 get in free.
A formal gala at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 will kick off the auction and give bidders an early option to try for their favorite tree. Mr. & Mrs. Catering will provide hors d’oeuvres, and the cash bar will be open. Additionally, there will be a 50/50 raffle and a ticketed basket raffle.
Admission for the gala is $10. Learn more about both events by visiting thelmaarts.org.
Take a horse and carriage ride through the vineyard at Ziegler Winery
Ziegler Winery invites friends, sweethearts and adult families to take a horse and carriage ride through its vineyard from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 2, 9, and 23 at W3953 Winnebago Heights Road in Malone.
Up to eight people at a time can ride the carriage for a 15- to 20-minute trip through the vineyard, including the new addition to its wine production building, and guests can sip on wine, mulled wine or craft beer as they watch the scenery and listen to the sleigh bells.
The winery also has flatbreads and appetizers available, as well as two indoor fireplaces to warm up next to before or after the rides.
Rides are $15 per person, limited to guests ages 21 and over. Tickets are available through Eventbrite, linked on the winery's website, zieglerwinery.com.
There will be a special family-friendly day from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 17 for those under the age of 21 to participate in the rides, with an addition of hot chocolate to the drink choices.
Friends of Lakeside Park Holiday Open House features newest collectible ornament
Friends of Lakeside Park will host a Holiday Open House from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Lakeside Park Pavilion with free hot cocoa and treats, small business shopping opportunities and an appearance by Santa.
The organization's booth will offer fundraising items, including notecards, mugs, magnets, art prints and other stocking stuffers that feature artwork by Nancy Lichtenwald and Rich Norenberg, as well as Trista Holz's lighthouse pendants and the 2022 collector's ornament depicting the park's train engine.
Local vendors will also set up their ornaments, decorations, candles, cards, candies, sewn and knit items and other handmade crafts.
Where is Santa?
Santa will make various appearances in Fond du Lac before Christmas. Here's where you can get your photo opportunity:
Fond du Lac Public Library's Winter Wonderland, 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at 32 Sheboygan St.
Being Christine 20-minute posed and candid sessions, by appointment Dec. 8 at 27 N. Main St.
Open Road Harley Davidson, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at 24 S. Rolling Meadows Drive.
LaClare Creamery, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 17 at W2994 County HH in Malone.
Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @daphlemke.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac holiday events include parade, carriage rides, market
