By MaryBeth Matzek | Photo by John Oates Photography
Wisconsin’s holiday markets and light shows are guaranteed to put you in a festive spirit. In fact, thanks to its German heritage, the state is home to multiple Christmas markets, also known as “Christkindlmarkets.” With their mix of homemade specialty gift items, holiday items and food, these attractions boast a long history here.
MERRY MARKETS
Paoli’s Christkindlmarket (Dec. 12-14) is spread throughout Seven Acre Dairy Company’s property, including a few outdoor, heated tents plus quaint pop-up trailers and custom-built Belgian chalets situated along the Sugar River. Find local makers as well as other artisan items perfect for gifting. Food and drink is available from food trucks or Seven Acre’s Landmark Creamery & Cafe.
New Glarus embraces its Swiss heritage with its Christkindli Market, featuring locally sourced gifts, holiday decorations and food. This year, the market runs Dec. 5-7. The outdoor market features vendors in decorated mini chalets. There’s also sled and carriage rides, live caroling and a visit from St. Nick himself.
The Old World Christmas Market at The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 5-14. Modeled after the traditional Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremburg, an enormous, heated tent is filled with fragrant boughs and unique items from international and local artisans, including Czech blown-glass ornaments, Russian nesting dolls, German hand-carved nutcrackers, Estonia woolens, fine chocolates and more.
The Door County Christkindlmarkt is organized by the Sister Bay Historical Society and held at the Corner of the Past Museum. The museum grounds are a replica of a pioneer homestead from the late 19th century.
Local artists and craftspeople sell handmade art, crafts, clothing, home goods and Christmas decor, with most coming from northern Door County.
A food court offering German and Nordic offerings, including sausage, pastries, Gluhwein and hot chocolate, is in the Koessl Barn. This year’s free event runs the weekends of Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7 and Dec. 12-14.
TWINKLE ALL THE WAY
Wisconsin is home to dozens of holiday light shows designed to put visitors into the holiday spirit. Depending on the show, revelers can walk or drive through the holiday light displays.
The WPS Garden of Lights at the Green Bay Botanical Garden features more than 350,000 twinkling Christmas lights adorning more than 40 nature-themed holidays.
Attendees walk through the gardens to view the nature-themed light displays, including a 60-foot-long caterpillar tunnel. The light display is open on selected nights from Nov. 28 to Dec. 30, and timed tickets must be purchased in advance.
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival includes four parks with dazzling decorations — Cathedral Square, Pere Marquette Park, Red Arrow Park and Zeidler Union Square. And, each park has its own theme!
There’s also an ornament trail along Wisconsin Avenue featuring larger- than life handcrafted ornaments, glittering chandeliers over Wisconsin Avenue and jolly jingle bell rides. The free festival’s 27th season begins Nov. 20 and runs through Jan. 1.
With more than three million lights, the Rotary Lights display in La Crosse’s Riverside Park is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year. Attendees can drive, walk or take a carriage ride through the park. Santa visits nightly until Dec. 23. The free event is open from Nov. 28-Dec. 31.
The Oshkosh Celebration of Lights is located on the EAA Grounds in Oshkosh and this 1.2-mile event features 750,000 twinkling lights. From their vehicles, guests can see a 100-foot-tall tree, 120 trees filled with lights, sculpted scenes and animated light displays. There’s also wagon rides and visits with Santa at the EAA Air Academy Lodge. This year’s event runs daily from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31. The cost to see the light display is $20 per car.
And a short drive away, Janesville’s stunning Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show is a tradition for many area families (starts Nov. 24).
SHOP SMALL, SHOP LOCAL
Support local and get your seasonal shopping done with unique holiday market gifts! On five upcoming Saturdays (Nov. 15, 22; Dec. 6, 13, 20), shop local produce and handmade goods with a bit of festive flair at the Dane County Farmers’ Market Holiday Market. Avid readers can support the Waunakee Library and snag a sweet treat by attending the library’s Friends of the Library Annual Holiday Craft Fair, Book Sale, Bake Sale, Container Raffle and More (Nov. 22). Kick off Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29 in downtown Sun Prairie with a prize passport for the first 100 shoppers.
Browse gift options that have been ethically and humanely produced at Madison’s 29th Annual Fair Trade Holiday Festival (Dec. 6). Partake in your favorite beverage and beautiful Chazen Museum artwork at the Sip and Shop Holiday Art Market (Dec. 4). Grab your friends for a night of fun and exclusive shopping specials in downtown Sun Prairie at Ladies Night Out (Dec. 11). “Gift To-Go Boxes” are back at the Holiday Art Market at Food Concepts Inc. (Dec. 6-7) in Middleton — and even better — each vendor donates at least 20% of their proceeds to WayForward Resources.
— Katrina Simyab
