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Door County Holiday Season 2026: Thanksgiving to New Year’s

Door County is quiet in winter, and many shops and restaurants keep shorter hours, but the villages on the bay side hold holiday events in late November and early December. This page covers the events we could confirm on Destination Door County’s event pages and the Door County Christmas Market’s own site, read on October 30, 2026. Where a 2026 detail is not published, we say so. Shortlist cottages and cabins on Door County rentals, then book on the property site. For what is open in winter, see Door County things to do.

Quick answer

The Christkindlmarkt in Sister Bay runs three weekends: November 27–29, December 4–6 and December 11–13, 2026. Fish Creek’s Hometown Holiday is Saturday, December 5, from 2 to 8 p.m., with the tree lighting at Noble Square at 5 p.m. Ephraim’s Christmas in the Village is the same day, from 3 to 5 p.m., with Santa lighting the tree at the Harborside Park gazebo at 5. We did not find a dated 2026 New Year’s Eve event on these pages.

The 2026 holiday calendar

Many rentals set their own minimum stay for these nights, and it can differ from the rest of the season. Read the minimum for your exact dates on the booking site, not the general winter rule.

Christkindlmarkt in Sister Bay

The Door County Christmas Market’s hours page lists three weekends in 2026:

The first weekend is Thanksgiving weekend, so it works for a Thanksgiving stay.

Fish Creek Hometown Holiday (December 5)

Destination Door County’s Hometown Holiday page lists Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 2 to 8 p.m. in Fish Creek. Photos with Santa are at the Old Town Hall from 1 to 5 p.m., with a suggested donation. The tree lighting and caroling are at Noble Square at 5 p.m.

Ephraim Christmas in the Village (December 5)

The Christmas in the Village page lists Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m. Santa arrives at Village Hall at 3, with crafts and snacks inside and a horse-drawn wagon ride outside. At 5 he lights the tree at the Harborside Park gazebo. Admission is free. Both tree lightings are at 5 p.m., so pick one.

What to confirm before you pay

FAQ

When is the Door County Christkindlmarkt in 2026?

Three weekends: November 27–29, December 4–6 and December 11–13, 2026, per the market’s hours page. Sundays close at 3 p.m.

When are the Fish Creek and Ephraim tree lightings?

Both are on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5 p.m.: Fish Creek at Noble Square and Ephraim at the Harborside Park gazebo.

Does BnB Search book the stay?

No. Compare on the hub, then finish on the site linked from the listing.

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Sources

Things to do · Winter packing · Rental tips · Cottage guide · Christmas week lake weekends