A Perfect Wisconsin Christmas: Towns to Visit During the 2024 Holidays

A nip in the air. Snow on the ground. A cup of hot cocoa in hand. With the 2024 holidays in Wisconsin right around the corner, it’s time to schedule some seasonal family fun. There’s a lot of events to celebrate Christmas in Wisconsin. Whether you want to take a sleigh ride, a walk through a quaint village, or enjoy a tree-lighting ceremony. As you plan your perfect Wisconsin Christmas, check out our list of towns to visit this holiday season.

Here are the best Christmas events in Wisconsin:

Winter Wonderland in Delafield, Wisconsin

We love the quaint downtown area of Delafield, WI, especially because it’s the hometown of the Kowalske Kitchen & Bath showroom. The local chamber of commerce organizes many events for local residents and families. The holiday season is no exception. If you’ve never been to Delafield, be sure to come visit over the holiday season. 

• Bring your kids to meet Santa and have breakfast with the reindeer
• Some of the highlights of the January Delafreeze event in downtown Delafield include ice sculptures, a giant igloo, snow dogs and hot chocolate. Stop in the warm Kowalske Kitchen & Bath showroom to say hello!

Family Fun in Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva is a great place to spend a weekend any time during the year and Christmas is no exception. Some events to attend include:

• Visit the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa for their annual Christmas in the Country. They have numerous celebrations including breakfast with Santa, a drive-through light show, trolley tours and a mailbox to the North Pole.
• You don’t want to miss the Santa Cruises in Lake Geneva. They have cruises for both families and adults only.

Mistletoe Magic in Madison

Just walking around downtown Madison lit up for the season, doing some shopping, and sipping a warm drink is worth the jaunt to the state’s Capitol. There are many different sights to see and events to experience in Madison during the Christmas season. Here are a few: 

• Take part in a wintry 5K with Run Santa Run at Coopers Tavern in Madison
• Get all your treats and food at the Holiday Market in Madison’s Monona Terrace most Saturdays in December
• Shop homemade items at The Crafty Fair from over 100 vendors
• Take the kids to see ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Overture Center for the Arts
• Get into the holiday spirit by attending A Madison Symphony Christmas

A Classic Milwaukee, Wisconsin Christmas

Most larger cities have a holiday parade and even the smallest towns generally have a tree-lighting ceremony, but what can beat the downtown ambience of Milwaukee? A go-to place for winter enjoyment and holiday fun, the Milwaukee and surrounding suburbs have much to offer. 

• Milwaukee has over 35 ponds and ice rinks ideal for Milwaukee ice skating
• Get in the spirit of the holidays with tickets to Elf the Musical on Broadway.
• Bundle up the family and drive through the festive streets of the iconic Candy Cane Lane
• It wouldn’t be the holidays without seeing The Milwaukee Ballet perform The Nutcracker
• If you or your kids enjoy cycling, sign up for the Santa Cycle Rampage to raise funds for the Bike Fed. This festive ride encourages all participants to dress as Santa, Mrs. Claus, reindeer or elves.

A Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride in Sturtevant

• Enjoy a snowy horse drawn sleigh ride at Apple Holler in Sturtevant through their orchard. Bring blankets, a warm coat and carrots for the horses. If you have younger children, check out their Santa show available throughout the month of December.
• Don’t miss the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train at stops across the state of Wisconsin! The train is decorated with holiday lights and stops to give live concerts and raise money for local food banks.

Wisconsin Christmas in Ozaukee County

• Cedarburg is a quaint village to visit during the holiday season with Festive Friday Eves in the Cedar Creek Settlement.

• Local organizations and businesses will light up for the holidays with Illuminate Ozaukee at Zeunert Park in Cedarburg.

West Coast of Wisconsin

Visit the charming villages of the West Coast of Wisconsin – Bay City, Maiden Rock, Stockholm, Pepin and Nelson in November and December. These villages coordinate a “Grateful and Thankful event” with food, shopping, live music and an outdoor Christmas market.

Holidays in Chippewa Falls 

Christmas Village in Irvine Park brings the season to life with over 60,000 lights in a breath-taking display reminiscent of the Victorian era. This is just one of the Christmas events in Wisconsin that make this area special during the season.

Making Memories in Elkhart Lake

The Elkhart area is known for its holiday charm during Santa season. Listed as one of the top Christmas towns, it offers plenty to do and see this December. Some ideas:

• Go on an adventure of holiday wonder at Enchantment in the Park in Regner Park in West Bend
• Experience an Old World Christmas Market-Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake

Reindeer and More in Ripon, WI 

Ripon is known for bringing the holidays to life with its array of Christmas activities. With unique shops and restaurants, it’s a whimsical place to take the family for the holidays in Wisconsin. Ripon’s Dickens of a Christmas event includes carriage rides, reindeer, Santa and live music.

A Wisconsin Christmas to Remember

Christmas in Wisconsin can be absolutely magical when you know where to visit and how to plan. Start to think about the activities you want to do and bring your holiday dreams to life. With a little planning ahead, you can make your Wisconsin Christmas one to remember this year! Kowalske’s home remodeling experts are here for you year-round.

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