As the fall colors are in full effect here in Door County, and the Halloween season has everyone making the most of the cooler temperatures and earlier twilights, we’re turning our focus to the impending holiday season. In particular, we can’t wait for the return of the Door County Christkindlmarkt.
You can learn more below about the history of this tradition and how it found its way to Door County a few years ago. We also cover the fall colors and Halloween events going on in Door County in the coming days. Fall is here and the holidays are coming soon!
Door County’s Unique Take on A Centuries-Old Tradition
The tradition of Christkindlmarkts dates back to Germany’s Reformation period, when Protestant reformers created these “Christ Child markets” as a celebration during Advent. Dresden’s Striezelmarkt, first held in 1434, was one of the first true Christmas markets, and the tradition has been bringing joy to European communities for centuries.
German immigrants carried Christmas market celebrations to the United States, and a resurgence of popularity in recent years has resulted in many more across the country. One of the first was Chicago’s Christkindlmarket, first appearing in Pioneer Court in 1996 and then moving to its current home at Daly Plaza, attracting more than 1 million visitors each year.
You can read more about some other interesting Christmas markets below. Door County adds our unique Nordic and Scandinavian heritage to the Christkindlmarkt tradition, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that has grown each year. The official Door County Christkindlmarkt website provides all the information and updates you’ll need to plan your trip, but Open Hearth Lodge is here to help! Contact us to plan your Christmas getaway!
These 6 U.S. Christmas markets feel like a fairy tale
Fall Colors: Now!
We’re not going to recommend irresponsibility, but ditching work and heading to Door County right now is an option. Just sayin’. We have rooms available! If you can’t make it, Wisco Lens has provided a virtual option with their scenic drive video, shot just a few days ago.
A tip from the locals: Don’t think the show is over once leaves start to fall! In fact, some of our favorite autumn moments happen in the weeks after peak color, when those brilliant leaves blanket our hiking trails in rich shades of amber and red. It’s a different kind of beauty—one that crunches underfoot and frames the forest floor in warm, fading hues. There’s still time to book your scenic getaway.
Fall Colors in Door County: A Scenic Drive from Sturgeon Bay to Peninsula State Park
Spooky Season in Door County
With Halloween just days away, and Door County communities are preparing for a weekend filled with family-friendly frights and festive fun! Fish Creek’s charming Jack O’Lantern Days festival features a costume parade, town-wide trick-or-treating, mask-making, live owl shows, a costume contest, and a haunted trail at Fish Creek Park. Sturgeon Bay’s Thrills & Chills includes a kids’ costume parade, inflatable activities and music at Martin Park, trick-or-treating along waterfront businesses, and a haunted house at the Boys & Girls Club of Door County.
Baileys Harbor hosts its Spooktacular at the Town Hall with games, crafts, snacks, a haunted house, Pumpkin Putt-Putt, and a Halloween movie. These Halloween-themed festivals are a perfect way for families to experience Door County’s quieter, calmer autumn atmosphere while enjoying spooky seasonal fun. Make Open Hearth Lodge your base for a Halloween weekend filled with treats, not tricks!
2025 Door County Halloween Events
One More Thing: Let’s Go Bowling!
Indulge your nostalgia with this tour of vintage bowling alleys, including Sister Bay Bowl.
Tour Showcases Vintage Bowling Spots