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Great holiday festivals

In November and December, check out Santa, Scrooge and shopping markets.

As soon as the leaves have fallen and cold winds start to blow, the holidays get under way. This is the season for craft fairs, theme feasts and Christmas parades.

Here are some of the best holiday festivals in 2011.

For holiday feasts, see Indulging at the holidays.

For tours of decorated mansions, see Homes for the holidays.

Second weekend in November

Holiday Parade in Oshkosh, WI Look for floats, marching bands and, of course, Santa Claus. 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10.

Holiday Parade in Racine, WI It's got marching bands plus real reindeer, costumed characters and carolers. 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12.

Winter Art Festival in Madison, WI Art Fair Off the Square presents its winter edition in Monona Terrace, with 140 fine artists from around Wisconsin. Nov. 12–13.

Third weekend in November

Christmas by the Bay in Sturgeon Bay, WI Festivities start with a tree lighting Friday night. A parade is 10 a.m. Saturday, and there's free trolley and wagon rides plus visits with Santa and his reindeer. On Sunday, there's a folk art fair. Nov. 18–20.

Christmas City of the North Parade in Duluth, MN There will be marching bands, floats and Santa, starting on Canal Park at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18.

Festive Friday Eves in Cedarburg, WI Five Christmas celebrations, each with a different theme, at Cedar Creek Settlement, a restored 1864 woolen mill in this historic village just north of Milwaukee. Each features live holiday music, crafts, luminaries, wine-tasting and cookies and cider. Nov. 18.

Holiday Hop & Parade in Mayville, WI In this town on the Horicon Marsh, there's a 6 p.m. parade followed by fireworks, plus wine tasting, chili, music and Santa. Nov. 18.

Christmas Light Parade in Baraboo, WI The parade includes live reindeer, horses, marching bands and floats. See Santa at the Al Ringling Theatre afterward for photos and treats. Nov. 19.

Holiday Inn Tour in Lanesboro, MN In the B&B Capital of Minnesota, tour six inns Saturday and another six inns Sunday, $20 for one day or $35 for both. Nov. 19–20.

Fourth weekend in November

Parade of Lights in New Ulm, MN The parade in this German town in the Minnesota River Valley follows Minnesota Street downtown. 6 p.m. Nov. 25.

Festive Friday Eves in Cedarburg, WI Five Christmas celebrations, each with a different theme, at Cedar Creek Settlement, a restored 1864 woolen mill in this historic village just north of Milwaukee. Each features live holiday music, crafts, luminaries, wine-tasting and cookies and cider. Nov. 25.

Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, MN This procession of lighted fairy-tale figures is a staple on Nicollet Mall downtown. It's free, but if you want to sit on heated bleachers under a tent and drink cocoa, you can buy $9 tickets on-line.  It's at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 25–27.

Holly Days in Egg Harbor, WI This Door County village offers horse-drawn wagon rides, a children's elf hunt and mistle dough contest and caroling. Nov. 25–26.

Sinterklaas Day in Pella, IA In this Dutch town, the man in the red suit arrives in a wooden ship, wears a bishop's miter and has a Moorish servant as helper. A parade is followed by a party at the Opera House. Nov. 26.

First weekend of December

Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, MN This procession of lighted fairy-tale figures is a staple on Nicollet Mall downtown. It's free, but if you want to sit on heated bleachers under a tent and drink cocoa, you can buy $9 tickets on-line.  It's at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1–4.

Christmas Walk & House Tour in Geneva, IL In this northwest Illinois town, Santa Lucia arrives in a horse-drawn carriage at 6 p.m. Friday and hands out Swedish cookies, then Santa lights the Great Tree and opens his Gingerbread House. There's shopping amid strolling carolers. A tour of five houses is Friday and Saturday, $28-$30. Dec. 2–3.

Fine Arts and Crafts Faire in Menomonie, WI Fifty artisans will sell their wares at the Mabel Tainter, an 1890 auditorium with an ornate interior decorated for the holidays. Downtown shops hold holiday open houses. Dec. 2–3.

Holiday shopping fairs in Cedarburg, WI It's a big weekend in this historic village just north of Milwaukee: There's the Christmas in the Country arts and crafts show at Cedar Creek Settlement, Friday-Sunday; and Holiday Art Fair at the Cedarburg Community Center Friday-Saturday. Dec. 2–4.

Festive Friday Eves in Cedarburg, WI Five Christmas celebrations, each with a different theme, at Cedar Creek Settlement, a restored 1864 woolen mill in this historic village just north of Milwaukee. Each features live holiday music, crafts, luminaries, wine-tasting and cookies and cider. Dec. 2.

Christkindl Festival in Black River Falls, WI A candlelight procession and tree lighting start this traditional German market fair. There's also live reindeer, a baby camel, horse-drawn wagon rides, music and a Christkindl Night of Lights Parade. Dec. 2–3.

Dickens of a Christmas in Ripon, WI This Victorian-themed festival includes Living Windows in downtown shops Friday evening, a Tour of Homes Saturday, wagon rides, an Enchanted Forest of decorated trees and a gingerbread-house contest. Dec. 2–4.

Weihnachtsfest in Biwabik, MN This town, near Giants Ridge ski resort, offers a Bavarian-themed festival with Iron Range ethnic specialties, caroling, crafts, horse-drawn trolley rides and fireworks. Dec. 3.

Grand Meander in St. Paul, MN On Grand Avenue, lined by small shops and restaurants, there will be carolers, reindeer, free fire-truck rides for kids, soup tasting, free samples and treats, a juried art fair at Ramsey Junior High and a trolley to get from place to place. Dec. 3.

Stockholm Country Christmas in Stockholm, WI This bluff-side village on Lake Pepin celebrates with sleigh rides, wassail, Santa and carolers. On Saturday evening, there's a concert. Dec. 3–4.

A Heritage Hill Christmas in Green Bay, WI At this large complex of frontier buildings, listen to choirs, make orange pomanders, learn 19th-century dances, visit with St. Nick and go on a horse-drawn wagon ride. Dec. 3.

Country Christmas in Spring Green, WI There's a holiday craft fair, quilt show, horse-drawn carriage rides, tour of homes and fireworks. Dec. 3.

Folkways of the Holidays in Shakopee, MN The Landing, an 88-acre living-history museum in the Minnesota River Valley, hosts three weekends of horse-drawn trolley rides, tours of 19th-century homes given by costumed interpreters and concerts by folk musicians and ethnic dancers. Santa Claus and live reindeer appear Dec. 17. Dec. 3–4.

Norwegian Christmas Weekend in Decorah, IA In the northeast Iowa bluffs, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum will have Scandinavian food, theater, music, folk-art demonstrations, singing around the Jule tree and appearances by Julenisse and Julebukker. Dec. 3–4.

Spirit of Christmas Past in Eagle, WI At this fun event at Old World Wisconsin, a complex of pioneer homesteads next to Kettle Moraine State Forest west of Milwaukee, you'll meet Father Christmas, stroll from historic houses to shops, sample ethnic foods and make old-fashioned crafts. Admission is $5, and if there's enough snow, sleigh rides are $3 per person. Reserve early for the Holiday Dinner, which has an Austrian theme this year. Dec. 3–4.

Second weekend of December

Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, MN This procession of lighted fairy-tale figures is a staple on Nicollet Mall downtown. It's free, but if you want to sit on heated bleachers under a tent and drink cocoa, you can buy $9 tickets on-line.  It's at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8–11.

Winter Walk in Northfield, MN See Santa, Frosty and Rudolph along with carolers, musicians, puppeteers, dancers and magicians. Or go on a wagon ride and get your picture taken with the James-Younger Gang. Dec. 8.

Ice Festival in Sandstone, MN There are ice-climbing and winter camping clinics, a chili cook-off, door prizes, a Friday-night beer tasting, door prizes and use of demo gear in Sandstone Ice Park. Dec. 9–11.

Festive Friday Eves in Cedarburg, WI Five Christmas celebrations, each with a different theme, at Cedar Creek Settlement, a restored 1864 woolen mill in this historic village just north of Milwaukee. Each features live holiday music, crafts, luminaries, wine-tasting and cookies and cider. Dec. 9.

A Heritage Hill Christmas in Green Bay, WI At this large complex of frontier buildings, listen to choirs, make orange pomanders, learn 19th-century dances, visit with St. Nick and go on a horse-drawn wagon ride. Dec. 10.

Santa's Arrival in Bayfield, WI In this town on Lake Superior, Santa arrives on the Madeline Island ferry with Mrs. Claus, and kids get a goody bag. Dec. 10.

Prairie Christmas in Des Moines, IA At Living History Farms, take a horse-drawn wagon to an old-fashioned holiday social with music, games, tree-trimming and a taffy pull. Dec. 10.

Folkways of the Holidays in Shakopee, MN The Landing, an 88-acre living-history museum in the Minnesota River Valley, hosts three weekends of horse-drawn trolley rides, tours of 19th-century homes given by costumed interpreters and concerts by folk musicians and ethnic dancers. Santa Claus and live reindeer appear Dec. 17. Dec. 10–11.

Spirit of Christmas Past in Eagle, WI At this fun event at Old World Wisconsin, a complex of pioneer homesteads next to Kettle Moraine State Forest west of Milwaukee, you'll meet Father Christmas, stroll from historic houses to shops, sample ethnic foods and make old-fashioned crafts. Admission is $5, and if there's enough snow, sleigh rides are $3 per person. Reserve early for the Holiday Dinner, which has an Austrian theme this year. Dec. 10–11.

Third weekend of December

Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, MN This procession of lighted fairy-tale figures is a staple on Nicollet Mall downtown. It's free, but if you want to sit on heated bleachers under a tent and drink cocoa, you can buy $9 tickets on-line.  It's at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15–18.

Festive Friday Eves in Cedarburg, WI Five Christmas celebrations, each with a different theme, at Cedar Creek Settlement, a restored 1864 woolen mill in this historic village just north of Milwaukee. Each features live holiday music, crafts, luminaries, wine-tasting and cookies and cider. Dec. 16.

A Heritage Hill Christmas in Green Bay, WI At this large complex of frontier buildings, listen to choirs, make orange pomanders, learn 19th-century dances, visit with St. Nick and go on a horse-drawn wagon ride. Dec. 17.

Folkways of the Holidays in Shakopee, MN The Landing, an 88-acre living-history museum in the Minnesota River Valley, hosts three weekends of horse-drawn trolley rides, tours of 19th-century homes given by costumed interpreters and concerts by folk musicians and ethnic dancers. Santa Claus and live reindeer appear Dec. 17. Dec. 17–18.

Fourth weekend in December

WinterFest in Milwaukee, WI An indoor festival with skating, rides, a slide, rock walls, snowball throw, sports activities and a giant snow globe at Frontier Airlines Center downtown. Admission is $5-$16. The last evening is Radio Disney's Family Fun New Year's Eve, $10-$15. Dec. 21–31.

Warmer by the Lake in Duluth, MN From 3 p.m. in Bayfront Festival Park, there'll be skating, sleigh rides and a bonfire, with fireworks at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 26.

Carp Fest in Prairie du Chien, WI Help build carp snow sculptures and a giant arts-and-crafts carp, take a whack at a carp pinata, go on a hot-air balloon ride and ski or hike by torchlight in LaRiviere Park. The festival culminates with a laser and pyrotechnics show and the Droppin' of the Carp, a large, frozen Mississippi River rough fish, on New Year's Eve. Dec. 31.

Cheese Drop in Plymouth, WI For the big Cheese Drop in this eastern Wisconsin town, an 80-pound lighted wedge of cheese is dropped 100 feet at midnight. Dec. 31.

U.S. Bank Eve in Madison, WI There's a kids' party at U.S. Bank Plaza and Rick Wilcox's Magic Show, kids' games and a balloon drop at Monona Terrace. There's also fun at the Madison Children's Museum and Olbrich Botanical Gardens. At 10:05 p.m., fireworks go off over Lake Monona. Tickets are $5 for adults, $7 at the door. Kids ages 5-15 pay $3 or $5, and family passes are $12 or $15. Dec. 31.

Cool Fool Kite Festival in Milwaukee, WI In addition to kite-flying, there will be ice sculptures and free hot chocolate, coffee and snacks in the lakefront Veterans Park. Jan. 1.

Frosty Fest in Egg Harbor, WI There's live music, snow sculptures, a fun run and a parade that starts at 1 p.m. Jan. 1.

Last updated on December 12, 2011