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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 of 2009.

Second weekend in November

Holiday Parade in Oshkosh, Wis. Look for floats, marching bands and, of course, Santa Claus. 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12.

Holiday Parade in Racine, Wis. It's got marching bands plus real reindeer, costumed characters and carolers. 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14.

Third weekend in November

Holiday Parade in Milwaukee. It'll have floats, giant helium balloon figures, 20 bands and a live Nativity scene with animals. 9:30 a.m. Nov. 21.

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade in Chicago. There's music and family activities all day on Michigan Avenue, with a lighted parade at 6 p.m. from Wacker Drive to Oak Street. Nov. 21.

Christmas City of the North Parade in Duluth. It goes from Canal Park through downtown. 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20.

Holiday Parade in Green Bay, Wis. It's downtown around the courthouse. 10 a.m. Nov. 21.

Around Wisconsin, parades also will be in Stevens Point, Columbus, Baraboo, Grafton, Waukesha and other towns.

Holiday Folk Fair International in Milwaukee. Fifty-three ethnic groups are represented with music, dance, food and crafts, plus a Revolutionary War encampment and a 5K run and walk. At the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center in West Allis. Nov. 20-22.

Winterer's Gathering in Grand Marais, Minn. Tent encampment, winter skills seminars, film festival and chili feed at the North House Folk School. Nov. 19-22.

Holiday Open House in Lanesboro, Minn. There's tax-free shopping at Cornucopia Art Center, seed-mosaic art projects for kids, a marshmallow roast, holiday tea and B&B tour Sunday. Nov. 20-22.

Fourth weekend in November

Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis. 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. Thursdays through Sundays Nov. 27-Dec. 20.

Sinterklaas Dayin Pella, Iowa. In this Dutch town, the man in the red suit (pictured) arrives in a wooden ship, wears a bishop's miter and has a Moorish servant as helper. A parade is at 10 a.m., followed by a party at the Opera House. Nov. 28.

World-Famous Fish House Parade in Aitkin, Minn. The goofier the float, the better in this north-woods town, 12 miles from the north shore of Mille Lacs. There's music, food and a craft sale before and after the 1 p.m. parade. Nov. 27.

Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago. It's the 76th anniversary of the parade down State Street in the Loop. 8-11 a.m. Nov. 26.

Holiday Stroll in Red Wing, Minn. This Mississippi River town offers horse-drawn carriage rides, roasted chestnuts, prize give-aways, carolers and a 6 p.m. lighted parade, followed by a lighting ceremony at 6:45 p.m. and fireworks at 7 p.m. Nov. 27.

Parade of Lights in New Ulm, Minn. The parade in this German town in the Minnesota River Valley follows Minnesota Street downtown. 6 p.m. Nov. 27.

Christkindlmarkets in Chicago; Excelsior, Minn.; Frankenmuth, Mich.; and Monroe and Elkhart Lake, Wis.: See 5 great/Christmas markets.

First weekend of December

Norwegian Christmas Weekend in Decorah, Iowa. 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. 5-6.

Christmas in the Ward in Milwaukee. Festivities in the rejuvenated Third Ward near downtown start with tree lighting and fireworks at dusk Friday and continue with the Trinity Irish Dancers, carriage rides, carolers, street entertainers and a cookie sale. Dec. 4-5.

Grand Meander in St. Paul. 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. 5.

Prelude to Christmas in Amana, Iowa. In this formerly communal village in eastern Iowa, visit the decorated Tannenbaum Forest, go on a cookie walk, buy at the craft bazaar, get free admission to the Amana Heritage Museum, visit reindeer and go on the Christmas Haus Tour. Dec. 4-6.

Holiday shopping fairs in Cedarburg, Wis. 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, Dec. 4-6; Holiday Art Fair at the Cedarburg Community Center, Dec. 4-5; and Winter in the Garden Holiday Show at the Cedarburg Cultural Center, Dec. 4-5.

Christmas by the Bay in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. At 10 a.m. Saturday, a parade features Santa and the University of Wisconsin marching band; it's followed by children’s activities, hayrides, trolley rides and a Holiday Homes Tour. On Sunday afternoon, there's the Bed & Breakfast Walk. Dec. 5-6.

Jack Frost Festival of Lights Parade in Ironwood, Mich. 6 p.m. Dec. 4.

Garland City of the North Christmas Parade in Ashland, Wis. 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5.

Great Electric Children's Christmas Parade in Lake Geneva, Wis. 5 p.m. Dec. 5.

Bridge to Wonderland Parade in Chippewa Falls, Wis. 6 p.m. Dec. 5.

Christmas Walk & House Tour in Geneva, Ill. 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. 4-5.

Fine Arts and Crafts Faire in Menomonie, Wis. 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. 4-5. 

Weihnachtsfest in Biwabik, Minn. 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. 5.

Second weekend of December

A Heritage Hill Christmas in Green Bay, Wis. 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. 12 and 19.

Christmas Tree Ship Celebration in Manitowoc, Wis. In this town on Lake Michigan, Santa arrives on a tugboat at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, where admission is free for the day. There's caroling, crafts and a bake sale. Dec. 12.

Santa's Arrival in Bayfield, Wis. In this town on Lake Superior, Santa arrives on the Madeline Island ferry with Mrs. Claus, and kids get a goody bag and a free lunch. Dec. 12.

Ice Fest in Sandstone, Minn. There are ice-climbing clinics, a chili cook-off, door prizes, a Friday-night beer tasting, door prizes and use of demo gear in Sandstone Ice Park. Tickets are $10. Dec. 11-13.

Last updated on February 13, 2010