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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 2013.

For holiday feasts, see Indulging at the holidays.

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

Third weekend in November

Winter Art Fair Off the Square in Madison, WI Art Fair Off the Square presents its winter edition in Monona Terrace, with 140 fine artists from around Wisconsin. Nov. 16–17.

Fourth weekend in November

Winterer's Gathering in Grand Marais, MN There's a tent encampment, winter skills seminars, Arctic film festival and chili feed at the North House Folk School. Nov. 21–24.

Holiday Lights Festival in Milwaukee, WI The season-long lights festival begins with music, tree-lighting and hot chocolate in Red Arrow Park, then moves across the river to Pere Marquette Park for a family fashion show, variety show, fireworks and free tours on the Jingle Bus. Nov. 21.

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. 22.

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. 22–23.

Holiday Art Fair in Madison, WI This event at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Overture Center features fine art, music, treats and the Rediscovered Art & Treasures Sale. Nov. 22–24.

Holiday Parade in Milwaukee, WI It'll have floats, giant helium balloon figures, 20 bands and a live Nativity scene with animals. 9:30 a.m. Nov. 23.

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade in Chicago, IL There will be music and family activities all day on Michigan Avenue, with a lighted parade from Oak Street to Wacker Drive, where fireworks over the Chicago River will follow. Nov. 23.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, MN Tour the retro-cool lighted decorations in Bayfront Festival Park, including a tree that dances to music, Dinosaurland and Penguin Park. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy free popcorn, roasted marshmallows, cookies and hot chocolate. There are fireworks on the last night. Nov. 23–Dec. 28.

Christkindlmarket in Chicago, IL This is the most authentic market, with many German vendors who bring over Old World toys, ornaments and sweets. There's a Children's Lantern Parade and concerts on Wednesdays and weekends. Nov. 26–Dec. 24.

Last weekend in November

Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, MN Tour the retro-cool lighted decorations in Bayfront Festival Park, including a tree that dances to music, Dinosaurland and Penguin Park. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy free popcorn, roasted marshmallows, cookies and hot chocolate. There are fireworks on the last night. Nov. 23–Dec. 28.

Christkindlmarket in Chicago, IL This is the most authentic market, with many German vendors who bring over Old World toys, ornaments and sweets. There's a Children's Lantern Parade and concerts on Wednesdays and weekends. Nov. 26–Dec. 24.

Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, IL It's the 80th anniversary of the parade down State Street in the Loop. 8-11 a.m. Nov. 28.

World-Famous Fish House Parade in Aitkin, MN 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. 29.

Holiday Stroll in Red Wing, MN This Mississippi River town offers horse-drawn carriage rides, roasted chestnuts, prize give-aways, carolers and live penguins and reindeer. There's a lighted parade at 7 p.m. Nov. 29.

First full weekend of December

Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, MN Tour the retro-cool lighted decorations in Bayfront Festival Park, including a tree that dances to music, Dinosaurland and Penguin Park. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy free popcorn, roasted marshmallows, cookies and hot chocolate. There are fireworks on the last night. Nov. 23–Dec. 28.

Christkindlmarket in Chicago, IL This is the most authentic market, with many German vendors who bring over Old World toys, ornaments and sweets. There's a Children's Lantern Parade and concerts on Wednesdays and weekends. Nov. 26–Dec. 24.

Christmas in the Ward in Milwaukee, WI Festivities in the rejuvenated Third Ward near downtown start with tree lighting and a performance by Trinity Irish Dancers, followed by 6:15 p.m. fireworks, carriage rides, carolers, reindeer, street entertainers and a cookie sale. Dec. 6–7.

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, $30. Dec. 6–7.

Prelude to Christmas in Amana, IA 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. 6–8.

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. Dec. 7–8.

Second weekend of December

Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, MN Tour the retro-cool lighted decorations in Bayfront Festival Park, including a tree that dances to music, Dinosaurland and Penguin Park. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy free popcorn, roasted marshmallows, cookies and hot chocolate. There are fireworks on the last night. Nov. 23–Dec. 28.

Christkindlmarket in Chicago, IL This is the most authentic market, with many German vendors who bring over Old World toys, ornaments and sweets. There's a Children's Lantern Parade and concerts on Wednesdays and weekends. Nov. 26–Dec. 24.

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. Dec. 14–15.

Third weekend in December

Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, MN Tour the retro-cool lighted decorations in Bayfront Festival Park, including a tree that dances to music, Dinosaurland and Penguin Park. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy free popcorn, roasted marshmallows, cookies and hot chocolate. There are fireworks on the last night. Nov. 23–Dec. 28.

Christkindlmarket in Chicago, IL This is the most authentic market, with many German vendors who bring over Old World toys, ornaments and sweets. There's a Children's Lantern Parade and concerts on Wednesdays and weekends. Nov. 26–Dec. 24.

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. Dec. 19–31.

Fourth weekend in December/New Year's

Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, MN Tour the retro-cool lighted decorations in Bayfront Festival Park, including a tree that dances to music, Dinosaurland and Penguin Park. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy free popcorn, roasted marshmallows, cookies and hot chocolate. There are fireworks on the last night. Nov. 23–Dec. 28.

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. Dec. 19–31.

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.

Cherry Ball Drop in Traverse City, MI In this town on Grand Traverse Bay, there's music from 9 p.m., a visit from the Coast Guard and a large illuminated cherry dropping 115 feet at midnight. Dec. 31.

Last updated on April 16, 2013