Discover the charm and cheer of Appleton this holiday season with our expert guide. For Appleton natives and newcomers alike, our guide illuminates the best of the city's holiday offerings.
Popular events abound during this festive time, starting with the Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade, where vibrant floats and local performances bring the spirit of the season to life. Another highlight is the New Year's Eve Fireworks Display, showcasing a stunning array of colors lighting up the winter sky. And the Fox Cities Holiday Festival promises to enchant visitors with its array of attractions and events designed to celebrate the season. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Appleton
- Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade
- New Year's Eve Fireworks Display
- Winter Fest (Green Bay)
- Fox Cities Holiday Festival (Menasha)
- Holiday Parade of Lights (Fond du Lac)
- Christmas Market
- Holiday Concert Series
- Holiday Ice Skating
- Christmas in the Village (Kimberly)
- Craft Beer Walk (Holiday Edition)
See these and even more events listed below!
Appleton Holiday Light Displays
Fox Cities Holiday Festival
What to Expect:
Custom-designed holiday light displays in a wooded park setting.
Description:
The Fox Cities Festival of Lights is a free family-friendly holiday light display at Darboy Community Park, featuring over 50 custom-designed displays with over 100,000 lights. Visitors can walk through the wooded trails to see a variety of holiday-themed light displays, including replicas of local landmarks. Santa will be available each night except for December 24th and 25th.
Where: Menasha | More Info: Fox Cities Holiday Festival
Holiday Parade of Lights
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday light display with festive floats.
Description:
The KFIZ Christmas Parade of Lights is an annual event held on Main Street in downtown Fond du Lac, featuring festive floats and lights. This year's theme is "Elf Shelf," celebrating the holiday season with community spirit.
Where: Fond du Lac | More Info: Holiday Parade of Lights
Appleton Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Holiday festivities with live music and family activities.
Description:
Downtown Appleton transforms into a vibrant holiday celebration with live music, performances, a treat walk, window scavenger hunt, and family-friendly activities.
Where: Appleton | More Info: Christmas Market
Shop, Sip and Stroll Wine Walk (Holiday Edition)
What to Expect:
Unique shopping and wine experience with special activities and prizes.
Description:
Join an exciting evening of shopping and wine sampling at various Downtown Appleton retailers, featuring special activities and prizes.
Where: Appleton | More Info: Shop, Sip and Stroll Wine Walk (Holiday Edition)
Downtown Appleton Farm Market (Holiday Season)
What to Expect:
Trick-or-treating with vendors and fall-themed activities.
Description:
The Downtown Appleton Farm Market is a vibrant holiday celebration featuring local vendors selling fresh produce, handcrafted items, baked goods, and more. Enjoy trick-or-treating, fall photo stations, and themed activities amidst the bustling market atmosphere.
Where: Appleton | More Info: Downtown Appleton Farm Market (Holiday Season)
Holiday Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Showcase of diverse, locally made products.
Description:
The Holiday Craft Fair at Oshkosh Convention Center features an eclectic collection of handcrafted goods and services from local small businesses. Guests can browse and shop without entry fees, making it an excellent opportunity to support local artisans.
Where: Oshkosh | More Info: Holiday Craft Fair
Appleton Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Largest nighttime Christmas parade in the Midwest.
Description:
The Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade is a spectacular nighttime event featuring colorful floats, decorated vehicles, walking units, animals, and marching bands performing holiday tunes. It begins at the corner of State Street and College Avenue, traveling east on College Avenue to Drew Street.
Where: Appleton | More Info: Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade
Holiday Concert Series
What to Expect:
Live music performances by local bands in a vibrant downtown setting.
Description:
Join us every Thursday evening at Jones Park in Downtown Appleton for a lineup of beloved local bands. Quench your thirst with a selection of adult malt beverages, wine, soda, and water, and tantalize your taste buds with delectable offerings from our delicious local food trucks and vendors.
Where: Appleton | More Info: Holiday Concert Series
Appleton Other Holiday Activities
Soup Walk (Holiday Edition)
What to Expect:
Unique soup tasting experience with multiple participating businesses.
Description:
Stroll through Downtown Appleton and savor samples of delicious soups from participating businesses, featuring a variety of flavors and dietary options.
Where: Appleton | More Info: Soup Walk (Holiday Edition)
Craft Beer Walk (Holiday Edition)
What to Expect:
Unique beer tastings at various downtown venues.
Description:
Embark on a flavorful journey through Downtown Appleton as you explore vibrant breweries, restaurants, and bars. Sample locally crafted beers from each participating venue, each offering two 3 oz. pours of their finest brews, from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts and beyond. All attendees will receive a commemorative Craft Beer Walk pint glass to use for sampling and keep after the event.
Where: Appleton | More Info: Craft Beer Walk (Holiday Edition)
New Year's Eve Fireworks Display
What to Expect:
Parisian-themed countdown and toast.
Description:
Celebrate New Year's Eve with a Parisian twist, counting down to midnight with a toast at 5 PM, then pretending to be in London at 6 PM. Enjoy the festive atmosphere without reservations required.
Where: Appleton | More Info: New Year's Eve Fireworks Display
Winter Fest
What to Expect:
Family-friendly winter activities in downtown Green Bay.
Description:
Winterfest on Broadway is a family-friendly event celebrating the cold and snowy season with activities like horse-drawn carriage rides and ice sculptures.
Where: Green Bay | More Info: Winter Fest
Christmas in the Village
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with local vendors and festive activities.
Description:
Christmas in the Village is a community event featuring holiday decorations, local vendors, and festive activities that bring together residents and visitors to celebrate the season.
Where: Kimberly | More Info: Christmas in the Village
Holiday Ice Skating
What to Expect:
Expert instruction and guidance in a friendly, enthusiastic environment.
Description:
Appleton Ice, Inc. offers a fun and safe environment for ice skating and hockey, with public skate sessions and exciting programs for all ages. The organization is planning capital improvements to enhance the facilities and community.