COVID-19 won’t stop Sturgeon Bay from celebrating the holiday season, but it is forcing some popular events to be reimagined. This year’s parade will take place at night. Lighted vehicles will wind through downtown on both sides of the canal, with businesses unwrapping their holiday displays as the procession rolls through. Destination Sturgeon Bay Events and Marketing Director Carly Sarkis says that the parade starts at 6:30 on Friday, November 20th, and wraps up at City Hall. The procession’s official soundtrack will be provided by 102.1 More FM. Participants are encouraged to park at Market Square to explore the Third Avenue district on foot and watch the city Christmas tree light up for the first time.
Destination Sturgeon Bay is also reinventing how area children interact with Santa Claus. He’ll be at the parade, but there will be no sitting on his lap this year. Instead, on Saturday, November 21st, Santa will be reading A Door County Night Before Christmas on Facebook Live to kick off a letter-writing campaign. He’ll read the notes he receives during a second Stories with Santa segment in December, says Sarkis.
The full press release is below.
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Christmas is coming early this year to Sturgeon Bay! Destination Sturgeon Bay has reimagined all of their annual Christmas by the Bay events, sponsored by Nicolet National Bank, into COVID-friendly activities for the entire family to enjoy. With some new, some old, and some reimagined, Destination Sturgeon Bay is determined to bring the holiday spirit to Sturgeon Bay this season.
Unwrapping Sturgeon Bay
Bring your family and friends to the Door County Cooperative on Friday, November 20 for our new event ‘Unwrapping Sturgeon Bay’, a community car parade. Community members are encouraged to join Destination Sturgeon Bay and Nicolet National Bank at the Door County Cooperative between 6:00pm and 6:30pm. Destination Sturgeon Bay staff will line cars up for the parade, led by the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department, Police Department, and Santa. Hot Chocolate will be sold and complimentary jingle bells will be given out at this time. Destination Sturgeon Bay will also be partnering with 102.1FM, to add to the ambiance of the night.
Beginning promptly at 6:30pm, Santa will lead the parade throughout Sturgeon Bay. As Santa passes participating businesses, they will unveil their window decorations for the first time. Community members riding in the parade will get to see Sturgeon Bay lit up for the first time this holiday season, including our Christmas trees at the Maritime Museum, Community Foundation Square, and Jefferson Street. This new Christmas tradition begins at the Door County Cooperative, continues right on Green Bay Road to Madison Avenue and over the Michigan Street Bridge. Parade participants will advance down Third Avenue, to Jefferson Street where they will take a right on 4th Avenue, past Nicolet National Bank, and will end at Sturgeon Bay City Hall. Participants are encouraged to park at Market Square and walk the streets of Sturgeon Bay after the parade is over.
Stories with Santa & Letters to Santa
The socially-distanced, holiday fun continues on Saturday, November 21 for Stories with Santa. Tune into the Destination Sturgeon Bay Facebook page at 6pm for a Facebook Live session with Santa as he reads ‘A Door County Night Before Christmas’ and answers questions from guests watching live.
Don’t forget to send your letters to Santa early this year! Beginning Friday, November 20, children are invited to send letters and wish lists to Santa via Santa’s mailbox located outside the Destination Sturgeon Bay Welcome Center, 36 S. Third Avenue. Santa will be back for the second segment of Stories with Santa on Thursday, December 17 to read the letters and answer last-minute questions before he takes off on December 24 to deliver gifts. The second segment of Stories with Santa will begin at 6pm on Thursday, December 17 via Facebook Live.
Moo-La-La
It’s back! One lucky person will win $1,000! Make sure to enter the Moo-La-La Giveaway from November 20-December 13. Destination Sturgeon Bay will draw multiple winners a day (Monday through Friday) from the entry boxes at participating businesses to receive a $25 gift certificate. Entry forms are available at participating businesses. The grand prize drawing is December 15! Check SturgeonBay.net for the list of participating businesses and details on giveaway dates.
For the full line-up of local holiday events, Destination Sturgeon Bay will release their 2020 Christmas by the Bay holiday brochure, available at local businesses and the Destination Sturgeon Bay Welcome Center, beginning Friday, November 20. Additional information can be found at SturgeonBay.net; call (920) 743-6246 or email vacation@sturgeonbay.net.
Happy Holidays from Destination Sturgeon Bay and member businesses! Thank you for spending the holidays in Sturgeon Bay and for shopping locally.
