While many of us are relishing in autumn's last hurrah this weekend with Halloween on a Saturday, Sister Bay is already thinking of winter holidays, and drawing visitors back to the Village after the leaves fall.
The Sister Bay Historical Society announced the dates for its sixth annual Christkindlmarkt, or Christmas market, scheduled to take place on three weekends in November and December: Nov. 27–29, Dec. 4–6, and Dec. 11–13.
Christkindlmarkt events are held worldwide, especially in northern Europe, where they originated in the 13th Century. Christkindlmarkt Door County vendors set up in small huts and historic buildings at the Sister Bay Historical Society’s Corner of the Past Museum on the outskirts of the Village of Sister Bay. The event is limited to 50 arts and crafts vendors, and there's a wide variety to browse, says SBHS spokesperson Lisa O'Hern.
Door County’s popular Christkindlmarkt showcases vendors selling handcrafted, mainly locally-made goods, plus food booths selling traditional German and Nordic street food and drinks. The first five Christkindlmarkt Door County events (2021-2025) drew more than 10,000 visitors each year, according to event organizers, benefitting not only the Historical Society, but also northern Door County businesses.
In honor of the Christmas movie “A Cherry Pie Christmas,” partially filmed on the Christkindlmarkt property, the Sister Bay Historical Society will be offering “Cherry Pie in a Cup”, host a pop-up baked goods and holiday ornament sale, in addition to selling the organizations Glühwein - hot mulled red wine - with the offer to purchase a collectible Glühwein mug designed by Sarah Koehler, a Door County artist based in Ephraim. And a local brewery has crafted a special Winter Ale for the Markt.
Kids’ can decorate and personalize a holiday ornament or write a letter to Santa Claus on printed stationery. Sister Bay’s USPS office has a special mailbox for letters to Santa.
Live Christmas music at this year’s market will be performed outdoors by both Gibraltar School band and choir students, and professional carolers.
Corner of the Past Museum is located at the corner of Fieldcrest Rd. and Hwy 57 in Sister Bay (10310 Fieldcrest Rd.). Attendee parking is at nearby Sister Bay locations; throughout the event, buses will ferry attendees to and from these nearby parking lots. Paid parking available adjacent to Markt grounds.
For all the details, visit the Door County Christmas Market website.
