Big Event Blog: Santa Claus is coming to town
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What are your plans this weekend? Get into the holiday spirit with Christmas parades in Elkhorn, Lake Geneva, Sharon, Whitewater and Palmyra; browse an artisan market for gifts in Burlington; or experience a 19th-century Christmas in Eagle.
The Aurora Lakeland Medical Center Volunteers host the 29th annual Love Lite Program, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. in the main entrance lobby of the hospital at W 3985 County Highway NN, Elkhorn. Celebrate with seasonal music and after the lighting, refreshments will be served. Participate by a donation to purchase a light in honor or remembrance of someone special in your life, and, new this year, your favorite pet. A special blue bulb in honor of service men or women is also available. 262-741-2747.
Victorian Christmas Evening, Dec. 4, downtown Sharon. Step back to the 1800s with local street characters, roasted chestnuts, non-motorized parade. 262-736-1250, SharonWIChamberOfCommerce.com
Festival of Lights kick-off ceremony, Dec. 4 with a holiday story time and tree lighting ceremony with Santa in Flat Iron Park. There will be a plethora of in-store events. Downtown Lake Geneva, 262-729-9872
Elkhorn tree lighting, Dec. 4, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Watch Santa light the tree on the square, and then go to the library to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. 262-723-5788
Christmas Parade of Lights, Dec. 4, downtown Whitewater, DowntownWhitewater.com
First Friday Art Preview, Dec. 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Brick Street Market, 104 E. Walworth Ave., No. 101, Delavan. Enjoy art, wine and cheese. 262-740-1880, BrickStreetMarket.com
33rd annual Christmas Card Town parade, Dec. 5, at 1:30 p.m., downtown Elkhorn. 262-723-5788
Palmyra's Christmas Parade, Dec. 5 beginning at 5 p.m. on Main Street with tree lighting to follow at the Museum on 112 N. Third St., Palmyra. 262-495-8775, VillageOfPalmyra.com
Yuletide Artisan Market, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with gift ideas from local artisans, Burlington Garden Center, 5205 Mormon Road, Burlington. RSVP to 262-763-2153
Christmas event and sale, Dec. 5: cookies, decorations, handmade Christmas cards, Christmas baskets, gifts, accessories. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. James United Methodist Church, 2945 Main Street, East Troy.
UW-Whitewater play, Dec. 1-5, “Radium Girls,” DW Gregory's play about the true story of the women employed by the U.S. Radium Corporation in the 1920s will be performed Dec. 1-5 at 7:30 pm in Barnett Theatre located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts, UW-Whitewater, Whitewater. Tickets are available in person at the Greenhill Center box office, by phone at 262-472-2222 or online at tickets.uww.edu.
Seventh annual Freeze for Life Fundraiser, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gage Marine and Pier 290 Restaurant. Participants are asked to get sponsorship pledges from businesses, family, friends and fans. The minimum donation to participate in Freeze for Life is $50. Co-sponsors Gage Marine and The Boat House Group will provide boats, skis, tubes, boards and dry suits, although many participants bring their own equipment. For more information, go to freeze4life.com or on Facebook at Freeze for Life. Registration and liability waivers are available online or at the event.
Victorian Christmas Party, Dec. 5, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission for all at the Geneva Lake Museum, 255 Mill St., Lake Geneva. Decorated trees, cookies, games, arts and crafts and music. 262-248-6060, GenevaLakeMuseum.org
Eighth annual Cookie walk, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until sold out, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 715 Wisconsin St., Lake Geneva. Available will a variety of Swedish, German, and other old family recipes. There will also be packaged nuts for holiday giving, main level of the church.
Earthcare Suri Alpacas Holiday Open House, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy touring the farm, holiday treats and specials in our Farm store. New this year, 6 cria, baby alpacas, will be romping in the pasture. Earthcare Suri Alpacas, 146 N. Honey Lake Road, Burlington, 262-210-2080
40th annual Great Electric Christmas Parade, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. downtown Lake Geneva on Broad and Main streets. A holiday tradition; stroll through town following the parade for holiday shopping and dining specials. 262-248-4416, LakeGenevaWI.com
11th annual Union Grove Holiday Craft Fair, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with arts, crafts, gifts, live music, refreshments, cookie walk and visits with Santa. Held at the Elementary School, 1745 Milldrum Ave., Union Grove. 262-891-3477
VFW Pancake Breakfast, Dec. 5, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Elkhorn Middle School cafeteria. Plus bake sale. 262-723-4979
Elkhorn's annual Reindeer Run, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon, held just prior to the parade at Sunset Park, 200 Devendorf St., Elkhorn. 262-741-5114
Holiday Cookie sale, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. till sold out, First Congregational Church, 76 S. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn. 262-723-3246
Christmas in downtown Lake Geneva, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Santa, his Elves, and live reindeer at Starbucks, east end of town. Sit on Santa's lap with your wish list and see his Reindeer up close and personal. Bring your own camera for free photos or purchase a professional photo. Stores will be offering a multitude of Christmas shopping deals. 262-729-9872
“Nutcracker Ballerinas!” program, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., families and children of all ages are invited to the program Dancers from Toe to Toe Ballet School of Elkhorn, Wisconsin will perform scenes from their upcoming performance of The Nutcracker. The ballerinas will wear extra special costumes while they dance in the Library's Smith Meeting Room. After the performance, audience members will meet the ballerinas themselves. Photos are encouraged, and the audience is encouraged to come dressed in their own dance costumes. Books and DVDs about dance and The Nutcracker will be displayed and available for checkout.
Old World Foundation's Scottish Holiday Dinner, Dec. 5-6, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Celebrate traditions and customs of Scottish settlers. Old World Wisconsin, W372S9727 Highway 67, Eagle. 262-594-2922, FriendsOWW.org
Christmas Express trains run Dec. 5-6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the Kenosha Garden Railroad Club setting up toy train tracks in the Burlington Garden Center greenhouses, 5205 Mormon Road, Burlington. The trains run every weekend through Dec. 20. 262-763-2153
Old World Holiday breakfast, Dec. 5-6, Dec 12-13, Enjoy a hearty holiday buffet in our big, red Clausing Barn. Old World Wisconsin, W372S9727 Highway 67, Eagle. 262-594-6301, WisconsinHistory.org
Christmas Tree Walk and Bazaar, Dec 5-6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., sponsored by the Walworth County Historical Society, at Heritage Hall, 103 East Rockwell St., Elkhorn. The free event showcases Christmas trees, which have been decorated by Walworth County businesses and organizations. Christmas items will be available for purchase. Refreshments will be served.
An Old World Christmas, Dec. 5-6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 19th-century celebration of Christmas tales and holiday customs, featuring Old World storytelling, live performances by holiday characters from our immigrant past, free horse-drawn bobsled rides (or wagon rides, if there's no snow on the ground), caroling and hymn singing, food sampling from cherished recipes, and more activities that capture the merriment of the season. The 1880s village will be trimmed for the holidays, and wood-fired stoves and bonfires will beckon with the promise of warmth and good cheer. Be sure to meet the 19th-century Santa for your one-of-a-kind holiday photo. They'll even fire up the Finnish sauna for this very special event. 262-594-6301, WisconsinHistory.org
Christmas Express Train, Dec. 5-6, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 19-20, Ride the rails for a half hour from the East Troy Depot, 2002 Church St. in East Troy, to Santa's workshop located at the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago. Children can visit Santa and get a photo taken. Reservations at 262-642-3263 or online at EastTroyRR.org.
Christmas Concert, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., United Methodist Church, 122 N. Fifth St., Palmyra. 262-495-8775, VillageOfPalmyra.com
Yuletide Artisan Market, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with gift ideas from local artisans, Burlington Garden Center, 5205 Mormon Road, Burlington. RSVP to 262-763-2153
Chapel on the Hill fundraiser for their food pantry, Dec. 6, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with entertainment by John Ludy Puleo, crooning tunes made famous by Frank Sinatra, in celebration of Sinatra's 100th birthday. The dinner will be served in the wheel-chair accessible parish hall. Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com or go to ChapelOnTheHill.net. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Chapel on the Hill is located 4 miles west of Lake Geneva, on Highway 50 at Cisco Road, across from the Geneva Ridge Resort. 262.245.9122.