Green Bay Area Family-Friendly Holiday Events Guide 2015

November 29, 2015

There are so many holiday-related things to do between now and Christmas in the Green Bay area that it would be hard to squeeze it all in! Half the battle is knowing about the events and when they are happening, so let’s go mommy is here to help you with that part. You get the easy part–deciding which events to enjoy with your family!

The Green Bay Holiday Parade
Nov 21 at 10 AM

8-9:45AM: Breakfast with the Minions at Black and Tan (130 E. Walnut St). Tickets include breakfast with the Minions, complimentary photo booth, cookie decorating and VIP seating for the parade. Buy tickets here.
8-11AM: Warming shelters at the YWCA of Green Bay (230 S. Madison St) and St. John the Evangelist (413 St. John St).
9:30AM: Andi & Alex of The Voice and Frank Hermans and Amy Reimer from Let Me Be Frank entertain in front of the Brown County Courthouse.
10AM: Mayor Schmitt counts down to Parade start.
Noon-2PM: Take pictures in the complimentary photo studio with Santa and the Minions, watch Despicable Me 2, ice skate on the CityDeck, enjoy pizza by the slice and free cocoa at Hagemeister Park (325 N. Washington St).

Route starts at Jefferson and Stuart, runs north on Jefferson, west on Cherry and south on Washington. Free parking available in the Pine, Cherry & Main St ramps and on all nearby city streets. For more info, check out downtowngreenbay.com.

Holiday Extravaganza with Bruce the Spruce & Santa
Stop by the Green Bay Children’s Museum for a chance to see the Original Bruce the Spruce and Santa! Also enjoy caroling by cast members of Let Me Be Frank Productions and a story time with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department at noon.
Nov 21 from 11AM-1PM
Cost: $8 each for ages 16 months & up

Theatrical & Musical Performances
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Nov 19 at 7, Nov 20 at 5 & 7, Nov 21 at 1 & 4, Nov 22 at 1 & 4
St Norbert College Hall of Fine Arts: Webb Theatre
Cost: $9 per ticket
For tickets, visit tickets.snc.edu

The Nutcracker Ballet at St Norbert College
Nov 27 & 28 at 7, Nov 28 & 29 at 2
St Norbert College Hall of Fine Arts: Walter Theatre
Cost: $12, $17 or $20 per ticket
For tickets, visit tickets.snc.edu

The Nutcracker Ballet at the Meyer Theatre
Nov 27 at 7, Nov 28 at 1 & 7, Nov 29 at 1
Meyer Theatre
Cost: $17.50, $26.50 or $40 per ticket
For tickets, visit meyertheatre.org

Festival of Christmas from the SNC Music Dept
Dec 4 at 7:30PM
St Norbert College: Walter Theatre
Cost: $13 or $20 per ticket
For tickets, visit tickets.snc.edu

Brass & Organ Christmas Spectacular
Dec 5 at 7:00PM
Saint Norbert Abbey Church
FREE

Miracle on 34th Street
Dec 11-13, 16-19 at 7:30PM (additional shows on Dec 13 & 19 at 2:00PM)
St Norbert College: Webb Theatre
Cost: $18 per ticket
For tickets, visit tickets.snc.edu

Christmas with the Knights
Dec 15-19 at 7:30PM & Dec 19 & 20 at 2:00PM
St Norbert College: Dudley Birder Hall
Cost: $9 or $19 per ticket
For tickets, visit tickets.snc.edu

Allouez Village Band: “Christmas With Our Friends”
Dec 21 at 7PM
Green Bay West High School
FREE

Green Bay Botanical Garden WPS Garden of Lights
The Green Bay Botanical Garden offers the area’s best light display! Walk the trail or ride on a horse-drawn wagon to enjoy a quarter of a million twinkling lights!! Warm yourself outside by the fire while you wait for your ride or after your walk, then venture inside for food, beverages, live entertainment, a model train exhibit and photos with Santa.
Family Night is Nov 29 from 5-9. This special offer is only available at the door: all children ages 12 and under in the same household receive free walking admission with paid adult admission. Cannot be combined with any other offers.
November 27, 28 & 29 and December 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30 from 5-9
Walking Tour: $9 Adults (13 & up), $5 Kids 3-12, Kids 2 & under FREE
Horse-Drawn Wagon Tour: $13 Adults (13 & up), $9 Kids 3-12, Kids 2 & under FREE

Santa’s House*
Visit the White Pillars Museum in De Pere for Santa and Mrs. Claus’ annual visit in December. There will be candy treats for children and cookies for everyone. Parents and grandparents should bring their cameras to record this special moment. Everyone is welcome!
White Pillars Museum: 403 North Broadway in De Pere
December 3 & 4 from 4-7PM, December 5 from 2-7PM
Cost: FREE

Santa Fest*
Younkers will be hosting this fun, one-day shopping event where kids can visit Santa for free and enter for a chance to win various prizes, enjoy free Ghirardelli candy giveaways, candy canes and Keurig brewed hot chocolate while participating in fun activities. The celebration will take place in the kids’ department where children will be able to visit Santa and have their photo taken (parent/guardian to take photo with their own camera or smartphone) and participate in activities including “make your own ornament”, holiday coloring sheets and decorating a postcard. Parents can save 30% on their entire children’s purchases at Younkers the entire day.
December 5 from 11AM-2PM
Cost: FREE

Festival of Lights*
Enjoy this special and FREE family event at Lambeau Field Atrium with music from local choirs, cookie workshop (5-6), tree lighting (6:30), card making workshop, holiday photo opportunities and face painting! (Optional: Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots for a less fortunate child this holiday season.)
December 5 from 5-7PM
Cost: FREE

Holiday Pops*
Enjoy the sounds of the season when the 150-voice DUDLEY BIRDER CHORALE of St. Norbert College joins the 90 voices of the BIRDER STUDIO OF PERFORMING ARTS and the Holiday Pops Orchestra for a musical extravaganza! Thrill to the spirit of the season with lush carols and seasonal pops favorites and maybe even get a visit from Santa! This could be the start of a great tradition for your family during the Christmas season.December 11 at 7:30PM
December 12 at 2:30PM
Cost: Tickets start at $17.50

Polar Express
If you are “in the know” and ordered your Polar Express tickets in July, then you are already aware of the popularity of this unique family event. Currently there are no tickets available for any of the shows. However, they may release some additional tickets soon, so keep checking the National Railroad Museum’s Facebook page for a chance to purchase tickets. Otherwise, mark your calendars for this July to call and reserve your tickets for 2016!

Festival of Trees
If you weren’t able to get tickets for the Polar Express, the next best thing could be visiting the National Railroad Museum between Nov 20 and Jan 3 to see their display of beautifully decorated trees housed among the majestic trains. Plus, enjoy discounted admission of $5 per ticket during this special event!
Museum is open Mon-Sat 9AM-5PM & Sun 11AM-5PM.
NOTE: Check museum website for hours before visiting as some dates may have adjusted hours. Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

A Dickens of a Christmas
Take a step back in time with the Brown County Historical Society! See the Hazelwood Historic House decorated in Victorian Christmas Splendor, visit with characters from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, play classic Victorian parlor games and much more!
Dec 12&19 from 12-4PM at Hazelwood Historic House Museum
Cost: Adults 18+ $7, Kids 5-17 $5, Kids 5 & under FREE

The Spirit of Christmas Past*
Experience an old-fashioned Christmas with horse-drawn wagon rides, historic dancing, cooking, crafts, and music from local musicians. Enjoy the many Christmas trees decorated with natural, homemade, and depression era decorations. See different types of Christmas meals and styles of cooking in Fort Howard and the farm. Visitors will be able to meet and get their picture taken with Old World Santa, frost their own sugar cookie, and purchase s’mores, hot chocolate, and more at the concession stand.
Dec 12 & 19 from 12-6PM at Heritage Hill State Historical Park
Cost: Adults 16+ $11, Kids 4-15 $8, Kids 3 & under FREE

Special Breakfasts
Breakfast with the Gingerbread Man at Green Bay Children’s Museum
Enjoy a pancake breakfast with the Gingerbread Man, special story reading, decoration and your own gingerbread forest! Pre-registration is required by calling 920-432-4397.
Dec 5 at 8AM & 10AM
Cost: $12 each (non-members)

Kiwanis Breakfast with Santa at De Pere Swan Club
Support a wonderful cause while enjoying a homemade breakfast of pancakes and porkies! Santa & Mrs. Claus will be there to take pictures with the kids. There will be areas for kids to make ornaments, decorate cookies and write out their wish lists for Santa.
Dec 6 from 8AM-1PM
Cost: Adults $7.50, Kids 4-12 $4.25, Kids 3 & under FREE

Brunch with Santa at Hagemeister Park*
Enjoy a huge assortment of hot and cold buffet items and a dessert table and get your picture taken with Santa by
J Marshall Photography. Make your reservations at Hagemeister Park by calling 920-884-9909.
Dec 6 from 10AM-2PM
Cost: Adults $15, Kids 5-12 $9, Kids 4 & under FREE

Breakfast with Santa during Holiday Fest at the NEW Zoo
Enjoy an all-you-can-eat Breakfast with Santa from 9 to noon. Activities & animal encounters for kids and families from 10-3. Horse drawn wagon rides through the forest from 1-4 ($2 per person). Santa, Mrs. Claus and Santa’s helper will be in the Mayan Restaurant from 9-4. Zoo admission required in addition to breakfast tickets.
Dec 12 from 9AM-4PM
Cost: Zoo Admission $7 (adults 16-61), $5 (kids 3-15); Breakfast $6 adults, $4 kids

Prange’s Children Only Shop & Bruce the Spruce
Celebrate the holiday season with the Neville! Explore the museum and find your favorite holiday displays from Prange’s like the Snow Babies and the animal band throughout the building. On select dates and times you can talk with Bruce the Spruce or let your kids shop on their own for Christmas presents at the Children’s Only Shop. For the Children’s Only Shop, bring along some money for each child who wants to shop. Gifts are $3 each and kids can spend up to $12 per visit; they will be assisted by an adult shopper to buy gifts for their family or friends. On the first Wednesday of the month (Dec 2) the museum is open until 8PM and there is FREE admission for all Brown County Residents from 5-8PM. To find dates and hours for Bruce the Spruce and the Children’s Only Shop, click here.
Nov 21 – Jan 6, 2016; Tue-Sat 9AM-5PM, Sun 12-5PM
Cost: $5 adults 16+, $3 kids 6-15, kids 5 & under FREE

Getting the Family Christmas Tree

If you are in the market for a real Christmas tree, you will want to visit Whispering Pines Tree Farm in Oconto to get the full, old-fashioned experience! Enjoy train rides out to the field and choose your real Christmas tree from thousands of Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine and White Pine. They will load your Christmas tree on the train and head back to the cozy lodge where you can warm up with a free cup of hot chocolate. There are also many other treats available for purchase including popcorn, hot dogs, candy and cookies. You can visit Santa & enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides at Whispering Pines on Nov 27-29, Dec 5, 6, 12 & 13.