There are so many holiday-related things to do in December 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. There are over 30 different events listed below! (Mostly in chronological order within the different “sections”.) Now you get the easy part…deciding which events to enjoy with your family!
Theatrical & Musical Performances
Festival of Christmas (presented by the SNC Music Dept)
Dec 2 at 7:30PM
St Norbert College: Walter Theatre
Cost: $13 or $20 per ticket
For tickets, visit tickets.snc.edu
Brass & Organ Christmas Spectacular (presented by SNC Music Dept)
Dec 3 at 7:30PM
St Norbert Abbey Church (1016 N Broadway, De Pere)
Cost: FREE
A Christmas Story (presented by Evergreen Theatre Young Actors)
Dec 9-10 & 15-17 at 7:30PM and Dec 11 & 17 at 2PM
St Norbert College Hall of Fine Arts: Webb Theatre
Cost: $18 per ticket
For tickets, visit tickets.snc.edu
Holiday Pops (presented by Dudley Birder Chorale)
Dec 9 at 7:30PM and Dec 10 at at 2:30PM
Weidner Center
Cost: $8-$53 per ticket
For tickets, visit ticketstaronline.com
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Dec 12 at 7:30PM
Weidner Center
Cost: tickets start at $25 each
For tickets, visit ticketstaronline.com
Christmas with the Knights
Dec 16-17 & 19-20 at 7:30PM and Dec 17 at 2PM
St Norbert College: Dudley Birder Hall
Cost: $9 or $19 per ticket
For tickets, visit tickets.snc.edu
Allouez Village Band: “Generations of Joy”
Dec 19 at 7PM
Green Bay West High School
Cost: 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
Dec 1 & 2 from 4-7PM, December 3 from 2-7PM
Cost: 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, a model train exhibit and photos with Santa (every Fri-Sun before Christmas).
Dec 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23 and 26-30 from 5-9
Cost: Walking Tour $9 Ages 13+, $5 Kids 3-12, Kids 2 & under FREE OR Horse-Drawn Wagon Tour $14 Ages 13+, $10 Kids 3-12, Kids 2 & under FREE
Cookies & Coloring with Santa
Join Santa for Cookies & Coloring at Santa’s Winter Wonderland in Bay Park Square Mall. In addition, Mischief & Magic will be face-painting and blowing up balloons.
Dec 3 from 9-11AM
Cost: FREE
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 Only Shop. For the Children 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 7) the museum is open until 8PM and there is FREE admission for all Brown County Residents from 5-8PM. To find specific dates and hours for Bruce the Spruce and the Children Only Shop, click here. (Bruce the Spruce is typically from 12-2PM with the Children Only Shop from 12-3PM.)
Dec 3, 7, 10, 17 & 21: Bruce the Spruce & Children Only Shop
Dec 31, Jan 4, 7 & 14: Bruce the Spruce only
Dec 3- Jan 14, 2016: Holiday Displays Tue-Sat 9AM-5PM & Sun 12-5PM
Cost: $7 adults 16+, $3 kids 6-15, kids 5 & under FREE
Santa & Bruce the Spruce
Visit Santa and Bruce the Spruce at The Children’s Museum!
Dec 3, 7 & 10 from 10AM-12PM
Cost: Museum Admission $8 per person (kids 15 months & under FREE)
Winter Wonderland
Visit downtown De Pere for the holidays! Winter Wonderland will present open house festivities at over 20 specialty shops and businesses. Visitors can take a free ride on a horse-drawn carriage around historic downtown De Pere. Children can have fun participating in a Find Frosty scavenger hunt, meet Santa and Mrs Claus at Santa’s House at White Pillars, write letters to Santa at the Kress Library and send their wish lists to the North Pole in a special mailbox at Starry Realty. There will be caroling, a camp fire with s’mores, and plenty of hot chocolate, cider and cookies for everyone. Creative craft projects and convenient shopping with special offers and great in-store discounts will be featured. Attendees may even see Frosty strolling the streets.
Dec 3 from 1PM-4PM
Cost: FREE
Festival of Lights
Enjoy this special and FREE family event at Lambeau Field Atrium with cookie decorating, holiday movies and cartoons, holiday card making, photo opps with Santa and area high school choirs performing holiday music. At 6:30PM the event will move out onto Harlan Plaza for the formal lighting of the Christmas Tree. (Optional: Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots for a less fortunate child this holiday season.)
Dec 3 from 5-7PM
Cost: FREE
Caring Santa
Kids with special needs are invited to visit Santa in a subdued and welcoming environment at Bay Park Square Mall.
Dec 4 from 8:30-10AM
Cost: Santa visits are FREE, there is a cost for photos
Storytime with Mrs Claus: let’s go mommy playdate
In 2016 let’s go mommy sponsored one FREE playdate per month at a different location in the Green Bay area. Our last host for 2016 is Bay Park Square Mall! On Tuesday, 12/6 you can enjoy a storytime with Mrs Claus with your littles along with a craft from 10-11. Event will take place in the play area. (Feel free to stay and play in the play area or shop afterwards.)
Dec 6 10AM-11AM
Cost: If you are a Facebook friend of let’s go mommy you are invited and it is FREE
Santa Fest
Younkers at Bay Park Square Mall will be hosting this fun, shopping event where kids can visit Santa for free, enter for a chance to win some prizes, enjoy free hot chocolate and make a holiday craft. The celebration will take place in the kids’ department where children can take “Selfies with Santa”(bring your camera or smartphone!). Parents can save 30% on their entire kids’ apparel and accessories purchases at Younkers the entire day.
Dec 3 & 10 from 11AM-3PM
Cost: FREE
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. Mark your calendars for this July to call and reserve your tickets for 2017! However, if you didn’t get Polar Express tickets, there are still two fun holiday events happening at the Railroad Museum you could try, which are listed below: Festival of Trees and Holidays on the Rails.
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 anytime until Jan 8th to see their display of beautifully decorated trees housed among the majestic trains. Plus, enjoy discounted admission during this special event!
Dec 1-Jan 8: Mon-Sat 9AM-5PM & Sun 11AM-5PM.
Cost: $5 per person
NOTE: Check museum website for hours before visiting as some dates may have adjusted hours due to Polar Express. Museum will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Holidays on the Rails
This special program features fun activities and crafts, cookie decorating, a train ride, and a visit with Santa at the National Railroad Museum! Holidays on the Rails is open to the public and school groups. This program is designed for children pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Dec 5-10 from 9AM-2PM
Cost: $5 per person, 2 & under FREE
The Best Who-Liday
Walk into the pages of the Dr. Seuss classic holiday tale at the Children’s Museum. This pre-registered snack and story time hour will include snack making and Who-ville activities and a visit with Cindy Loo and the Grinch himself! Pre-register/purchase tickets here.
Dec 10 from 9-10AM
Cost: $10 each (non-members)
A Dickens of a Christmas
Take a step back in time with the Brown County Historical Society! Visit the Hazelwood Historic House and see it decorated in Victorian Christmas Splendor, visit with characters from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, play classic Victorian parlor games and much more!
Dec 10-11 & 17-18; Saturdays from 12-4PM & 5-8PM and Sundays 12-4PM
Cost: Adults 18+ $5, Kids 5-17 $3, Kids 4 & under FREE
The Spirit of Christmas Past
Come celebrate Christmas with the sounds of the seasons from a variety of local musicians performing throughout the day. Come in from the cold for some hot chocolate and cheesecake, or lend a helping hand in the historic kitchens as they prepare Christmas meals. Learn about the development of Christmas, when it became an American tradition and how it would have been celebrated during different periods of Wisconsin’s early history. Warm up near the fire as you listen to Christmas stories that were written over a 100 years ago. Kids can make a Christmas craft as a keepsake or to give as a present. Meet Old World Santa for a treat and take a family photo with him. See the beauty of the many Christmas trees donated from local tree farms and decorated by groups from the community.
Dec 10 & 17 from 12-6PM at Heritage Hill State Historical Park
Cost: Adults 16+ $11, Kids 4-15 $8, Kids 3 & under FREE
Best Christmas Pageant Ever*
Enjoy this classic and funny story of the true meaning of Christmas on-stage at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Green Bay. Doors open at 5:30 and it is general admission/open seating. Play begins at 6 and is 1.25 hours long with no intermission.
Dec 10 & 11 at 6PM
Cost: FREE
Living Nativity
Enjoy seeing a living nativity at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Green Bay! The church yard will be alive with shepherds, wise men, Mary, Joseph, livestock and the Christ child. There will be repeated performances at 5:30, 6:00 & 6:30. Homemade soup, bread and desserts will be served. Freewill offerings will be accepted. There will be a collection of nutritious non-perishable food items for Manna for Life.
Dec 14 from 5:30-7:00PM
Cost: FREE
Santa in the Park
Santa Claus is coming to Bellevue! Boys and girls will get the opportunity to meet Santa, have their picture taken and participate in a fun, holiday craft. Bring your camera for a very unique photo opportunity. This is an outdoor event at Josten Park (2280 Town Hall Rd), so dress accordingly! Event is from 6-7:30 and line will stop forming at 7PM.
Dec 15 from 6-7:30PM
Cost: 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 and decoration of your own gingerbread forest! Event sells out quickly and pre-registration is required by calling 920-432-4397 or click here.
Dec 3 at 9AM
Cost: $15 per person (non-members)
Breakfast with Pup Patrol at Hagemeister Park
Meet the characters and take photos in the complimentary photo-booth, decorate cookies and enjoy a pancake breakfast at Hagemeister Park. Breakfast menu of pancakes, eggs, potatoes and sausage will be served.
Dec 4 at 8AM & 10AM
Cost: $15 per person (ages 1 & 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 at the NEW Zoo. Activities & animal encounters for kids and families from 10-3. Horse drawn wagon rides through the forest from 9-4 ($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 10 from 9AM-4PM
Cost: Zoo Admission $7 (adults 16-61), $5 (kids 3-15); Breakfast $6 adults, $4 kids
Breakfast with Santa at Gather On Broadway
Enjoy a breakfast of reindeer cakes with toppings, sausage, made-to-order omelets, hot chocolate bar and other assorted breakfast items and then do holiday arts and crafts and games, cookie decorating, story time with Mrs. Claus and photos with Santa. First seating will be from 9-10:15, second seating will be from 10:45-noon.
Dec 11 at 9AM & 10:45AM
Cost: $25 per person ages 13+, $10 per child ages 3-12, kids 2 & 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. Make your reservations at Hagemeister Park by calling 920-884-9909.
Dec 18 from 9AM-2PM
Cost: $15 per person ages 13+, $9 per child ages 5-12, kids 4 & under FREE
Happy Feet Flick N Float
Come splash into the fun-filled “Under The Sea” Movie Series at the Kroc Aquatics Center! We’ll turn down the lights and fire up the big screen to watch a great family movie, Happy Feet, while you float, swim or play in the pool!
Dec 30 at 6:30PM
Cost: Adults $5, Kids $3, Ages 3 & under FREE (Members FREE)
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters’ one-of-a-kind show is unrivaled in the world of family entertainment, showcasing some of the greatest athletes on the planet. With incredible ball handling wizardry, amazing rim-rattling dunks and trick shots, side-splitting comedy and unequaled on-court fan interaction, this must-see event is guaranteed to entertain the whole family – creating memories that will last a lifetime! After the game, Globetrotter stars remain on the court for autographs and photographs with fans.
Dec 30 at 7PM
Cost: $20-52 per person
Kid’s Rockin Eve
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with your littles at The Children’s Museum in the afternoon with hourly ball drops.
Dec 31 from 10AM-3PM
Cost: $8 per person (kids 15 months & under FREE)
US Bank Eve
Ring in the New Year as a family with tons of fun activities at the Neville Public Museum, Central Library and YMCA. More details coming soon!
Dec 31 starting at 3PM
Cost: FREE
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Kick off the New Year with a “bang” with fireworks in downtown Green Bay.
Dec 31 at 9PM
Cost: FREE
NOTE: All information is as accurate as possible as of the first publish date on 11/30/16. If you find any information to be incorrect or know of any events that are not listed but should be, please contact lindy@letsgomommy.com. Events with * indicate those that were added after first publication on 11/30/16.
