Fond du Lac can't-miss events include several chances to visit with Santa this week

FOND DU LAC — Santa will make an appearance at several events in the Fond du Lac area in the coming week. Some of those events are the Friends of Lakeside Park open house, Breakfast with Santa in Waupun and the sled dog race fundraiser for Make-A-Wish.

Here are five can’t-miss events happening in the community this week.

1. Friends of Lakeside Park hosts Holiday Open House Dec. 7

Friends of Lakeside Park will host its third annual Holiday Open House 4:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Lakeside Park Pavilion. The event is free and open to the public.

Santa will be available for photos. Kids can do a free Christmas craft and vendors will be selling handmade items.

Some of the items for sale include handmade jewelry, knitted items, glass ornaments and artwork. Fundraising items for the Friends include artwork, notecards, mugs, totes, framed lighthouse prints, lighthouse glass pendants, a collector’s ornament and a 2024 calendar.

There also will be raffle baskets to bid on and free hot cocoa and sweets to be handed out.

For more about the Friends group, visit lakesidepark.org or on Facebook at @lakesideparkfriends.

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2. Fifth annual Breakfast with Santa event to be held in Waupun

Enjoy a Breakfast with Santa event from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Dec. 9 at The Rock Golf Club, 700 County Park Road, Waupun. The fifth annual event, hosted by the Waupun Fire and Police departments, will benefit the Waupun Food Pantry.

Breakfast will be buffet style to eat when you like. There will be holiday activities, and free pictures with Santa. Kids can check out fire trucks and squad cars at the event and write a letter to Santa.

Each non-perishable food donation will earn an entry for a chance to win a 2024 family pool pass.

The event is $8 for adults and $5 for kids. Purchase tickets at Fox Valley Savings Bank, Waupun City Hall, or call Nate Schears at 920-602-2095.

For more information, visit "Breakfast with Santa 2023" on Facebook.

3. Holiday craft, tack sale to benefit Fond du Lac 4-H

The Fond du Lac County 4-H Horse and Pony Project will host its annual Holiday Craft, Vendor and Tack Sale Dec. 9. The sale will run 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Recreation Center, 520 Fond du Lac Ave.

Items for sale include new and used tack, Christmas crafts and gifts. There will be breakfast or lunch available to purchase. Proceeds support Fond du Lac County 4-H.

4. Fond du Lac High to perform unique Night of Silence concert

The Fond du Lac High School Music Department will present its holiday concert, Night of Silence, Dec. 8, 9 and 10 at the Fond du Lac High School Performing Arts Center, 801 Campus Drive.

The concert features approximately 200 students in the following ensembles: Symphonic Winds and Percussion, Symphonic Orchestra, Concert Choir, Bel Canto, Jazz Band I, and Cardinal Singers.

Pre-concert entertainment will be provided by the V-JaM Singers. The concert is performed in the round with no applause.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 10. Admission is $10. Tickets are available at hometowntickets.com.

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5. Can't Depend on Snow event benefits Make-A-Wish

The Can’t Depend on Snow event is set for Dec. 9 at Rolling Meadows Golf Course, 560 W. Rolling Meadows Drive. The free event will run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. Organizers have stated this will be the last time they hold this event.

The family-friendly and dog-friendly event (dogs must be on a leash) features a Sled Dog Race around the golf course — with sleds or wheels depending on snow. The handler has no contact with the dog during the pull, so it is up to the dog to pull, or not.

You can have your pet’s picture taken with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are three print sizes available for a donation. There also will be bucket and 50/50 raffles.

The online silent auction begins at 5 p.m. Dec. 6, lasting until the end of the race, about 3 p.m. Dec. 9.

For more information, including bidding on the auction, visit facebook.com/cantdependonsnowdofficial.

Contact Mara Wegner at mwegner@gannett.com or 920-996-7241.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac Santa sightings set at Lakeside Park, in Waupun