Kick off the holidays with these Fond du Lac events, including the parade, lights and music
FOND DU LAC — The nights are getting longer, granting more time for the holiday lights that are soon to dazzle Fond du Lac.
In addition to light shows and decorations across Fond du Lac, this holiday season includes opportunities to listen to festive music, meet Santa, and support local businesses and organizations.
Here are Fond du Lac's holiday events to look forward to after Thanksgiving.
Lakeside Park Holiday Light Show
The Fond du Lac Noon Rotary Holiday Light Show in Lakeside Park will start on Thanksgiving Nov. 23 and play from 5 to 11 p.m. every night through Jan. 1.
Viewers can park in the temporary lot across the street from the lights, turn the car's headlights off and tune their radios to 89.1 FM to enjoy the free light show. The 30-minute show repeats throughout the night with a short intermission between each showing.
Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 25, encouraging shopping small and local during the holiday season.
Downtown Fond du Lac's shop small sweepstakes offers anyone who shops downtown through Dec. 31 entry for a chance to win $500 in gift certificates. Any receipts from downtown Fond du Lac shops from Nov. 1 and onward will qualify, and every $10 spent will be one entry in the sweepstakes, according to Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership.
Additionally, several downtown businesses have special deals for Nov. 25, including 20% off furniture and 10% off your entire purchase at Mirrorball, 44 N. Main St.; 20% off everything except food and a free gift with purchase at Victoria's Pet Nutrition, 14 N. Main St.; up to 50% off discounts picked from a basket at Aurora's Apothecary, 171 S. Main St.; and a free Christmas project bag with a $50 purchase at Knitty Gritty Shop, 63 N. Main St.
Other specials across the downtown area include discounts, free gifts and raffles. The list of participating businesses is available on the partnership's website.
Holiday events outside the city: From markets to Trolley Night, check out these greater Fond du Lac area holiday events
Parade of Lights
The KFIZ Parade of Lights will kick off at 4:15 p.m. Dec. 2 on Main Street, traveling from Rees Street south to Veteran's Park. The theme this year is "Elf on the Shelf."
A South Shore Christmas
South Shore Chorale will present "A South Shore Christmas" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Fond du Lac High School Performing Arts Center, 801 Campus Drive.
The 160-piece choral ensemble, under conductor Cory Schneider, will perform Christmas and other seasonal music alongside a full orchestra. Songs revealed so far include “Gloria” by Randol Bass and “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst.
Tickets are $18 through hometowntickets.com, or $23 at the door.
Fond du Lac High School Night of Silence
The annual concert in-the-round with no applause, Night of Silence will start 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 featuring Fond du Lac High School bands, choirs and orchestra in the Fond du Lac High School Performing Arts Center, 801 Campus Drive.
With selections of holiday music, more than 200 students will perform in small and large ensembles from the Fondy Music program: Symphonic Winds and Percussion, Symphonic Orchestra, Concert Choir, Bel Canto, Jazz Band I and Cardinal Singers.
The V-Jam Singers will perform in pre-concert entertainment.
The concert will also be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 10. Tickets are $10 and available at hometowntickets.com.
Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees organization will showcase more than 30 decorated trees displayed at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, representing and benefiting area non-profits in a weekend-long event.
A formal gala at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 will kick off the event, featuring hors d'oeuvres from Annie's Fountain City Catering, THELMA’s full cash bar, music by The Swizzle Sticks and an opportunity to bid early in the silent auction of the fully-decorated artificial Christmas trees.
Some of the organizations involved include United Way Fond du Lac County, United for Diversity, Pride Picnic, Hope on the Block, We EmpowHER, Habitat for Humanity and Miracle League of Fond du Lac. New to the event this year is Ebony Vision.
The silent auction will continue noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 9 alongside the Festival of Trees Makers Market, with local vendors selling fine art, handmade crafts, vintage and boutique items and more.
Admission for the gala is $20 through hometowntickets.com. The Makers Market is free.
Information about volunteering is available on the Festival of Trees Fond du Lac 2023 Facebook Page.
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Where is Santa?
Santa will make various appearances in Fond du Lac before Christmas. Here's where you can get your photo opportunity:
Friends of Lakeside Park Holiday Open House, 4:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Lakeside Park Pavilion, 71 Promen Drive.
Fond du Lac Public Library's Winter Wonderland, 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at 32 Sheboygan St.
Vossekuil Real Estate and Envision Greater Fond du Lac, professional photo opportunities are free with donation of a new, unwrapped toy or warm outerwear 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 9 at 23 S. Main St.
Hotel Retlaw Breakfast with Santa 9 a.m. Dec. 16 at 1 N. Main St. includes breakfast buffet and activities. Reservations are available by calling 920-204-0400.
La Clare Creamery Photos with Santa 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 16 in the greenhouse at W2994 County HH in Malone. Admission is $10 and also includes refreshments and letter to Santa activities.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac Christmas events: Light show, parade and visit with Santa
