This holiday season, Wisconsin’s Walworth County transforms into a holiday wonderland filled with glowing parades, magical light shows and visits from Santa himself. In 2025, families can stroll illuminated streets, shop Christmas markets and make memories that feel straight out of a movie — all just two hours from Chicago.
“Walworth County is a very magical place to bring families for the holidays,” says Melody Judge, Office Manager for the Walworth County Fairgrounds. “There’s something happening every weekend.”
Dazzling lights across Walworth County
The season officially kicks off on Nov. 23, with the Illumination Ceremony at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa’s Christmas in the Country in Lake Geneva. More than 2 million twinkling lights decorate the resort, inside and out, including a “12 Days of Christmas” drive-through display. Festive trolley tours and Breakfast with Santa continue through early January.
In Whitewater, Christmas at Cravath runs Dec. 5-Jan. 5, bringing a month of holiday lights, a chili cook-off and the popular Breakfast-for-Dinner with Santa.
East Troy Lights (Dec. 6-31) turns the village square into an interactive holiday wonderland where visitors can stroll through colorful tunnels, sip cocoa and even use a light-wand to control the show.
In Williams Bay, the World’s Tallest Glass Tree at Yerkes Observatory (Dec. 5-7 and 12-14) combines art and science. Guests donate clear or green glass to “grow” a towering tree crowned with a four-and-a-half-foot blown-glass star. “It’s absolutely stunning,” Judge says.
Parades that light up the season
Holiday parades fill the streets with sparkle and small-town pride throughout the first weekend of December.
- Whitewater Parade of Lights — Dec. 5, 6 p.m. in Downtown Whitewater
- Delavan Christmas Tree Lighting, Comet Caroling & Parade Around the Park – Dec. 5, starting 6 p.m. at Tower Park
- Lake Geneva Electric Christmas Parade — Dec. 6, 5 p.m. in downtown Lake Geneva, marking its 50th year
- Sharon’s Victorian Christmas Evening — Dec. 6, featuring the area’s only horse-drawn parade and Victorian-era charm
Christmas Card Town Parade in Elkhorn — Dec. 6, honoring Elkhorn’s postcard-perfect nickname - East Troy Electric Railroad’s Santa Parade Train – Dec. 6, a vintage locomotive carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus through local towns
“Every one of these towns could be featured in a Hallmark movie,” Judge says. “They’re just truly magical.”
Santa sightings and family traditions
Santa makes plenty of stops across Walworth County — by boat, train and even lakeside:
- Santa Cruise at Pier 290 in Williams Bay — Nov. 21-Jan. 3, a nighttime boat tour across Geneva Lake where Santa reads from his Nice List
- Santa’s Landing at The Abbey Resort — Nov. 29, Santa arrives lakeside to music, cocoa and cookies
- Breakfast with Santa at Lake Lawn Resort in Delevan — select dates in November-December, buffet dining, crafts and photos with Santa and live reindeer
- Santa’s Lakeview Lounge at Lodge Geneva National — opens Nov. 28, a cozy, movie-inspired pop-up bar and daytime cocoa stop
- Christmas Trains at East Troy Electric Railroad — Nov. 29-Dec. 21, daytime rides to Santa’s Workshop and evening trains with cocoa and carols
- Meet the Magic: Real Reindeer for Christmas in Whitewater — Dec. 18, get up close with real reindeer, enjoy cocoa, festive music, a chili cook-off and a visit from Santa at Cravath Lakefront Park
Festive markets and local shopping
Holiday shoppers can find handmade gifts and hometown spirit at:
-
- Christmas in the Woods Craft Fair – Dec. 6, Woods Elementary, Lake Geneva
- Badger DECA Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair – Dec. 6, Badger High School Sports Center
- Winter Market – Dec. 6, Dec. 20, Jan 3, Uncle Hunk’s Junk Building/Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce & Associated Bank, Elkhorn
- Delavan Dasher Days – Dec. 13 and 20, downtown Delavan, with window displays, Santa photos and carolers
Plan your holiday weekend in WalCo
For years, this welcoming pocket of Wisconsin has been a destination for making cherished holiday memories. Locals invite families to bundle up, grab a cup of hot cocoa and celebrate the season in towns filled with Christmas cheer.
“There’s something seriously magical in Walworth County, with lights, Santa and shopping,” Judge says. “Bring your family to experience all of the Christmas nostalgia right here in Walworth County.”
This content is sponsored by the Walworth County Visitors Bureau. To learn more, visit the Walworth County Visitors Bureau’s full schedule of holiday events.
