The Ephraim Business Council invites you and your friends to celebrate the season at Ephraim’s annual Christmas in the Village on Saturday, December 5.
Winter in Ephraim by Kathy Glasnap
With activities planned throughout the day, Christmas in the Village promises to be holiday fun for the whole family. The most notable addition to this year’s event is a live reindeer display by Santa’s Crew of Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Two adult reindeer, one baby reindeer, two elves, Santa and his sleigh will be on hand to greet families. The display will be just outside the Ephraim Village Hall from 2:30 – 4:30 pm.
Pictures with Santa and company will be taken by Santa’s Crew staff and may be purchased on-site for $8. Attendees are permitted to take their own photos as well. Children will delight in seeing Dasher and Dancer, both 2-year-old females weighing about 300 pounds each, along with baby Comet, a 7-month old male. This holiday season, Santa’s Crew celebrates its third year touring regionally with the display, and Ephraim is excited to welcome them for the first time.
Christmas-themed tales told by the Northern Door Storytelling Guild
Children’s activities begin at the Ephraim Village Hall at 1 pm, with Christmas themed tales from the Northern Door Storytelling Guild, sponsored by the Ephraim Library Committee’s Martha Cherry Estate Funds. A group spun off from the wintertime storytelling classes taught by Lloyd Michalsen at Ellison Bay’s Clearing Folk School, the Northern Door Storytelling Guild has entertained at venues throughout Northern Door for nearly three years.
From 2 – 3:30 pm kids will get creative with holiday cards and crafts sponsored by the Ephraim Library Committee. All materials needed, will be supplied. Kids may also frost their favorite holiday-shaped sugar cut-outs at a cookie decorating table. There will be heritage games such as shuffleboard, pick-up sticks and tiddly winks, courtesy of the Ephraim Historical Foundation. All activities take place in the Ephraim Village Hall and are free of charge.
From 3:30 – 4:30 pm the Ephraim Historical Foundation will host a Christmas Family Sing-A-Long (in the tradition of their Summer Sunday Sing-A-Longs) in the Ephraim Village Hall. Song leader Dave Olson and pianist Bernice Koehler will lead participants in the holiday classics.
Holiday Cookie Decorating
The Ephraim Moravian Church will have its doors open from 11 am – 2 pm to share the Advent season. Displays of crèches, lovefeast, traditional women’s dress, Christmas Eve candle-wrapping and Moravian Stars will highlight the history and tradition of Door County’s oldest church. Visitors will enjoy festive decorations and refreshments.
The Eagle Harbor Inn and Village Green Lodge, two quaint Ephraim B&Bs, will host holiday open houses from 1 – 4 pm.
Visitors may tour the businesses decorated for the season, and enjoy homemade holiday goodies or festive tea time treats. Eagle Harbor Inn will offer “Inn’s Favorite Recipes,” tied up with ribbon as their gift to you. Additionally, the Anderson House Shop & Gallery, will host an open house and Jewelry Trunk Show featuring affordable sterling sliver jewelry, from 10 am – 5 pm. Refreshments will be served.
The 10th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony will close the day at 4:30 pm.
This year’s ceremony has been moved from the Wetlands Preserve to Harborside Park. Ephraim resident and volunteer firefighter, Scottie Weborg will do the honor of lighting the tree. Hot cider will be shared. In years past an unidentified Christmas Grinch has attended the event. Hopefully Mr. Grinch will decide to join us again!
The Ephraim Business Council would like to thank the following Ephraim businesses and community members for their generous donations toward Christmas in the Village. Santa Sponsor: Jane Olson. Reindeer Sponsors: Ephraim’s Library Committee and High Point Inn. Elf Sponsor: Bay Breeze Resort. Jingle Bell Crew: Tad & Andy Dukehart.
For more information on the Ephraim business community and the weekend activities, please visit www.Ephraim-DoorCounty.com or contact the Ephraim Visitor Information Center at 920-854-4989.
Ephraim’s temporary winter Visitor Information Center is located at 10329 Water Street (Highway 42) and is open Fridays and Saturdays 10 am – 5 pm and Sundays 10 am – 2 pm through April.
