Door County New Year's 2027: Your Complete Guide
Door County is preparing for a different kind of New Year’s celebration this year. The biggest change is also the biggest news: after nine years in Sister Bay, the famous FM 106.9 The Lodge Cherry Drop is moving to downtown Sturgeon Bay for its 10th anniversary on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
That gives families and couples several ways to build a holiday weekend. Watch early fireworks in Sister Bay, head to Sturgeon Bay for the midnight Cherry Drop, take an icy Lake Michigan plunge in Jacksonport on New Year’s Day or join Egg Harbor’s wonderfully informal January 1 parade.
This guide covers what is confirmed for New Year’s Eve 2026 and New Year’s Day 2027, what is expected to return and which details still need to be announced. Because holiday schedules can change, check the linked official sources again before leaving home.
For more cold-weather ideas, use our complete Door County winter guide. First-time visitor? Our Door County first-timer’s guide will help you choose a town and build the rest of your weekend.
Door County New Year’s 2026–27 Map
Map the fireworks, new Sturgeon Bay Cherry Drop location, January 1 traditions, dining, winter adventures and recommended places to stay.
New for 2026: Sister Bay hosts the early fireworks, but the midnight Cherry Drop moves to downtown Sturgeon Bay.
Schedules and holiday hours can change; verify before traveling. We may earn a commission from qualifying Expedia bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Essential New Year’s weekend schedule
Thursday, December 31, 2026: Sister Bay’s early New Year’s Eve fireworks are currently listed for 8 p.m., while the FM 106.9 The Lodge Cherry Drop will make its Sturgeon Bay debut at midnight.
Friday, January 1, 2027: The Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge begins at noon sharp, followed by the traditional Egg Harbor New Year’s Day Parade at 1 p.m. once its 2027 listing is finalized.
Important planning note: As of August 2026, several supporting details—including entertainment, shuttle service, road closures and venue parties—have not been released. Treat older performer names, packages and prices as expired unless an organizer republishes them for 2026–27.
The Cherry Drop moves to Sturgeon Bay
The FM 106.9 The Lodge Cherry Drop will celebrate its 10th anniversary at a new home: Door Community Foundation Square at the intersection of Third Avenue and Kentucky Street in downtown Sturgeon Bay, beside the historic Olde Bell Tower.
The centerpiece is not changing. Organizers say the six-foot, 300-pound illuminated cherry will again hang approximately 120 feet above the celebration before descending at midnight.
The move is a major correction from previous versions of this guide. The midnight Cherry Drop is no longer taking place outside Husby’s in Sister Bay. FM 106.9 says event programming and timing beyond the midnight countdown will be announced closer to New Year’s Eve.
Bookmark the official Cherry Drop page for new entertainment, parking and street-closure information.
Sister Bay’s early fireworks
Destination Door County currently lists New Year’s Eve fireworks beginning at 8 p.m. on December 31, 2026, in Sister Bay. In past years, the family-friendly fireworks were staged near the Sister Bay Sports Complex and Teresa K. Hilander Community Ice Rink.
The fireworks and the midnight Cherry Drop should now be treated as separate events in separate communities. Families hoping to attend both should allow approximately 45 minutes for winter driving, parking and downtown traffic between Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay.
The Sister Bay ice rink is weather-dependent. The village floods its basketball courts only when temperatures are cold enough to make and maintain safe ice, so do not assume skating will be available simply because fireworks are scheduled nearby.
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<script type="text/javascript" async src="https://subscribe-forms.beehiiv.com/attribution.js"></script>New Year’s Day traditions
Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge
The Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge returns every New Year’s Day at noon sharp at Lakeside Park along Lake Michigan. The tradition began in 1986 and now attracts hundreds of participants plus a much larger crowd of spectators.
The 2027 event will be the plunge’s 41st year. Detailed registration, merchandise and parking information had not been posted as of August 2026, so check the organizer’s page closer to January 1.
If you plan to enter the water, wear protective footwear, bring dry layers and towels, and have a warm vehicle or indoor destination ready afterward. Never assume lake ice is safe based on appearance alone.
Egg Harbor New Year’s Day Parade
Egg Harbor’s New Year’s Day Parade is one of Door County’s most delightfully low-pressure traditions. Residents and visitors have historically been able to join the parade without formal registration, appearing in costumes, decorated vehicles or simply on foot.
The parade typically travels north through downtown Egg Harbor on Highway 42 at 1 p.m. Destination Door County includes it among the peninsula’s signature winter events, but the full January 1, 2027 event listing was not yet published when this guide was updated. Confirm the route, lineup location and parking through the Village of Egg Harbor or Destination Door County’s event calendar before the holiday.
First Day Hikes and winter walks
Wisconsin state parks often schedule First Day Hikes on January 1, but the 2027 program calendar has not yet been released. Check the Wisconsin DNR events calendar for Peninsula, Potawatomi, Newport and Whitefish Dunes state parks as January approaches.
Even without a guided event, the parks can be beautiful places for a New Year’s Day walk, snowshoe outing or ski. A vehicle admission pass is required at most Wisconsin state park properties, and a state trail pass may be required for cross-country skiing on designated trails.
Where to eat during New Year’s weekend
Holiday dining is the part of this trip that requires the most advance planning. Door County has fewer year-round restaurants than it does in summer, and New Year’s Eve reservations can fill before special menus are publicly posted.
These are useful places to monitor, but confirm their December 31 and January 1 schedules directly:
Sturgeon Bay
Downtown Sturgeon Bay will be the most convenient dining base for the new Cherry Drop location. Look for restaurants within walking distance of Third Avenue and Kentucky Street, but reserve early once holiday seatings become available.
Stone Harbor Resort and Brygga Plates & Pours sit along the downtown waterfront. Older editions of this guide listed a specific New Year’s Eve band and party; those details have been removed until Stone Harbor announces its 2026 program.
Sister Bay
CHOP is open year-round and currently serves dinner nightly beginning at 4:30 p.m. Reservations are welcomed. It can work well for an early dinner before the Sister Bay fireworks, but confirm holiday hours and any special menu when booking.
Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant is a classic breakfast stop for the morning after. Verify January 1 hours directly; winter holiday schedules can differ from ordinary operating hours.
Fish Creek
The White Gull Inn serves breakfast and lunch daily and offers candlelight dinners and fish boils on selected evenings. Its winter lodging packages change seasonally, so use the current package page rather than relying on last year’s dates or prices.
For more options, see our Door County breakfast guide and call your chosen restaurant before making a special trip.
Where to stay for Door County New Year’s
Choose your lodging based on the celebration you most want to attend. Sturgeon Bay is now the most convenient base for the midnight Cherry Drop, while Sister Bay remains useful for the early fireworks and northern Door County. Egg Harbor and Fish Creek provide a middle ground for New Year’s Day activities.
This section contains affiliate links. If you book through one of these links, North Shore Family Adventures may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Sturgeon Bay: best for the midnight Cherry Drop
Our Pick: Bridgeport Waterfront Resort offers condo-style space on the Sturgeon Bay waterfront within downtown. It is a strong choice for families who want an indoor pool and a practical home base near the new Cherry Drop location.
Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort provides suite-style accommodations with kitchens and fireplaces north of downtown. You will need to drive to the celebration, but the added space can be valuable for a multi-night winter stay.
The Lodge at Leathem Smith is another waterfront Sturgeon Bay option with an on-site restaurant. Confirm its New Year’s dining schedule and any minimum-stay requirements before booking.
Sister Bay and Egg Harbor: best for early fireworks and January 1 activities
Open Hearth Lodge is a comfortable northern Door County base with an indoor pool, hot tub, breakfast and outdoor fire pits. It is convenient for Sister Bay’s fireworks but a longer drive from the midnight Cherry Drop in Sturgeon Bay.
Our Pick for families: Newport Resort has suites with kitchens and fireplaces plus an indoor pool and game room. Its Egg Harbor location is especially useful if the New Year’s Day Parade is your priority.
Landmark Resort offers condo-style rooms and multiple on-property amenities on a bluff outside Egg Harbor. Confirm which pools, restaurants and services will operate during the holiday.
Compare more choices in our Door County family stays collection or use our town-by-town guide to where to stay in Door County.
Rates, amenities, packages and minimum stays can change. Verify all current details directly before booking.
Winter activities for the rest of the weekend
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
Peninsula State Park is Door County’s leading winter recreation hub, with ski, snowshoe and winter-hiking opportunities that depend on trail and snow conditions. Do not hike or snowshoe on groomed ski tracks.
Potawatomi State Park, Newport State Park and Whitefish Dunes State Park provide additional winter routes. Check property notices and the Door County winter report before driving to a particular trail.
Cave Point in winter
Cave Point County Park can produce striking ice formations along its limestone shoreline. Conditions can also become extremely slippery and dangerous near the cliff edge. Wear traction, stay behind barriers and keep children away from unstable shelf ice and wave-washed rocks.
Indoor activities
The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay is open year-round, but it is officially closed on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Plan it for December 30 or January 2 instead. Winter admission and hours are posted on the museum’s official site.
The Door County Historical Museum is closed from December 16 through January 15, so it should not be part of a New Year’s itinerary.
That distinction matters: older travel guides sometimes describe an attraction as “open in winter” without checking the actual holiday closure.
Practical planning advice
Build around two different New Year’s Eve locations. Sister Bay’s early fireworks and Sturgeon Bay’s midnight Cherry Drop are no longer one walkable celebration.
Check for updated transportation information. A shuttle operated in prior years in Sister Bay, but no 2026 Sturgeon Bay Cherry Drop shuttle has been confirmed yet.
Reserve lodging before dinner. Once you choose Sturgeon Bay, Sister Bay or Egg Harbor as your base, make restaurant reservations that fit the drive and parking plan.
Expect limited January 1 hours. Buy snacks, breakfast supplies and anything children may need before businesses close on December 31.
Watch the weather. Snow, wind and lake-effect conditions can change quickly. Give yourself extra driving time and keep blankets, boots and winter emergency supplies in the vehicle.
Check event pages again in December. Entertainment, road closures, shuttles and official parade details are the most likely portions of this guide to change.
The best way to plan your Door County New Year’s
For families, the simplest plan is to attend Sister Bay’s early fireworks, then decide whether children can comfortably make the winter drive to Sturgeon Bay and stay awake for the midnight Cherry Drop. Another good option is to choose only the Sturgeon Bay celebration and save energy for Jacksonport or Egg Harbor on January 1.
Couples can pair an early dinner with the Sturgeon Bay countdown, then spend New Year’s Day exploring a state park or enjoying a quieter Fish Creek or Egg Harbor stay.
The new Cherry Drop location changes the geography, but not the appeal: Door County still offers fireworks, a giant illuminated cherry, an icy plunge, a quirky parade and peaceful winter scenery within one memorable holiday weekend.
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