Join us for Waupaca's 7th Annual Yuletide Celebration!
December 4-7, 2025
Thursday, December 4:
- Yuletide Celebration Parade, 6:30 pm
Join us in downtown Waupaca on South Main Street as we kick off Waupaca's Yuletide Celebration. Parade will start at 6:30 pm and run from Trinity Lutheran Church on Badger Street to Danes Hall on North Main Street. The parade will end at Danes Hall with a speech from the mayor, Santa lighting the tree, and carols with the Waupaca High School Madrigal Singers and Waupaca Community Theatre. - Are you a business or organization interested in participating in the parade? Fill out this ENTRY FORM and drop off, with payment, at the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce office (315 S. Main Street, Waupaca).
- NEW!! Holiday Movie at the Rosa Theatre--for just $2, bring your family and friends to watch "ELF" at Waupaca's Rosa Theatre! The movie will be shown at 4:00 pm and 7:45 pm Thursday ONLY. All ticket proceeds go to support the Waupaca Area Arts and Culture Network and the Yuletide Celebration event!
Friday, December 5:
- Interactive Family Holiday Movie at the Waupaca Area Public Library--6 pm--Join the Library at this family-friendly interactive movie showing of A Muppet's Christmas Carol! FREE
- Light Up Bethany, 5-7 pm (Bethany Home, 1226 Berlin Street, Entrance #2)
Join Bethany Home for a joyful night featuring live music by Barry Sasse with special guest Howard Gripp, a showing of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," twinkling Christmas lights, and cozy eggnog and hot chocolate paired with delightful holiday treats! You can even snap a photo with the Grinch and vote for your favorite decorated tree! - "Twelve Days of Christmas Cabaret," presented by The Waupaca Fine Arts Festival at the Waupaca Country Club at 7pm--Poems, prose and class music to get you in the holiday mood! Doors open at 6 pm for a cash bar, dessert and coffee. Tickets coming soon!
Saturday, December 6--Waupaca's Yuletide Trail:
- Cookie Walk, 10 am-4 pm
Get your cookie tin beginning on Friday, October 31 at the Holly History and Genealogy Center (321 S. Main Street), Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce (315 S. Main Street), Community First Credit Union (1006 Royalton Street), or Northern Home (119 N. Main Street).
Tins are $25 and all proceeds benefit the Waupaca Historical Society, thanks to Community First Credit Union. All tins include a coupon book and cookie map! Supplies limited.
Pick up your cookies with your tin (please only one cookie per stop) throughout the day at participating businesses. Check the map inside the tin for the cookie stops!
Free cookie tin bag with each tin purchase!
Free cookie tin bag with each tin purchase!
- Shopping in downtown Waupaca and King, 10 am-4 pm
- Trolley from downtown Waupaca (pick up on East Fulton Street) to King, 10 am-4 pm
The Holly Jolly Trolley is back! Hop on and shop, then hop back on! The trolley will run all day back and forth with no set pick-up times. Just get the trolley stop and you'll soon be on your way! Enjoy entertainment on the trolley, too, thanks to our local musicians and storytellers! - Waupaca Area Public Library open 10 am-2 pm
Storytime in the lower level, with books sponsored by Winchester Academy
Crafts with the Waupaca Arts Hub
Exhibit Room open with a craft for all ages - Children's Christmas Party at Danes Hall from 12 to 2 pm with Santa! Check out the flyer here!
- Indian Crossing Casino: Winter Farmers Market from 9am to 1pm
- Carolers in King and downtown Waupaca
- "Twelve Days of Christmas Cabaret," presented by The Waupaca Fine Arts Festival at the Waupaca Country Club at 7pm
- Poems, prose and class music to get you in the holiday mood! Doors open at 6 pm for a cash bar, dessert and coffee. Tickets coming soon!
- Christmas Lights in Waupaca: East Gate subdivision off of Commercial Drive, is holding a friendly, Battle of the Lights competition. Drive through the subdivision and enjoy the lights on December 6 and 7.
Sunday, December 7:
- Downtown Waupaca businesses open for shopping--support our local stores and restaurants!
- Check out the Artful Trees Display outside the Library/City Hall!
- Stroll down Main Street and enjoy the holiday-themed Storywalk in the beautiful planters!
- Christmas Lights in Waupaca: East Gate subdivision off of Commercial Drive, is holding a friendly, Battle of the Lights competition. Drive through the subdivision and enjoy the lights on December 6 and 7.
Artful Trees Display outside the Library/City Hall
- Check out the Artful Trees decorating the front of the Library/City Hall! Trees are festively decorated by local businesses and organizations! Stop by day or night through January 1!
Are you a local business or organization that wants to decorate a tree? There are 12 Artful Trees available, so sign up now! Fill out this REGISTRATION FORM and drop off payment at the Waupaca Historical Society (321 S. Main Street). The payment is refundable after your tree has been taken down by Friday, January 3 (more details on the form).
Not interested in decorating a tree but want to support the display? We are looking for sponsors to offset the costs of the trees, lights, stands and signage. In return for your sponsorship of this event, we will publish your logo in our printed materials, and name you as a sponsor in our social media and press releases. Contact us today if you are interested!
All Week:
- Take your holiday photograph at the top of the hill next to Danes Hall. It's the perfect holiday photo opportunity with beautiful Main Street in the background!
- Enjoy the Storywalk in downtown Waupaca and in King! Two different holiday books will be available for you to read with your family in both locations.
- Toys for Tots Toy Drive: Drive-Thru Drop-Off at ReMax/Lyons, 206 W. Fulton Street
Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5 pm; Saturday, 10am to 1 pm through Sat., December 6 - Participate in the Danes Hall Gingerbread House Competition! Entries must be dropped off on December 2 and will be voted on by the public from December 3-17. For more information, check out the flyer here.
OPPORTUNITIES:
- Would you like to sponsor Waupaca's Yuletide Celebration? We are looking for sponsors to help offset the costs of this free community event. Costs include signage, banners, printing, and trees. In return for your sponsorship of this event, we will publish your logo in our printed materials, and name you as a sponsor in our social media and press releases. If you would like to sponsor the event, please contact Tracy Behrendt at director@waupacahistoricalsociety.org. Thank you for your support!
