
Join us for Waupaca's 6th Annual Yuletide Celebration!
December 5-8, 2024

Thursday, December 5:
- 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 Santa, carols with the Waupaca High School Madrigal Singers and Waupaca Community Theatre, and the lighting of the tree.
Did you miss the parade? Check out the video here: https://www.facebook.com/cityofwaupaca/videos/993804892775038.
Don't miss Mayor Brian Smith's wonderful speech after the parade and before Santa spread his Christmas magic and lit the Waupaca Christmas tree! Read the speech here. - 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).
- Family Christmas Puzzle Night at Java Jive, 5-6 pm
Make & Take Timed contest with prizes (Register by Wednesday, December 4 at Java Jive) - FREE Hot Cocoa with marshmallows and candy canes in front of Mist Salon (N. Main Street) starting at 5:30 till after the tree lighting

Friday, December 6:
- Window Walk and late-night shopping in downtown Waupaca
Downtown shops open until 8 pm - Library Holiday Scavenger Hunt for children and adults!
In the Waupaca Area Public Library, 9 am to 6 pm - White Elephant Ho-Ho Bingo at Java Jive, 5:30-7 pm
Bring your own under $5 White Elephant gift per person to share; earn an extra space with drink purchase - Waupaca Fine Arts Festival’s “12 Days of Christmas Cabaret," 7 pm, at the Waupaca Country Club--Ticket information coming soon!

Saturday, December 7--Waupaca's Yuletide Trail:
- Cookie Walk, 10 am-4 pm
Get your cookie tin beginning on Friday, November 1 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, cookie map, and "ticket" to the free movie at the Rec Center on Sunday, December 8!
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!
NEW!! Free cookie tin bag with each tin purchase!
NEW!! 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-5 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!
Entertainment schedule for trolley:
10am-11am: Mayor Brian Smith (stories of Waupaca)
11am-12pm: K&J Duo (holiday music)
12pm-1pm: Kay Ellingson (storytime)
1pm-3pm: Mike Kirk (Waupaca history and folklore)
3pm-4pm: Waupaca Arts Hub (caroling)
4pm-5pm: Barbara Laedtke (storytime) - Waupaca Area Public Library open 10 am-2 pm
Storytime in the lower level, 10 am
Crafts in the exhibit room
"Americans and the Holocaust" traveling exhibit in the exhibit room
Library Holiday Scavenger Hunt for children and adults! - Children's Christmas Party at Danes Hall from 12 to 3 pm
Santa will be visiting from 12 to 2 pm! - Carolers in King from 10:30 to 11 am and in downtown Waupaca from 11 am to 1 pm. The Town Crier will also be announcing the day's festivities!
- Kids' Craft Make & Take at Java Jive, 9-10 am
Create Your Own Christmas Ornament - Kids' Christmas Activities at European Delights/Chaintiques, 10 am to 4 pm (in King)
- European Hot Wine Stop at Comma Café, 10 am to 4 pm (in King)
- Waupaca High School 30th Annual Madrigal Dinner, 5 pm
- Waupaca Expo Center, Open Skate from 6:30-8:30 pm
$5 to skate with rental skates included - Waupaca Fine Arts Festival’s “12 Days of Christmas Cabaret," 7 pm, at the Waupaca Country Club--for more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Facebook event page here.

Sunday, December 8:
- Interactive family movie at the Waupaca Rec Center--The Santa Clause--12 pm
Indoor bouncy houses, holiday movie and refreshments by WICEC!
Sponsored by First State Bank
Hosted by the Waupaca Parks and Recreation Department and the Waupaca Area Public Library--FREE! - Downtown Waupaca businesses open for shopping
- Movie at the Rosa Theatre!
Come see "A Christmas Story" at 5 pm for just $2! All ticket sales will go toward Waupaca's Yuletide Celebration, thanks to Rogers Cinema! Popcorn and refreshments will be on sale that evening as well! - Waupaca High School 30th Annual Madrigal Dinner, 5 pm
- Waupaca Expo Center, Open Skate from 6:30-8:30 pm
$5 to skate with rental skates included

Artful Trees Display outside the Library/City Hall
- Check out the Artful Trees decorating the front lawn of the Library/City Hall! Trees are festively decorated by local businesses and organizations! Be sure to stop by day or night from December 5 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.
- Daily Christmas Trivia at Java Jive, 7am-4pm
Top scorers win prizes with new trivia daily! - Toys for Tots Drive-Thru Drop-Off at ReMax (206 W. Fulton Street, Waupaca)--donate new, unwrapped toys
Now through December 7
Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm
Saturday, 10am-1pm
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!
Our 2024 Yuletide Celebration Sponsors
Thank you for donating to the Waupaca Historical Society and helping us preserve Waupaca and Chain O'Lakes history!
Interested in receiving the latest news from the Waupaca Historical Society? Subscribe with your email address below!
Come visit us at the Holly Center at 321 S. Main Street during our open hours on
Wednesday through Friday,
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.!
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What's Happening at the Waupaca Historical Society!
(all programs are at the Holly History and Genealogy Center unless otherwise noted)
2025 HOLLY CENTER HOURS: Wednesday-Friday,
10 am-2 pm
- Thurs., February 20, 6 pm: "Cranberries: How Wisconsin Became Best" with Heidi Slinkman, 5th generation cranberry grower (Badger Talks)
- Sun., March 2, 3-5 pm at the Waupaca Depot: Self-Guided Winter Hike (program with the City of Waupaca Parks & Rec and the Waupaca Area Public Library); stop at the Depot for a hot beverage and tour!
- Thurs., March 20, 6 pm: "Brownie the War Dog: Veterans' Best Friend" with author Kelly Nelson
- Mon., April 14, 6:30 pm at the Waupaca Area Public Library (a Winchester Academy program):"Waupaca’s Sesquicentennial: A Look Back at the City of Waupaca’s Early Years" with Tracy Behrendt
- Thurs., April 17, 6 pm: "Transportation History in Wisconsin" with Jim Willaert, Wade House Historic Site
Looking for other events taking place in Waupaca? Check out the Waupaca Chain O'Lakes Community Calendar here!
Appointments outside of open hours at any WHS buildings can be made at least two weeks in advance by calling the Holly History and Genealogy Center at (715) 256-9980 or emailing
Tracy Behrendt at