Christmas in Eau Claire, WI

It's officially the most wonderful time of the year, and Eau Claire is bursting with excitement. When walking around the city, you'll see lights illuminating the streets, local shops and restaurants decorated to a T, and you'll even hear Christmas music playing in the streets of downtown. Whatever Eau Claire does, it does it big, and the holidays are no exception at our destination. We promise there will be no lack of spirit this holiday season. Check out all the ways to celebrate the season of Christmas in Eau Claire, WI.

A house decorate in holiday lights and decor for the Chippewa Valley Parade of Lights

Holiday Events

Wintertime in the City 

Kick off the holiday season at Wintertime in the City! This special celebration will take place throughout downtown Eau Claire on Saturday, November 25, 2023, otherwise known as Small Business Saturday! While you're out and about shopping at local businesses, you can also expect photos with Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, hot chocolate and cider, and holiday trees & lights! Find all the information for this day here. But, wait! There's more. The annual Clearwater Winter Parade will take place on Friday, December 1, 2023, starting at 6:30 with fireworks and will travel on West Grand Ave and First Ave!

Chippewa Valley Parade of Lights

Make your holiday season merry and bright with the Chippewa Valley Parade of Lights! The most festive homes and businesses in the Chippewa Valley register to participate and decorate their houses/establishments with holiday lights, scenes, and different decor in celebration of the season. They are then featured on a map that you can use to guide your driving route as you venture out on your own little holiday lights tour. A map of participating addresses is set to be released soon. Find more event details!

Santa Cycle Rampage

Bust out your Santa suits and goofiest elf costumes, and get dazzled up for a bike ride around Eau Claire at the Santa Cycle Rampage! This holiday social ride goes for 6 miles at a friendly, slow pace, inviting bikers of all levels to celebrate the holiday season in style. Deck your bikes out with jingle bells and ribbons, and wear your most festive outfits for the iconic Eau Claire Santa Cycle Rampage on December 2, 2023.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR FULL EVENT CALENDAR

A couple, male and female, walking hand in hand in front of the Pablo Center in the winter

Get into the Holiday Spirit

Stroll Through the Christmas Village

Christmas Village is an impressive light display over at Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls, WI. The park gets lit up with over 100,000 lights and creates Christmas scenes that will make you feel like you've been transported back to the Victorian era. You can put on your snow boots to walk through the park on foot or cozy up with a warm cup of hot cocoa and Christmas music in your car to drive through the park. The Christmas Village is free, but donations are always appreciated to help keep this lovely tradition alive in the Chippewa Valley. The display will be available to drive/walk through on Monday-Sunday from 7 am-9:30 pm from Thanksgiving through January 1, 2024, and will be open until midnight on Christmas Eve (12/24/2023).

Pick Out Your Christmas Tree

There's something about picking out that perfect Balsam Fir, strapping it onto the rooftop of your car, and bringing the fresh smell of pine through the front doors of your home. Look no further than Curvue Hideaway & Trees for a tree farm that will have just what your living room needs this season. They have 10 acres worth of trees for you to browse through including ones you can cut yourself or pre-cut trees that will save you some sweat. Then, do some rockin' around the Christmas tree and have a happy holiday! Click here to see our full blog highlighting tree farms in the area.

See a Holiday Show at Pablo Center

Have you made a visit to Pablo Center at the Confluence yet? Well, this place is quite the spectacle to experience both inside and out. Browse Pablo Center's calendar to see what shows they have coming in Late November/December. Find something that piques your interest and purchase your tickets before the seats fill up! Pick something festive like Zach Williams: I don't want Christmas to end or get a taste of a local country artist who made his debut on The Voice, Chris Kroeze! Find Pablo Center's full event calendar.  

Get in The Christmas Spirit with Spirits

What are the holidays without seasonal, creamy cocktails and red wines? Infinity Beverages Winery & Distillery has just the things to fill those needs. They serve their own house-made wines and spirits 365 days a year and invite you to come in for a memorable wine-tasting experience with your closest friends and family. Click here to see more winter-themed cocktails in Eau Claire this season!

Winter Getaway at Leinie Lodge

Why not enjoy the holidays with a beer in hand?! Spend the winter season at Leinie Lodge in Chippewa Falls shopping for holiday gifts and sipping on Leinenkugel's famous flavors that make the holiday season extra hoppy! Get a taste of exclusive flavors like Gingerbread Ale, Wisconsin Harvest Ale, or Leinie’s Hibernated Hefeweizen. Speaking of beer... have you signed up for your free Eau Claire Brew Pass yet?!

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Sweets and pastries at the Nostalgic Bean in Altoona, WI

Holiday Dining

Dine-In

Let's be real; sometimes the holidays can get out of hand. All the cooking, cleaning, and shopping... all you need is a night out! This holiday season, check out some of Eau Claire's local restaurants that serve dishes that put us on the map. 

Take-Out 

Since the effects of COVID-19, many restaurants have continued their take-out and curbside pick-up options. Pick up some of your favorite comfort foods and make it a cozy night in with a holiday movie on the TV and your fireplace lit.

Desserts

Don't think we forgot about dessert! The holidays are all about baked goods. Craving French pastries? The Nostalgic Bean in Altoona is your place. Pie? Stop at Norske Nook in Osseo! Treats that pair well with coffee? Pick up something curb-side from ECDC

CLICK HERE TO SEE A FULL LIST OF RESTAURANTS IN EAU CLAIRE

3 people snowshoeing through Lowes Creek

Winter Activities

Sledding

Where there is a hill and a blanket of snow, there are sleds racing down the slopes in Eau Claire! Grab your snow pants and sleds and enjoy a winter afternoon of pure snowy fun on the sledding hills!

Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

Skiing and snowshoeing, oh my! Eau Claire has plenty of trails that are made just for winter recreation. You can glide through Tower Ridge on your skis or put one foot in front of the other with your snowshoes on at Lowes Creek. Wherever you go, enjoy the beautiful snowy scenes that winter brings to Eau Claire.

Fat Tire Biking

Eau Claire offers miles of bike trails year-round. When winter comes to town, some trails are groomed and ready for the fat tire biking enthusiasts out there. Get outside and get your rush of adrenaline this winter!

Winter Kubb

It's no secret that Kubb is Eau Claire's favorite lawn game. After all, Eau Claire is the Kubb Capital of North America! So, who's to say some snow is going to stop us from playing this game? Grab a group of friends and lay out your Kubb pitch at some of our favorite parks in the area like River PrairiePinehurst Park, or Phoenix Park!

CLICK HERE TO SEE WINTER RECREATION ACTIVITIES IN EAU CLAIRE

More Holiday Events in Eau Claire

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