Door County is dressed for summer and ready for 3 unique festivals this weekend: Steel Bridge Songfest, Sip & Savor + Paddlefest, and the Annual Lighthouse Festival… Check out what’s going on, grab your sunscreen, and book your last minute vacation to the Door Peninsula right now!
Steel Bridge Songfest in Sturgeon Bay
If you’ve been in Sturgeon Bay this week, you may have noticed the increased number of musicians toting guitars, drum sticks, ukuleles, banjos, keyboards, and more around the grounds of the Holiday Music Motel and the neighboring Tambourine Lounge. A unique festival, Steel Bridge Songfest celebrates 10 years of preservation effort and original music making this weekend, June 11-14, 2015! Since SBSF’s beginnings, Sturgeon Bay’s Michigan Street Steel Bridge – the festival’s namesake – has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and undergone restorations thanks to funds raised by the festival and Citizens For Our Bridge 501(c)3. Now SBSF continues each year, reminding us what is possible through the power of community, and bringing together musicians from near and far in a collaborative songwriting environment for a week.
The week of songwriting culminates in 4 days of original music, with a pub crawl in the evenings Thursday, Friday and Saturday, concerts at Third Avenue Playhouse on Friday and Saturday evenings (featuring new songs written this week), and an outdoor stage during the day at the Holiday Motel lot on Saturday and Sunday, there are numerous chances to see a wide variety of musical styles shine. Check out SBSF online for performance details, and download their FREE Mobile App for a map of the pub crawl venues! **Book your weekend stay or just one night at Stone Harbor Resort right across the street from the famed Holiday Music Motel where the SBSF writers are hard at work!
Sip & Savor + Paddlefest in Sister Bay
Sister Bay welcomes summer with the annual Sip & Savor and Paddlefest on Saturday, June 13th. This year the Roofing of the Goats Parade will also be featured at 12:30pm – held in May in previous seasons, this year both the goats and parade participants will enjoy the warmer weather! Parade participants are encouraged to don goat costumes, goatees, Viking hats or costumes to make the event festive – parade line up starts at 12 p.m. in the parking lot on east Mill Road. The Paddlefest portion of this day runs from 11am-4pm at the Sister Bay Beach where you can see demonstrates and get instruction in stand up paddle boarding, and from 1-5pm Sip & Savor wine and hard cider from 7 different Door County wineries complimented by locally produced cheeses! Explore and sample the offerings of Sister Bay’s restaurants through select menu items. Tickets: $25 for wine, cheese, and food, $5 for kids 10 and younger.
Live Music punctuates the day at Waterfront Park starting at 1pm with Terry Murphy with Last Man Standing, and from 3-5pm catch Nick Steingart of The Nicks. The brand new Harbor Pie Co. also kicks off their summer music outside in the Grotto (between Spot and Drink Coffee) with singer/songwriter Marybeth Mattson of Small Forest from 2-4pm. Birchwood Lodge, Coachlite Inn, and Open Hearth Lodge are all located conveniently in Sister Bay and have rooms available for this weekend!
Lighthouse Festival throughout Door County
The Annual Lighthouse Festival offers Door County visitors access to lighthouses that aren’t usually open to the public and 12 different and intriguing trolley or boat tours. Special lighthouse visits to Chambers Island, Plum Island, Sherwood Point and the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal make this festival a must for maritime enthusiasts, but get your tickets ASAP as some tours are already selling out! Visitors may also enjoy a self-guided experience at Cana Island or Eagle Bluff lighthouse, both of which will be open during the festival with regular in-season schedules and rates. There will also be special viewing opportunities for the Sherwood Point Lighthouse and the Sturgeon Bay Canal Station on Saturday & Sunday for a freewill donation. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the Lighthouse Festival online, and don’t forget to check out the Door County Maritime Museums in Sturgeon Bay and Gills Rock while you’re here! Check out your last minute lodging options below…
Last Minute Lodging Options in Door County, WI: June 11-14, 2015
Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay offers rooms and suites with whirlpools, fireplaces, balconies, separate bedrooms, and/or full kitchens, as well as resort amenities including a 21 slip marina, indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub, free WiFi, business center, on-site dining, and live entertainment nearly every weekend! Several rooms are still available for Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday night this weekend so you can enjoy Steel Bridge Songfest as well as live music right at Stone Harbor! No minimum stay requirement. Please call for more information or visit online! (920) 746-0700
The Ridges Inn & Suites in Baileys Harbor has a few suites, classic rooms, deluxe plus rooms and the guesthouse with one two bedroom suite, as well as one cottage – the Twin Cedars South – available this weekend. Our guest rooms offer you the best of Door County on the quiet side where you can enjoy the surrounding nature of the Ridges Sanctuary and the quaint small town atmosphere of Baileys Harbor. Rooms and suites include Satellite TV, A/C, a private balcony, free Wi-Fi, and some have double whirlpools & fireplaces, private gardens and more. (Ask about pet friendly accommodations too!) Please call for more information or visit online! (920) 839-2127
The Shallows Resort on the water south of Egg Harbor has just 1 availability this weekend – their Gatehouse suite is open for the single night of Friday, June 12th. King bed, queen sofa sleeper, fireplace, and full kitchenette: http://www.shallows.com/accommodations/waterfront-lodging/gatehouse. A family-owned and family-friendly resort, their variety of accommodations is designed to meet your vacation needs. Enjoy sunsets from the dock, or launch one of their kayaks, canoes or rowboats, or try cast out a line and relax. Please call for more information or visit online! http://www.shallows.com/ (920) 868-3458 or (800) 257-1560
Birchwood Lodge in Sister Bay has a Premier Suite (expanded studio room with king size bed, double whirlpool Jacuzzi, kitchenette, TV / DVD, gas fireplace and a small patio/balcony) available for this weekend, as well several 2 Bedroom Village Homes available. The hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis courts, game room, light continental breakfast, and steps away to Sister Bay shopping. Please call for more information or visit online! (920) 854-7195 or (866) 854-7195
Coachlite Inn in Sister Bay has rooms available this weekend. Set in the quiet of the pines, the Coachlite Inn & Suites offers the illusion of seclusion, while still being just half a mile from the heart of Sister Bay. Book a Classic or Deluxe Room, a Deluxe Plus Room which features a single whirlpool tub, or a Queen Suite with a fireplace, double whirlpool tub, and a Kitchenette. Enjoy complimentary Door County Coffee and Tea in the lobby and the Deluxe Continental Breakfast, and soak in the whirlpool, sit by the Koi filled garden pond, use the ring of fire, or cook on the BBQ grill. Please call for more information or visit online! (920) 854-5503
Creed Cottage is available for June 11-14, 2015. This is a quaint 3 bedroom cottage located just minutes from the shores of Green Bay waters in Ellison Bay. Situated between Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay, this light-filled and lovely 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath cottage is minutes from the water and convenient to everything in town. 3 night minimum stay, or 2 nights with $150 cleaning fee. Please call for more information or visit online! (920) 854-7317 or email stay@creedcottage.com
Glidden Lodge Beach Resort is located on the shores of Lake Michigan north of Sturgeon Bay and south of Jacksonport near Whitefish Dunes State Park where you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. One, two, and three bedroom units are still available for this weekend, the rates range from $260-$405/night. Enjoy dinner with a view at Donny’s Glidden Lodge Restaurant to wrap up your day, and voila, you’re already at your hotel! Two night minimum stay. Please call for more information or visit online! (920) 746-3900 or (888) 281-1127
AppleCreek Resort is located at the top of the hill in Fish Creek and has various rooms to choose from including hotel-style rooms, a private guest house, and suites, including Honeymoon Suites. Available for June 11-14 are the following options. Please call for best rates and reservations! (920) 868-3525 or (800) 569-0059
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AppleCreek Resort 2 double queens available for the whole weekend, 1 double queen for Thursday the 11th, and one double queen available for 2 nights Thursday (11) and Friday (12).
- 2 queen suites just for Thursday night
- Mini suite available just for Thursday night
- 3 single queen ups Thurs.-Sun and 1 for Fri.-Sun
- 3 single queen downs Thurs.-Sun
- 5 queen economies Thurs.-Sun., and 1 just for Saturday
- 1 Honeymoon suite Thurs.-Sun., and 1 just for Thursday
- 4 king suites just for one night on Thursday!
- The Cottage is also still available with a 2 night minimum.
Open Hearth Lodge in Sister Bay is located on 6.5 acres of scenic Door County open space with landscaped lawn, rural meadows and young forests. Guests are welcome to enjoy the property, and perhaps catch a glimpse wildlife with a walk beyond the patio. Rooms are available this weekend. Please call for more information or visit online! (920) 854-3299
Pine Grove Resort is located in Ephraim and offers a piece of natural, pristine shoreline, and private sand beach, as well as luxury suites with private whirlpool baths, a heated indoor pool, whirlpool, and pool sundeck, overlooking Eagle Harbor. Several double Queen rooms are still available for this weekend. For more information, call or visit them online. (920) 854-2321
Door County Lake House Rentals’ Lake Lodge Guest House on the shores of Europe Lake is available this weekend and features a vaulted ceiling and a cook’s kitchen, three bedrooms, 2 full modern baths, loft and cozy family room with a huge stone fireplace and views of the lake, and a spacious deck. Sleeps 9 including children. Kayak, canoe and rowboat available for your enjoyment. Inquire about 3 night minimum options. Please call for more information or visit online! (920) 854-5706 or email cheryl@dclakehouse.com
Don’t forget to download the FREE Door County Chefs Mobile Dining Guide App for iPhone and Android to find what you’re hungry for in Door County!