Jefferson County Tourism Council
DECEMBER 2015

Jefferson County Restaurant Review Crew
by Randy Otto and the rest of the hungry crew

DONNY'S GIRL SUPPER CLUB
Five minutes Southeast of Watertown on Highway E
920-262-1919

 
The Packers had just lost to the Carolina Panthers that afternoon. We had the visit to Donny's Girl planned for that evening. What else was there to do but eat and look forward to the next game: "The Lions should be a breeze. We've got them at home." (Little did we know, as we ate our Donny's Girl dinners...)

So it was with football optimism that found us in Pipersville, Wisconsin - that out-of-the-way spot on County Road E in northeastern Jefferson County Wisconsin famous for that quintessential...
 
"Take time enough for your meals, and eat them in company whenever you can. There is no need for hurry in life - least of all when we are eating."  
~ Edward Everett Hale, "How to Get the Best of It," c.1892 ~ 
 




 
 

Jefferson County Discounts
Have you checked out all of the great discounts offered in Jefferson County? From restaurants to B&Bs, from hotels to theater, to shopping shopping shopping - we have it all!

Here is just a sample of what you will find on our discount page.  









December Events in Jefferson County
(please double-check our website to verify dates and times)
Through December 27, 2015 - A Wonderful Life - The Musical
    
Frank Capra's story of George Bailey and his wonderful life in Bedford Falls has brought hope and inspiration to millions. The Fireside continues its long tradition of bringing you the finest in Christmas entertainment with a stunning, live stage version of this beloved film. Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick and Grammy and Emmy winner Joe Raposo, A WONDERFUL LIFE captures all the magic of the film and so much more with the true spirit of Christmas.


Fort Atkinson - Fireside Dinner Theatre - 1131 Janesville Ave

Seven shows weekly Wednesday through Sunday
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December 4-6, 2015 - Legendary Classic Christmas

Christmas Tree Many great event happen this weekend around Lake Mills.  Friday night will be the Tree Lighting in  Commons Park with Santa visits for the children.

Saturday start with the EMS Breakfast, Two craft shows in town on at 505 Reed St. and the other one at the Rock Lake Activity Center.  If you need cookies stop at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for their Cookie Walk.  Rock Lake Activity Center will also hold their annual Tour of Homes, if you need lunch the Trinity Lutheran Church hosts it Holiday Luncheon.

Sunday take time for the Moravian Advent Concert.  For the most up to date information and times check out our website.

Lake Mills - all over town - see the Lake Mills Chamber of Commerce online calendar for additional details and locations.
920-648-3585
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December 4-6, 2015 - A Christmas Carol

This is the premier performance of Rock River Theatre Guild. Dicken's Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol, will be directed by Trudianne Thom and stars Sean Alwin as Scrooge.

NBC 15's Christine Bellport will introduce Saturday's performance and will be available at intermission for photos.

Also on Saturday, Paddy's is offering a pre-dinner menu. Salad, Beef Tenderloin, and Dessert for $40 (or choose Salmon for $30).

Or join us Sunday for Tea and Goodies during intermission (donation requested).
Tickets to the show only $10 for adults and $7 for children.
Purchase tickets at rrtg.tixato.com or call 920-563-7811 (ex. 1119).
7pm Friday and Saturday and 2pm Sunday

Fort Atkinson - Fort Atkinson High School 
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December 4-6, 2015 - Cambridge Classic Christmas

Experience Cambridge Classic Christmas in the Victorian village of Cambridge. Do a Day of Play in Cambridge with fabulous shopping,  free horse-drawn hayrides , visits and photos with Santa,  a Fat Tire Ride, Elf Shelf Kids Activities and Shopping, Caroling, Cookies,  Strolling Madrigal Singers, magical Holiday Lights Display at Lake Ripley Park , traditional tree lighting ceremony, 
CAP's Breakfast with Santa,  Pet Portraits with Santa and more.

This annual event is one of the keystone events for Cambridge, Wisconsin. Come celebrate the holidays in our quaint, welcoming village. The event runs from Friday evening through Saturday and Sunday the first weekend in December. It's three festive days of holiday fun.
 
All day
Cambridge - Downtown Cambridge, WI 53523
Through the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce 
608-423-3780
 
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December 4, 2015 - Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

xmas-tree-icon.gif Bring the family downtown for the Lake Mills Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. St. Nick will make a special appearance to "magically" light the tree. The event starts at 5:30pm in Commons Park with St. Nick arriving shortly after the start. Enjoy music, cookies and candy canes. And bring your Christmas wishes - Santa will be taking "requests" from the children in the gazebo after the Tree Lighting!

6pm
Lake Mills - Lake Mills, WI
920-648-6721
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December 5, 2015 - Annual Parade of Lights

20th Annual Christmas Parade of Lights, downtown Jefferson @ 5:30 p.m.

Refreshments, entertainment and Santa will be available after the parade. Sponsored by the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.
5:30 pm

Jefferson - Jefferson, WI
920-674-4511
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December 5, 2015 - Holiday Open House

Looking for some unique Christmas gifts? Fort Atkinson is offering a one day event to shop locally downtown from various vendor booths. Check out the beautiful handmade crafts and foods people put together with their talents. It may be that special gift for a loved one or someone special!

This year's theme is "It's a Wonderful Life in Fort Atkinson." Enjoy refreshments, in-store specials, strolling carolers, trolley rides and hayrides with Santa while finding gifts for everyone on your holiday list. Enter the Holiday Red Box drawings at area retailers for a chance to win over $1500 in prizes. Purchases made on December 5 will support this year's Merchants Making a Difference recipient - The Council for the Performing Arts in Jefferson/Jefferson County.

In addition to the Holiday Open House festivities, the 8th Annual Winter Farmers & Art Market will take place in downtown Fort Atkinson at the Soulful Toad, Fort Atkinson Club Community Center and the First Congregational Church from 9am-3pm with over 60 farmers and art vendors. Get all of your holiday party needs and find original holiday gifts from local artisans. Enjoy live music, teen art gallery, kids arts projects, community groups, food, prizes and much more! Play the Shopping Bingo game for a chance to win over $500 in prizes by visiting participating market vendors and retailers to get your Bingo card stamped. 

11:00am - 5:00pm

Fort Atkinson - Main Street  
(920) 563-3210
 
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December 5-6, 2015 - A Farmhouse Christmas 

Enjoy the 2nd Annual Farmhouse Christmas at a beautiful family farm in Waterloo on December 5 and 6. Find all handcrafted and local items including jewelry, scarves, socks, mittens, ornaments and Christmas decorations. Also for sale: Christmas cookies and lefse. There will be free apple cider and ornament making for the kids. Some of the proceeds will go to the Empty Stocking Club and the Jefferson Christmas Neighbors funds.

Waterloo - N8248 Hwy O at the BeefnBeaks Farm
beefnbeaks.com
920-478-2045 
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December 6, 2015 - 2015's 22nd Annual Parade of Homes

2015's 22nd Annual Parade of Homes
First Sunday of December
December 6, 2015
1:00pm - 5:00pm

This year's featured homes are:
913 Shamrock Lane
1412 Country Club Lane
W7018 Provimi Rd. (at roundabout & Hwy L)
407 Riverwood Ct.
1080 Boughton St.

Bonus tour location: Immanuel Lutheran Church - 204 N. 10th St.

Purchase $12 advance tickets at these locations:
Tribeca Gallery Caf� & Books
The Willows Home & Boutique
Piggly Wiggly-Watertown Store

Tickets also available day of the event for $15
Proceeds to benefit Watertown Main Street Program and the Watertown Hometown Missions

1pm - 5pm
Watertown, WI
920-261-6320
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December 8, 2015 - A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens' well-loved classic tale has returned to the stage in Maranatha Baptist University's production of A Christmas Carol.

Jeff Miller portrays Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future and is given a "chance and hope of escaping his fate." The case of more than 45 includes actors from the Watertown community as well as Maranatha Baptist University students.

Director Christina Miller shares: "We've adapted the script, overhauled the costumes, and redesigned the set. We are also using technology to create exciting special effects for the piece. Essentially, this production will be unlike any of the previous productions that we have done her at MBU."

A Christmas Carol will be showing December 8, 10, 11, and 12 at 7pm, with a matinee showing on December 12 at 2pm.

Tickets are currently open to the public: adults $10, students (college age and below) $8.50, and senior $7.50. Childcare is not provided.

For ticket reservations, call Guest Relations (920-206-2370) from 1-4pm Monday through Friday. Tickets may be reserved with cash, check, VISA or MasterCard.

Watertown - Maranatha Baptist University
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December 11, 2015 - An Irish Christmas

The Kerry Dance Troupe, as seen on PBS, was established with the intention of promoting and celebrating Irish culture and its rich traditions through dance. This troupe blends various aspects of Irish folk-dance with old and modern Irish dance styles, exposing audiences to the beauty, value, passion and uniqueness of traditional Irish ways that play such an important part in the life of the community. This production showcases several Irish dance traditions for the holidays.

DINING OPTION AVAILABLE @ 6:00 p.m.

Visit our website for menu and ticket information
7:30pm
Whitewater - Young Auditorium - 930 West Main Street  
Box Office: 262-472-2222
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December 12, 2015 - Tyranena Ladies Club "Breakfast with Santa"

santa-kiss2.jpg Enjoy a wonderful breakfast and a visit from Santa.  Held at the American Legion Post 67.

9am to 10:30am
Lake Mills Chamber of Commerce, Lake Mills, WI 53551
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December 12, 2015 - Lake Mills Winter Market

Winter Market If you're already counting the days until the Lake Mills Farmers' Market opens up in May, never fear - we have just the event to tide you over!

Some of your favorite Lake Mills Farmers' Market vendors will gather on Saturday, December 12 for our annual Winter Market. The Commons and Gymnasium of the Lake Mills Middle School (381 College Street) will be bursting with food products, jewelry, scarves, rugs and other crafts. You'll be able to stock up on kettle corn, fudge, and honey. You will find a wide variety of items, with over 100 vendors at this great show. Live music, hot food and more will be available.

The number of participating vendors continues to grow each year!

Enjoy holiday music all day, from live groups to popular recordings.

If you are going to the Tyranena Ladies Club Breakfast with Santa at the Legion that morning, don't forget to bring the family to the Lake Mills Middle School and enjoy the Winter Market afterwards!

9am - 3pm

Lake Mills - 318 College Street 
920-648-6721
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December 12, 2015 - Waterloo Holiday Parade

Parade starts at 4:30pm on Saturday, December 12 in downtown Waterloo. The theme this year is North Pole Fantasy. Enjoy a Meet & Treat after the parade at the Waterloo VFW building where you will find FREE cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. There will also be an auction with the proceeds going to the Waterloo/Marshall food pantry.

Santa will be there to meet up with all of the little (and not so little!) boys and girls. Bring your cameras - it's a great photo op! 

4:30pm

Waterloo - downtown
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December 19, 2015 - The Nutcracker Ballet (The Dance Factory)

Warm memories often begin with holiday traditions, and Tchaikovsky's most famous ballet, The Nutcracker, is performed annually at Young Auditorium by accomplished dancers from The Dance Factory. This delightful production features talented area youth, gorgeous costumes, lavish backdrops, and talented dancers. The Nutcracker ballet is based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman. It's the story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King. Enjoy this lively performance of the classic tale!

2:00pm and 7:00pm

Whitewater - Young Auditorium - 930 West Main Street  
Box Office: 262-472-2222
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December 31, 2015 - Ring in the New 2016!

Join us for a brand new revue filled with music and comedy to usher in the New Year with sound, color and great, great fun!  Featuring audience favorite Steve Watts leading The Fireside's wildly popular eight piece live band, hosted by Ed Flesch and performed by a cast of multi-talented singers and dancers, RING IN THE NEW brings back great moments from our live band shows like THOSE FABULOUS FIFTIES and VIVA VEGAS, as well as recreating memories from some of our great Broadway musials and presenting brand new music and comedy. The show is created especially for New Year's Eve at The Fireside.  There are several dinner theatre packages to choose from and a gala celebration in the lounge after the evening show.

Matinee arrival at Noon, Evening show arrival at 6:00pm

Fort Atkinson - The Fireside Dinner Theatre - 1131 Janesville Avenue  
800-477-9505
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JEFFERSON COUNTY TOURISM COUNCIL CONTACT INFO  

 

President:  Kate Anderson  |  [email protected]  |   920-648-3585
Vice President:  Steven Cline   |   [email protected]
Treasurer:  Janet Werner   |   [email protected]   |   920-674-4511

Secretary:  Katie Otto  |  [email protected]  |  920-648-6721

Newsletter Editor: Katie Otto |  [email protected]  | 920-988-4458  

Official Guide Representative:  Jennifer Erdman   |   [email protected]   |   414-213-4125