Downtown for the holidays

Last weekend was the official Holiday Open House in downtown Rhinelander, but that does not mean the fun is over for the holidays. Downtown is a great place to shop, eat and meet friends. For those who have not been there in a while, this holiday season is a great time to check it out. Shopping local for the holidays means money stays in the community, supporting local people who support local businesses. It is a feel-good story that can last all year. Here are a few events happening soon in the heart of downtown: 

Pop Up Community Hours at the Hodag Dome

Head to the dome to work off some of that Thanksgiving meal on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 8 a.m. to noon. Enjoy open turf, community walking hours and first come, first served courts and cages. Adults will need a Hodag Dome membership or a $5 day pass. Kids 18 and under are free.

Cookies with Santa at the VFW Post 3143

Take a break from downtown shopping on Small Business Saturday to stop by the VFW Post 3143 in Rhinelander for some cookies with Santa, and even have your picture taken with him from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Holiday Sale at the Re-Tale Shop

Iceland is known for its unique tradition called “Jólabókaflóð,” or the “Yule Book Flood.” Families exchange books on Christmas Eve as a gift. Families in the Northwoods can make that tradition their own with a stop at the Re-Tale Book Shop next to the Rhinelander District Library on Nov. 29. The Re-Tale Book Shop has three specials during the month of November: 1. All holiday-themed books, puzzles, CDs, DVDs and audiobooks are BOGO free. 2. To honor our veterans, all vets get one free item of their choosing just for visiting our shop. 3. Buy a Rhinelander District Library bag for $10 and fill it for free.

ArtStart Gallery Exhibitions

Strolling through the exhibits at ArtStart on Stevens Street downtown is a great way to spend some time, and a new exhibit just opened on Nov. 20. Enjoy M. Renee Iannarelli’s “With Age Comes Wisdom” exhibit. ArtStart is open Nov. 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rhinelander Tree Lighting

The Stevensport Square will come alive with lights on Nov. 29 with the tree lighting ceremony, hot chocolate, cookies and even a visit from Santa. The event runs from 5 to 6 p.m.

Lights of the Northwoods

Celebrate the magic of the season at Hodag park with Lights of the Northwoods starting Dec. 1. Enjoy the lights and newly added holiday music. Stop and warm up by the bonfires along the lakeside walking path. The public can walk the path or choose to view the display from the comfort of their vehicles by taking the lighted driving path through an impressive tunnel of lights. Admission is free. Collections of nonperishable food items and/or monetary donations will be taken at the end of the driving path and other locations throughout the park. Donations help to support area food pantries, and to keep the event successful for years to come. Additional activities are planned each weekend in December up until the weekend before Christmas.

Holidays with the Legends

Families and kids of all ages will not want to miss the Holidays with the Legends at the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 2. 

There will be free hot cocoa and treats and attendees can have their photo taken with not just one legend, but two: Santa and the Hodag statue! Each attendee will be emailed out their photo the week after the event.

Rhinelander Historical Society Museum Open House

“It’s the coolest day at the museum,” museum director Bill Vankos said. “If you haven’t been to the museum, you need to stop there.” 

Dec. 6, the first Saturday in December, the Rhinelander Historical Society Museum holds their annual open house. There are four different musical acts scheduled with the Northwoods Choraliers at noon, Marilyn Pekol on piano and organ at 1 p.m., the Rhinelander Male Chorus at 2 p.m. and Mary Dahl on piano and Traci Hartzeim on flute at 2 p.m.

The public is welcome to come and enjoy homemade cookies, snacks and eggnog. Vankos said it is an afternoon of music, laughter and fun that no one should miss. The public is also encouraged to tour the house, which looks exactly as it would have when it was built in 1894.

Reindeer Games 

This annual fundraiser for the Northwoods United Way helps the United Way support 27 other non-profit organizations in the area, and is a great way to get together with friends, family and even co-workers and have a great time celebrating the holidays. Executive director Nancy Sattler said each year the fundraiser has a different theme and encouraged all attendees to wear and decorate their own set of antlers. The “best dressed” antlers will even win a prize. The event is $50 per person or $350 for a table of eight. The Reindeer Games event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Not only is this a great event to get friends and families together, but many small businesses buy a table at the event for their employees to celebrate the season, making it a party within a party. 

All are invited to come for nine different heavy appetizers, a raffle, a complementary cocktail (for those 21 and older), and even some reindeer games! For more information, contact Nancy at 715-202-3344.

Pioneer Park Historical Complex Christmas Open House

The Rhinelander Railroad Museum invites the public to kick off the holidays starting on Friday, Dec. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. during their open house. Step inside the beautifully decorated historic depot for festive displays, free cookies and hot cocoa, and family fun with a cozy Northwoods tradition. Speeder rides will be running, with the depot open from 4 to 7 p.m.

The fun continues on Dec. 13 at the museum. Enjoy decorated exhibits, free treats, hands on fun, and speeder rides throughout the afternoon. Horse drawn wagon rides around Pioneer Park will be offered from 1 to 4 p.m. for a small donation by Homestead Vet. Rides are $5 for adults, and free for kids.

Christmas Market

All are invited to stop in at The Hilgermann on Brown Street to complete their holiday shopping at the Christmas Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 13. The event is all about supporting local small businesses and makers and free to the public. There will also be baked goods available for a donation to NATH-Frederick Place.

See the next Downtown for the Holidays for more events coming to Downtown Rhinelander.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].