HOLIDAYS

This is the 'best small town to visit for Christmas' in Wisconsin, according to HGTV

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... and some towns lean extra hard into the holiday spirit.

HGTV released its 2023 list of the "Best Small Towns to Visit for Christmas" in each state. From Santa Claus, Ind., to North Pole, Alaska, the towns on the list stand out for their "holiday traditions and vibes" and events such as Christmas markets, light shows, holiday performances and more.

In Wisconsin, the village of Kohler stood out as the most Christmassy town in the state, according to HGTV. The small village has a population of just over 2,000 and is only 10 minutes from Sheboygan. It's also just under an hour's drive from Milwaukee, making it the perfect Christmastime day trip destination.

A 1921 Christmas dinner at The American Club, a historic resort hotel in Kohler, Wisc.

So what makes Christmastime in Kohler so special?

"Each Christmas, the historic village of Kohler transforms into a snow-draped, shimmering backdrop for winter that feels plucked from the pages of a holiday movie," HGTV writes. "Located just outside of Sheboygan, Kohler hosts the opulent, warm waters of the Kohler Waters Spa inside the American Club — a historic, Wisconsin hotel that has hosted the likes of Theodore Roosevelt."

HGTV also recommends Kohler visitors give winter surfing on Lake Michigan in nearby Sheboygan a try. While surfing in Sheboygan is a year-round sport, the best months for waves are September through March, when cooler, denser air pushes water into bigger and more powerful waves.

Christmas lights and trees dominate a yard, Tuesday, December 14, 2021, in Kohler, Wis.

Here are even more Christmastime and winter holiday events in Kohler

If surfing isn't your style, Kohler offers plenty of winter and holiday events throughout the season:

Frozen Fairways offers ice skating, winter sports and holiday treats

Destination Kohler's "Frozen Fairways" event will kick off on Thursday, Dec. 7, at Blackwolf Run golf course. Frozen Fairways will run from Dec. 7 to Feb. 29.

Frozen Fairways will offer cross-country skiing, curling and snowshoeing at the golf course, 1111 W. Riverside Drive. There will also be sledding, fat-tire biking and patio games.

The golf course will feature an ice skating rink and light show displays. The hospitality group will have a hot chocolate bar, s’mores and chef dinners, too.

Frozen Fairways will also host numerous special events, including live music, guided hikes, carriage rides, New Year's Eve fireworks and Christmas cookie decorating. Check out this Sheboygan Press story for a full schedule of Frozen Fairways events or the Frozen Fairways website.

Olivia DePew, 7, screams with delight as she sleds down Ravine Park hill Saturday December 17, 2016 in Kohler. DePew, according to her father Craig, just moved from Arkansas to Kohler and this is their first Wisconsin Winter.

Frozen Fairways children's events schedule

Watercolor painting: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 and Feb. 11
Photos with Santa: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 16
Ice bubble making: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 17, Dec. 26 and Jan. 21
Magic show: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 27
Scavenger hunt: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 28
New Years Eve party: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 31
Ice sculpturing building: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 25

St. John the Baptist Catholic school students made this gingerbread house on display at the Waelderhaus, Saturday, November 28, 2022, in Kohler, Wisc.

Gingerbread Festival at Kohler's Waelderhaus

Kohler's Gingerbread Festival returns for its 27th year at the Waelderhaus. The free annual celebration at the historic house museum, 1100 W. Riverside Dr., will begin Nov. 24 and run through Dec. 30. It will be open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

There will be a hand-crafted gingerbread houses and sculpture competition with participants from local schools and community organizations, the Sheboygan Press reported.

As part of the festival, the Waelderhaus will host musical performances from local groups. Check out this Sheboygan Press story for the performance schedule.

Year-round bonfires

The American Club and Blackwolf Run offer year-round bonfires to warm up and enjoy time outside in the winter cold. Learn more at Destination Kohler.

Winter sports

Frozen Fairways, Sports Core and River Wildlife offer snowshoeing on Kohler's trails, according to Destination Kohler. River Wildlife also offers cross country skiing.

Even city hall's address is festive in North Pole, Alaska.

What other US cities were highlighted in HGTV's 'Best Christmas Towns' list?

If you're interested in traveling a little farther for a fun holiday experience, here are HGTV's "Best Small Towns to Visit for Christmas" in each state:

Sheboygan Press reporter Alex Garner contributed to this report.