Spending The Winter in Lake Geneva: An Unforgettable Experience

Hailey Rose

December 8, 2022

Photo Credit: Visit Lake Geneva

Wisconsin winters bring beautiful snowy scenery and the people you love most together in celebration, especially during the joyous holiday season. Make the most out of Wisconsin’s winter wonderland in Lake Geneva. The area is full of exciting events, and activities inside and outdoors in the frosty air! Read on and plan your visit this winter to the beautiful Lake Geneva area.

Exciting Events

Photo Credit: Abominable Snow Race

For a brand new winter tradition, visit Yerkes Observatory and see The World’s Tallest Glass Tree! This first annual tradition is open and FREE to the public spread over the upcoming weekends from December 2nd through December 18th! Witness for the first time ever as the World’s Tallest Glass tree is built including glass blowing, steel sculpting, and even woodworking! The coolest part? There are drop-off sites where you can drop off glass you’ve collected and be a part of this spectacular, record-breaking event! Make an evening of it and visit the Winter Maker Market right next door where local creators and artists sell one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted glassware. Schedule your visit here

On your marks, get ready, let’s go to the Abominable Snow Race at Lake Geneva Zipline & Adventure Park just minutes from downtown! This year, the race will be held on January 28, 2023, and is full of extreme winter fun. The course will include 4-6 miles to dash through the snow, and over 20 obstacles to complete while you race to the finish line! Register today with your family and friends for an exciting winter event by clicking here.

The winter events don’t stop there… Celebrate the beautiful winter season in Lake Geneva at Winterfest from February 1st through the 5th of 2023! This event is one of Lake Geneva’s biggest, most exciting events of all hosting some of the greatest snow sculptors of all time! Artists gather together in the heart of downtown from all over the country creating beautiful frozen masterpieces. Check out more details here.

Another event that you will want to add to your list is the Geneva Lakes Museum’s Parade of Trees! Open Friday through Monday from 11am-3pm until January 2nd, 2023, you can explore over 35 different Christmas trees that have been decorated by different businesses, residents, and nonprofits spread throughout the Lake Geneva area. The Geneva Lakes Museum puts on this event annually and helps spread holiday cheer throughout the entire holiday season! 

Activities Inside

Photo Credit: The Candle Mercantile via Instagram

Wisconsin winters can be extremely chilly, but here in Lake Geneva, there are plenty of activities inside to enjoy, like the spa! At Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, relax and unwind in the cozy indoors. There are endless spa treatments to choose from. Pick yours here. Sit back, relax, and watch the snowflakes fall from the cozy indoors!

If the spa isn’t for you, don’t you worry, Downtown Lake Geneva will keep you busy with endless shopping, especially for holiday decor and special gifts for your friends and family! To name a few ultimate gift spots, check out Cornerstone Shop & Gallery, Geneva Gifts, and The Candle Mercantile to capture the scents of Christmas and the cozy winter season. For a full list of shops & boutiques in beautiful Downtown Lake Geneva, click here.

After you shop your day away or relax at the spa, you’ll definitely want to grab a tasty bite to eat in the Lake Geneva area. Warm up with a delicious meal at the many local restaurants including Leinenkugel’s Mountain Top Lodge, Grand Cafe, or even Geneva Chophouse. And if you want to head a little bit outside of town for a true Wisconsin supper club experience, Mars Resort is the perfect place for you. Both Mars Resort and Pier 290 offer unforgettable dining experiences only in the winter months, dining in an igloo! You won’t want to miss out on these amazing indoor activities, only in Lake Geneva. 

Activities Outdoors

Photo Credit: Geneva National Resort

Before or after warming up with a delicious winter meal at Pier 290, hop aboard Lake Geneva’s Santa Cruise for a magical outdoor activity of your dreams! This magical experience is open for you to enjoy until December 30th, and I promise you won’t want to miss this! Along your 40-minute excursion on the pristine waters of Geneva Lake, you will see incredible lights, Santa’s Hideaway, and even get the chance to wave to Santa on shore! Come along and see one of Lake Geneva’s favorite outdoor activities during the winter time! Learn more about the Santa Cruise exclusively in ‘Everything You Need to Know About Gage Marine’s Santa Cruise’ here.

If you’re up for an exploration on shore, you will definitely want to visit Geneva National Resort and adventure through a true winter wonderland full of ice castles! In fact, this ice castle is only one of the five in the entire country! But it’s more than just a castle… it’s a kingdom! There are fun-filled features like frozen slides, caves, and fountains. You won’t believe it until you see it so plan your trip today!

Hit the slopes on some of Wisconsin’s finest ski slopes at Grand Geneva Resort! With 20 different ski hills and routes, you’ll want to make a day of it! There’s not just immaculate downhill skiing slopes, there are also snowshoeing trails, cross-country ski trails, skating, and sledding. Grand Geneva Resort offers outdoor activities for everyone! Check them all out here.

Winter in Lake Geneva is a joyous and beautiful time of the year and filled with fun for family and friends. Visit the frozen landscapes of Lake Geneva that are full of exciting events, and activities inside and outdoors in the crisp and cozy weather! Plan your trip to this wonderful winter destination today.

Hailey Rose: Writer for Discover Mediaworks. A born & bred Wisconsinite with a love for fishing, hunting, and enjoying the great outdoors.

*Narration provided by WondervoxAI.

From the team at Discover Wisconsin: We believe in making our content accessible to all, which is why we offer an audio version of our blog posts. By clicking the play button above, you can listen to our blogs!

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