Visit Historic Burlington (Chocolate City USA!) this holiday season to discover a wealth of unique stores, quant shops, lovely restaurants, and tons of chocolate! Find that perfect holiday gift whether you are looking for art, chocolate, originally crafted jewelry, garden treasures, chocolate, stained glass, beads, furniture, chocolate, appliances, snow blowers and more, all while shopping in restored buildings from more than a century ago!
Is your favorite shop a Chamber Member? Find out on the Chamber of Commerce website, www.burlingtonchamber.org, while there take a moment to explore our holiday shopping page!

Artisans, Authors and Purveyors of Good Things to Eat. Friday Nite opening Gala , 5 -9 PM, benefits Baraboo's Summerset Theatre. A $5 donation at the door includes champagne/treats/merriment/early shopping. Free Admission, Saturday December 12 , 9AM - 4PM. Shop from 35 potters, basket weavers, authors, jewelers, jackets, mittens, scarves, jellies, jams, teas - Quality crafted items for gift giving. Shop The Very Merry Holiday Fair in the historic Arts Building, 323 Water Street, Baraboo, Wisconsin. Visit many festival events throughout Baraboo's downtown.

December 12th, 2009 Hartford
'Tis the season to be jolly! Enjoy "big band" tradition with the legendary Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and premier vocal group, the Pied Pipers. Under the leadership of Bill Tole, the Orchestra delights the young and the "young at heart" alike, with an era of great music in this memorable holiday performance. The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra has continued successfully for decades and is still in great demand all over the world. The Pied Pipers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. Two great shows, at 3PM & 7:30PM. Call ahead for ticket availability. Schauer Arts & Activities Center, 147 N Rural Street.

December 13th, 2009 Bristol
The Geminids is one of the best meteor showers of the year and never seems to disappoint observers. Here in the Northern Hemisphere we start seeing Geminid meteors as early as December 6. During the next week, rates increase to a peak of 50-80 meteors per hour on the night of December 13th/14th. The last Geminids are seen on December 18, when you might see one every hour or so. Join us for an informal talk about the night skies and then with mugs of hot chocolate, we go out and view the skies. Dress warmly for the weather. Pre-registration is required! Pringle Nature Center, 9800 160th Avenue. 8:30PM-10:30PM.

December 13th thru 18th, 2009 Menomonie
The Menomonie Theater Guild presents "A Hometown Christmas". Menomonie Theater Guild's new Red Cedar Youth Stage presents heartwarming and entertaining variety shows starring young and old alike. Bring your whole family along to enjoy great music, original sketches and monologues, a carol sing, Christmas goodies and more in the holiday decked Mabel Tainter Theater. Performances: December 13 - 2PM; December 13,14,15,16,17,18 - 7:30PM. Call for ticet availability & pricing. Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, 205 Main Street, Menomonie, WI.

December 19th, 2009 Pleasant Prairie
Let us help you celebrate the Holidays at the RecPlex ice arena! Holiday music, bright lights and colorful costumes set the atmosphere for the Pleasant Prairie Skating School U.S. Basic Skills, Freestyle, Synchronized and guest skaters to entertain you and get you in the holiday mood! Skate with Santa and the ice show performers at the RecPlex ice arena immediately following the Holiday Ice Show from 7PM until 8:30PM. Skate with Santa is included in the cost of a paid admission to the Holiday Ice Show. Bring your friends and family to this special event. RecPlex Ice Arena, 9900 Terwall Terrace. 5PM thru 6:45PM.

December 31st, 2009 Plymouth
Everyone around the world recognizes New Year’s Eve with some type of festivities...and only in Plymouth; where cheese is famous, an 80-pound decorated cheese wedge amazingly will descend from a 100 foot ladder truck. The cheese drop will take place in the parking lot of the Plymouth Family Restaurant (right next door to the Arts Center) exactly at midnight! The public is invited to watch - admission to the Cheese Drop is free, and complimentary refreshments will be served. Live musical entertainment & dancing. Plymouth Arts Arts Center. 8:30PM to 1AM.

December 31st, 2009 Prairie du Chien
The first annual Droppin' of the Carp was held in 2002 after Tom Nelson and his wife, Cathie, watched locals in Savannah, Ga. lower a giant styrofoam peach. "We decided we could have some sort of New Year's celebration here in the Midwest," Nelson said. "Being on the river, it had to be a fish." They organize it every year and expect to draw as many as 2,000 - people, that is. All the ceremonial carp are named Lucky because eating carp on New Year's brings good luck. 9PM -door prizes, bonfires lit, hot chocolate, popcorn, a Carp drop King and Queen, and a football game. Countdown at 11:59PM. St. Feriole Island, Blackhawk Ave.