November is here! After the beautiful fall we’ve had, it’s fun to think of heading right into more cozy days and the upcoming holidays. Decorating, planning meals, thinking about gifts…it’s nice to feel like things are back to normal this season.
We’ve rounded up some fun things to do this month in Northeast Wisconsin, from Oshkosh to Appleton to Green Bay (and beyond) for your family!
Save the Date
- November 15, 2025 – Light the Night Market Holiday Edition
Join us to kick off the holiday season with an unforgettable evening of free fun and festivities at Light the Night Market: Holiday Edition! Enjoy live music and performances, a treat walk, a window scavenger hunt, family-friendly activities, and so much more—all at no cost. This enchanting open-air event will light up Downtown Appleton with dazzling displays, mouthwatering food trucks, captivating arts and crafts vendors, interactive activities, and mesmerizing performers. Presented by Fox Communities Credit Union, the event stretches along College Avenue and into the charming Houdini Plaza. Don’t miss out on this magical community celebration! - November 29, 2025 – Small Business Saturday
Celebrate and support Appleton’s vibrant small business community on Small Business Saturday with the Appleton Passport Program! Grab a free passport and explore over 60 local shops, restaurants, and more, each offering special deals and discounts for one day only. Visit participating locations, collect a stamp with each stop, and once you have five stamps, submit your passport at any participating business for a chance to win a share of over $3,500 in prizes, generously donated by our local businesses and community partners. Join us and discover all the unique, local treasures that make our community shine!
- November 11, 2025: The Wisconsin Herd 2025-26 Basketball Season kicks off with its season opener in Oshkosh!
- November 21, 2025: Ice Rink opens at The Plaza at Gateway Park in Downtown Neenah.
- November 27, 2025: The North Pole Christmas Village in Chilton opens for the season.
- November 22, 2025: Green Bay Holiday Parade
- November 25, 2025: Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade
- November 28-29, 2025: Titletown typically opens its ice rink and starts winter programming and holiday activities with the Winter Jubilee and its Light Show.
Indoor Play Dates
We all know by now that Wisconsin’s weather is always unpredictable. Here are some handy lists for indoor play during rainy and cold November days.
- Indoor Playgrounds, Parks, and Play Areas
- Coffee Shops with Play Areas in the Fox Valley & Beyond
- Indoor Swimming Pools in the Fox Cities
- Indoor Waterparks in Wisconsin
Outdoor Play Dates
Save these lists for those warmer days in November to run off some energy!
Día de los Muertos
Have you seen colorful sugar skulls and artwork depicting Dia de los Muertos? Have you wondered what this tradition and cultural holiday all meant?
Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, is a celebration honoring our ancestors. In Mexico, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on October 31, November 1, and 2. Although seen primarily as a Mexican holiday, it is also celebrated in many communities in the United States where there is a large Mexican-American population, and to a lesser extent, it is also celebrated in some parts of Latin America.
Learn more about this holiday here in What is Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and how is it celebrated in the Fox Cities?
Halloween Candy Buyback
Where to Donate Halloween Candy? – 2025 Candy Buyback Locations in the Fox Cities
High School Musicals & Plays
- Appleton East High School
- Footloose
- November 7-9, 13-15, 2025
- Ashwaubenon High School
- Once Upon a One More Time
- November 21-22, 28-30, 2025
- Chilton High School
- Disney’s The Little Mermaid
- November 13-15, 2025
- De Pere High School
- Grease
- November 13-14, 15 (2 shows), 2025
- Denmark High School
- Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
- November 7-9, 14-16, 2025
- Green Bay East High School
- The Lightning Thief
- November 7-8, 14-15, 2025
- Hortonville High School
- Disney’s The Little Mermaid
- November 6-7, 8 (2 shows), 2025
- Little Chute High School
- The Addams Family Musical: School Edition
- November 13-15, 2025
- Menasha High School
- A Christmas Carol
- November 13-15, 2025
- Xavier High School Theatre
- Seussical Jr.
- November 7, 8, 14, 15, 2025
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays, with all the family and yummy food and a little bit lower pressure and expectations than gift-giving holidays!
We’re looking forward to cranberry sauce and stuffing, and rounded up some spots for you to find dinner if you aren’t able to cook, looking for a meal out on Thanksgiving, or would like someone else to do all of the cooking for you to take home and do all of the eating.
2025 Thanksgiving Guide: Places to Eat, Things to Do & Where to Volunteer – UPDATES coming soon!
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker and the timeless ballet have become a beloved tradition for many families. This enchanting story, filled with magic, adventure, and the power of imagination, has captivated audiences for generations. Families gather together, dressed in their finest holiday attire, to share in the joy and wonder that The Nutcracker brings. Whether attending a live performance at a local theater or watching a televised version from the comfort of their own home, this tradition creates lasting memories that families treasure for years to come. We have some amazing options in the Fox Cities!
- November 21, 2025 – January 5, 2026: Nutcracker in the Castle
- Paine Art Center, Oshkosh
- Reservations required.
- November 28-30, 2025: The Nutcracker at the Weidner
- Green Bay’s Only Nutcracker with Live Symphony Orchestra
- Tickets $24.50-$52
- December 19-21, 2025: The Nutcracker, presented by the Dance Company
- Ashwaubenon PAC, Ashwaubenon
- The Dance Company consists of more than 40 members ranging in age from 8 to adult and representing more than five local communities in the Greater Green Bay area.
- Tickets start at $22
- December 19-21, 27-28, 2025: Nutcracker – The Ballet
- The Grand Oshkosh, Oshkosh
- Presented by Valley Academy for the Arts
Make sure to check out our calendar for fun events throughout the month of November!
