Participating businesses will offer discounts, free gifts, visits from Santa and more.
WAUPUN – Many businesses in Waupun and a few in Brandon are already getting ready to welcome holiday shoppers.
Destination Lake Winnebago Region’s “A Christmas Welcome” kicks off Oct. 31 with a variety of participating businesses selling gifts, holiday decor, treats and other specials through Nov. 2.
Christmas Passports will be available at all participating businesses for shoppers to stamp their journey and enter for a chance to win a $50 gift card to one of the businesses of their choice.
The passports are also available at the Destination Lake Winnebago Region Office, 23 S. Main St. in Fond du Lac, before and during the event.
Businesses offer discounts, free gifts, visits from Santa and more
Bargains Galore Thrift Store, 810 W. Main St. in Waupun, will offer $5 off purchase of $25 or more Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, then 20% off total purchase Nov. 2.
Ver Hage’s Furniture Mart, 806 W. Main St. in Waupun, will give customers a chance to win a Christmas gift basket. Santa will be available 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 2 for pictures.
Wind & Unwined, 310 E. Main St. in Waupun, will also be celebrating its five-year anniversary during the shopping event. The weekend will include raffles, giveaways and Christmas drink and coffee specials, as well as “Flight Nights” on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 with wine, bourbon and cocktail specials.
Customers are also invited to submit their ideas for a Christmas-themed drink for a contest: the winner will have the drink named after them on the Wind & Unwined holiday menu, and they will also get the drink for free throughout December.
Pumpkin Place: Remember when Pumpkin Place filled a Fond du Lac neighborhood with Halloween excitement?
Kartechner & Girls Flower Co., 18 S. Madison St. in Waupun, will offer 30% off plants all weekend, and Sunwinked Beauty Co. will be on site Nov. 2 with a build-your-own charm bracelet bar.
Imagine That Art Studio, 409 E. Main St. in Waupun, will host painting sessions, including one with Santa, for preregistered customers. On Nov. 2, it will also have open studio hours and offer 25% off Christmas pottery.
Brandon stores Garden Scents Everlasting, 107 E. Main St., and RagSpun Studio, 172 E. Main St., will offer discounted fall decor, plus a $5 gift card per every $50 spent that will be good through December.
The full list of participating businesses and their hours is available at fdl.com/a-christmas-welcome.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com.