Ozaukee County is the place to be for the holidays!  From Thanksgiving through the New Year, there are festive events happening everywhere you turn.  Here's the complete listing:

Saturday, November 26th
​37th Annual Grafton Christmas Parade at 11 a.m.
Village of Fredonia Tree Lighting, beginning at 6 p.m.

Monday, November 28th
Cedarburg Tree Lighting beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Friday, December 2nd
Thiensville's Tree Lighting, beginning at 6 p.m.

Saturday, December 3rd
​Christmas on the Corner in Port Washington, beginning at 3 p.m.
St. Nicholas Day Celebration in Belgium, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 4th
​Mequon Winter Wonderland, beginning at 4 p.m.
Saukville Tree Lighting, beginning at 6 p.m.

Saturday, December 10th
Christmas Parade in Belgium, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 17th
​Take your kids for a ride on the Polar Express, beginning at 8:45 a.m.

Don't forget the full listing of Cedarburg's holiday events here.  Happy Holidays!

There's nothing quite as Americana as the 4th of July in the small town communities of Oz.  Looking for a celebration near you?  Look no further!

Belgium  The celebration begins in Belgium with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24th at Heritage Park.

Thiensville  Thiensville's Family Fun Before the 4th is a nearly all-day event, and a great day for the whole family!  On Saturday, July 25th, the parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Follow it to the Village Park, where free ice-cream, live music, and a variety of events await, followed by fireworks at dusk.

Rotary Music Festival in Cedarburg  The Drum Corps International Tour will return to Cedarburg on Sunday, July 3, for the 17th Annual Rotary Music Festival. Cedarburg High School Stadium is set to play host to a lineup of 9 World and Open Class corps during this event that will take place on the eve of Independence Day.

Friestadt  It doesn't get any more Americana than Trinity Friestadt's 4th of July Parade and Picnic!  Spend your day enjoying one of Ozaukee County's best kept secrets, beginning with an outdoor worship service at 10 a.m. (weather permitting), an 11 a.m. picnic (complete with root beer floats), a noon tour of the Historical Grounds (with a new display of telephones through the ages), and a  1 p.m. parade, followed by children's games, a flag raising, and the very German music of the Alte Kameraden Band and dancing by the Pommersche Tanzdeel Dancers.













​Grafton  Grafton's 4th of July coincides with Grillin' in Grafton.  The parade begins at Grafton High School at 11 a.m., and makes its way to Centennial Park, where more fun can be found, including an 11:30 performance by the UW Marching Band, and fireworks at dusk.

Port Washington  Port's parade begins at 11 a.m. on the 4th; follow it to  Veteran's Park on the lakefront for an old fashioned ice cream social, bicycle judging, a watermelon seed spitting contest, and music throughout the afternoon.  The only fireworks over the lakefront in Oz begin at dusk, and are best seen from Rotary Park or Coal Dock Park.

Saukville  Saukville's parade begins at 1 p.m., going through downtown and ending at Grady Park for a picnic and activities. Fireworks are at dusk over Peninsula Park.

Cedarburg  Cedarburg's 4th of July Hometown Celebration boasts the largest parade in Ozaukee (roughly 2 hours long!), which begins at Fireman's Park at 10 a.m., and heads south along Washington Ave., making its way to Cedar Creek Park, where a picnic and activities can be found.  The Civic Band performs in the band shell at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30.

Happy Independence Day, Ozaukee!

Memorial Day is when we remember those who died while serving in our country's armed forces, as well as a wonderful reason to gather as a community.  There are a number of events throughout Oz to attend:

In Saukville, the parade begins at 9 a.m., with a ceremony to follow at Veteran's Park. Contact American Legion Post #470 at 262-284-2787 for details.

Port Washington's parade begins at 10:30 a.m. on Grand Avenue at City Hall, and travels east to N. Franklin Street and north to E. Jackson St. There will be a program immediately following the parade at Veteran's Memorial Park on North Lake Street.  The Port Exploreum is open on Memorial Day from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and active military and veterans receive free admission.

Fredonia will have a Memorial Day observance at 9 a.m. at Veteran's Park, sponsored by the American Legion Post #410.  For more information, contact Kim Steffen at 262-692-2171.

Cedarburg's Memorial Day Parade is organized by American Legion Peter Wollner Post 288. It begins at 9 a.m. on the corner of Bridge and Washington, goes south on  Washington Avenue, and ends at Post 288 on Hilbert Avenue. The parade will be followed at 10 a.m. by a Remembrance Ceremony memorial service at Legion Memorial Park, comprising the US Navy Silent Drill Team, a wreath-laying ceremony, and keynote speaker, Major Marcea Weiss, WIANG.

In Mequon, the Memorial Day Parade and Observance begins at 10 a.m., and is sponsored by Howard J. Schroeder American Legion Post 457.  The parade starts at Grace Lutheran Church in Thiensville, and proceeds south along Main St. to City Hall for observances.  A free will offering lunch at the new Post Clubhouse, 6050 W. Mequon Road, is available after the ceremony at Mequon City Hall and a special observance at the Post Clubhouse. 

​Happy Memorial Day to all!

Easter Sunday Brunch is quite a tradition and, luckily, Oz has so many great restaurants to choose from!

In Port Washington, Twisted Willow is serving up a special brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring a build your own Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar, brunch or entree menu, a special children's menu, and a dessert menu that puts any Easter basket candy to shame.  Eating gluten-free?  There are good options on all of the menus!

Port Hotel serves brunch from 10-2 ($26.50 for adults and $9.50 for kids - reservations are recommended at (262) 284-9473), and so does Starters ($13.95 for adults and $7.95 for kids; children under 4 are free - reservations recommended at (262) 261-5255).

From 9:30-3:30, NewPort Shores will have their Easter Brunch.  Adults are $14.95; 12 and under are $7.95; 6 and under are $4.95; and, 2 and under are free.

Saukville's Firehouse Restaurant has an Easter Buffet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $15.95/person (Children 10 and under are half price, and children 2 and under are free).  Call for reservations at (262) 284-8886.

Flannery's at Fire Ridge in Grafton has an Easter Brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $16.95/person ($8.50 for kids 7 and under, and free for kids 3 and under).  There is an egg hunt for children, and a chocolate fountain for everyone!  Reservations are required; call (262) 375-2977.

In Mequon, the Nines American Bistro has the Easter Bunny in attendance, as well as a child-sized buffet for the kids and complimentary mimosas!  Adults are $39.50; 12 and under are $17.50; 5 and under are free.  Reservations required at (262) 518-0129 

Joey Gerard’s has both a brunch buffet from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ($34.95 adults, $14.95 children 3-12 years old) and a dinner buffet from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. ($44.95 adults, $20.95 children 3-12 years old).

No No's in Newburg has a more traditional Easter dinner menu, with options such as Spring Leg of Lamb or Baked Black Oak Ham. They are open from 3-8 p.m.

Are you a bit behind on your Easter Candy shopping?  Get it local!  Chocolate Chisel or CoCa LeNa in Port Washington; Sweet Trio in Grafton; Amy's Candy Kitchen or Ashley's Confectionery in Cedarburg; and, Leo and Lou and Get Happy in Mequon.

​Happy Easter, everyone!

This Sunday is Valentine's Day and, though many consider it a "Hallmark" holiday, the celebration actually dates back to Roman times; a fertility festival called "Lupercalia."  

Times have certainly changed.  Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated by friends, family and lovers, alike, and whether you need a treat for your kids or a romantic gift for your significant other, there are plenty of great, local choices in Oz.

Chocolate Chisel in Port Washington has fresh, chocolate covered strawberries available for the occasion, as well as a wide variety of milk and dark chocolates to choose from.  Bring in your own bottle of wine, and they'll even help create a special gift basket for you.​

A beautiful caramel apple from Amy's Candy Kitchen in downtown Cedarburg makes a wonderful Valentine's gift and, while you're in town, make it a gift from Cedarburg with something from Ashley's Confectionery and Beerntsen's Confectionery, too!

If you're in the Grafton area, stop into Sweet Trio for a delicious variety of chocolates, candy and caramel apples, or, if you're in the southern Ozaukee neck of the woods, Mequon has two brand new candy shops, Leo and Lou's Children's Wear and Confectionery.  ​and Get Happy.  Both are located in the new Mequon Town Center, at the intersection of Cedarburg and Mequon Roads.

It's hard to believe, but some people don't like chocolate and candy.  If flowers are what you're looking for, you're in luck - there are plenty to choose from!  In Saukville, try Lighthouse Florist; in Grafton, there's the Bloomin Olive.  Cedarburg has Rachel's Roses, while Port Washington has La Tulipe.  In Mequon, try A Floral Affair or Fantasy Flowers.

However you share the love, put some Oz into it!  Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.

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