Memorial Day Weekend is when Door County wakes up.
After a long, quiet winter and a tentative spring, the peninsula flips the switch on the last weekend of May and everything opens at once. Seasonal restaurants unlock their doors, the state parks fill with hikers and cyclists, the harbors come alive with boats, and the villages start buzzing with the kind of energy that only comes when summer is finally, officially here.
If you’ve been thinking about a Door County trip, Memorial Day Weekend 2026 is one of the best times to make it happen. The crowds are present but not overwhelming, the scenery is at its absolute peak with cherry and apple blossoms still hanging on across the peninsula’s orchards, and the calendar is packed with events worth building a weekend around.
Memorial Day Weekend 2026 falls on May 23 through May 26. Temperatures in late May typically run in the low to mid-60s during the day and drop into the mid-40s in the evenings, so pack layers and a light jacket. Lake Michigan’s water is still far too cold for comfortable swimming, but the conditions are ideal for hiking, biking, kayaking, and just about everything else the peninsula does best.
Whether you’re planning your first Door County visit or your twentieth, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of the long weekend.
Visit Jacksonport Maifest
The anchor event of Memorial Day Weekend in Door County, Jacksonport Maifest returns for its 53rd year on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, 2026 at Lakeside Park and the Erskine Rest Area in Jacksonport.
For a community of only a few hundred residents, Maifest draws thousands of visitors and has become one of the most beloved traditions on the entire peninsula. Admission is free, which makes it an easy yes for any group.
Saturday kicks off at 9am with the Maifest Juried Art Fair featuring more than 50 artists, plus the concession stand opens with brats, hot dogs, cheese curds, grilled corn, and baked goods from the Women’s Club. The Maifest Parade rolls down Highway 57 at 10:30am, followed by a family midway with inflatable activities, face painting, and live music running throughout the day.
At noon, VFW Post 3088 presents the Memorial Day flag ceremony, a genuinely moving moment in the middle of all the festivity that reminds everyone why the holiday exists in the first place.
Sunday brings the 42nd annual Maifest 10K Run and 2-Mile Fun Run at 9am, more live music, and the Frontier Farmers Horse Pull in the afternoon, where draft horse teams compete by dragging a loaded stone boat. It’s one of those events you have to see to fully appreciate.
Jacksonport sits along the Lake Michigan shore on Highway 57, making it an easy add to any trip up the east side of the peninsula. While you’re in the area, Baileys Harbor is just a few minutes north and worth a stop for lunch or a pint at one of the peninsula’s best breweries.
Explore the Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair
Running the same weekend as Maifest, the 28th Annual Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair takes place at Martin Park in Sturgeon Bay on Saturday, May 23 from 10am to 4pm and Sunday, May 24 from 10am to 3pm.
This is one of the finest juried art events in the region, drawing more than 80 artists from across the Midwest working in sculpture, glass, painting, jewelry, fiber, print, metal, photography, wood, and ceramics. Admission is free and dogs are welcome.
Awards are presented to first through third place in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional categories, with Best of Show and Honorable Mention recognitions on top of that. Beyond the art itself, the event features children’s activities, food vendors, live entertainment, and beer and beverages available on site.
Martin Park is a beautiful setting along Sturgeon Bay’s waterfront, and it’s worth combining the fair with a visit to the Door County Maritime Museum right in town, one of the most underrated stops on the entire peninsula.
Attend a Memorial Day Ceremony
Memorial Day ceremonies happen across the peninsula, and attending one is worth making time for.
In Sturgeon Bay, the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department hosts a ceremony at 10am featuring speakers from Door County Veterans Services, the reading of names of fallen Door County veterans dating back to the Civil War, a rifle salute by American Legion Post 51, and Taps.
The Skyway Drive-In in Fish Creek holds a 10:30am ceremony, and Washington Island’s service takes place at Schoolhouse Beach at 11am.
On Sunday, the Forestville American Legion Post 372 firing squad conducts memorial services at more than 20 southern Door County cemeteries beginning at 7:20am, a quiet and solemn tradition that spans dozens of small communities across the southern part of the county.
Savor a Traditional Fish Boil
There is no more Door County experience than a fish boil, and Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to have your first one or your fiftieth.
Fresh Lake Michigan whitefish, red potatoes, and onions are cooked in a massive outdoor cauldron over an open fire, finishing with a dramatic boil-over when kerosene is thrown on the flames to flush the fish oils off the top. It’s theater and dinner rolled into one.
The White Gull Inn in Fish Creek is one of the most famous spots on the peninsula and has been doing fish boils for generations. The Old Post Office Restaurant in Ephraim is another beloved option with a beautiful waterside setting. Pelletier’s Restaurant and Fish Boil in Fish Creek has one of the longest running fish boils on the peninsula.
Reservations are strongly recommended for Memorial Day Weekend, as these fill up fast once the season kicks off. Check out our full guide to the best restaurants in Door County for more options across the peninsula.
Hike and Bike Peninsula State Park
With more than 3,700 acres of forests, bluffs, and shoreline, Peninsula State Park is the crown jewel of outdoor recreation on the peninsula, and Memorial Day Weekend is one of the best times of year to explore it.
The park has over 20 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy shoreline walks to more challenging bluff climbs, and the scenery is stunning in late May when everything is green and blooming. Eagle Trail offers some of the best views on the peninsula, and the Sunset Bike Trail is a classic for cycling along the Green Bay shoreline.
The historic Eagle Bluff Lighthouse reopens for the season on May 22, 2026 with self-guided tours daily from 11am to 4pm. It’s one of the most photographed landmarks in Door County and the interior is worth seeing.
The park also offers beach access at Nicolet Beach, the best spot in the park to set up for the afternoon even if the water is still too cold to swim. For more ideas on getting outside, our guide to biking in Door County covers all the best trails and rental options across the peninsula.
Kayak the Shoreline
Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of kayaking season on the peninsula, and conditions in late May are excellent for paddling.
The water is calm, the shoreline is uncrowded, and the views of the bluffs and bays from the water are unlike anything you get from the road. Several outfitters operate along both sides of the peninsula with rentals and guided tours, making it easy to get on the water even if you’ve never kayaked before.
Our full guide to kayaking in Door County covers the best launch spots, rental companies, and what to expect on the water at this time of year.
Visit the Door County Maritime Museum
Sturgeon Bay’s Door County Maritime Museum is one of the most engaging indoor experiences on the peninsula and a great option if the weather doesn’t cooperate over the weekend.
The museum tells the story of Door County’s shipbuilding heritage through exhibits on Great Lakes vessels, commercial fishing, and the region’s lighthouse history. It’s genuinely fascinating, and the building itself sits right on the water in downtown Sturgeon Bay.
The Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor also reopens for the season Memorial Day Weekend and is one of the most striking lighthouses on Lake Michigan. The island is accessed via a short causeway that’s often partially flooded in spring, so wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
Stargaze at Newport State Park
Wisconsin’s only designated Dark Sky Park, Newport State Park at the tip of the peninsula offers some of the best stargazing in the Midwest.
After a full day of events and outdoor activity, an evening at Newport watching the sky fill with stars is a genuinely special experience. Bring a blanket and allow your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust. The park’s remote location and strict lighting ordinances in the surrounding area mean the darkness is real and the stars are extraordinary.
Explore The Ridges Sanctuary
Located in Baileys Harbor, The Ridges Sanctuary is a 1,600-acre nature preserve that protects one of the most ecologically significant landscapes in Wisconsin.
The sanctuary is home to rare native orchids, diverse bird species, and the historic Baileys Harbor Range Lights, a pair of lighthouses connected by a boardwalk trail. Memorial Day Weekend falls right at the edge of peak wildflower season at The Ridges, making it one of the best times of year to walk the trails.
Guided hikes and educational programs run throughout the season, and the sanctuary is a wonderful complement to the busier festival events happening elsewhere on the peninsula that weekend.
Sample Local Wine and Cider
Door County has a well-developed wine and cider trail that’s easy to weave into a Memorial Day Weekend itinerary.
Door Peninsula Winery in Carlsville is one of the largest producers on the peninsula, offering free tastings of over 50 fruit wines and hard ciders daily from 9am to 6pm. Their Heritage Cider, made from pre-Prohibition apple varieties native to Door County, is worth seeking out.
Island Orchard Cider in Ellison Bay opens for the season in April and produces award-winning dry Normandy-style ciders from apples grown on Washington Island. For a full picture of the peninsula’s drink scene, our guide to Door County breweries and cideries covers every spot worth visiting.
Village Hop Along Highway 42 and 57
One of the genuine pleasures of Memorial Day Weekend is that the villages are all awake at once for the first time since the previous fall.
Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Sister Bay, Ephraim, and Baileys Harbor all have their galleries, boutiques, ice cream shops, and restaurants open and ready for the season.
It’s a good weekend to wander without a strict agenda, stopping wherever looks interesting and discovering spots you might have missed in past visits. Our Door County itinerary guide has suggestions for structuring your time if you want a more detailed plan.
Practical Tips for Memorial Day Weekend 2026
Book lodging as early as possible. Memorial Day Weekend is one of the most popular weekends of the year on the peninsula, and properties fill up months in advance. Cabins, cottages, and resort rooms along the waterfront go first. Our guide to where to stay in Door County covers lodging options across all price points and villages.
Make fish boil reservations before you arrive. The most popular spots sell out well ahead of the holiday weekend. Call ahead or book online as soon as your travel dates are confirmed.
Dress in layers. Late May weather on the peninsula is beautiful but variable. Mornings and evenings can be genuinely cold, and the lake breeze adds a chill that catches visitors off guard. A light jacket, a fleece layer, and a rain shell cover just about every scenario you’re likely to encounter.
Plan for traffic on Highway 42 through the northern villages on Saturday afternoon. The combination of Maifest in Jacksonport, the Fine Art Fair in Sturgeon Bay, and general holiday weekend traffic means the peninsula gets busy by midday. Start early, build in flexibility, and treat any delays as part of the experience rather than an obstacle to it.
Memorial Day Weekend in Door County is one of the best long weekends the Midwest has to offer. The peninsula is at peak beauty, the events are worth the trip on their own, and the sense of collective excitement at the start of the season makes the whole place feel electric.
Whether it’s your first visit or you’ve been coming for years, there’s no better way to start the summer. For everything else you need to plan your trip, explore our complete Door County travel archive and our picks for things to do in Door County with kids if you’re bringing the family.
Related Guides
- Door County Festivals: A Complete Guide
- Best Restaurants in Door County
- Peninsula State Park: Everything You Need to Know
- Best Breweries and Cideries in Door County
- Biking in Door County
- Kayaking in Door County
- Best Places to Stay in Door County
