Winter brings all new Things To Do to Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is known for its sparkling water, active boating scene, local charm and relaxing vacations – half of that doesn’t stick around during the Winter, but there are some other things that make this area a special place to visit all year round.
Lake Geneva’s local charm and relaxing vacation options don’t go anywhere once the temperatures start to drop and the snow starts to fly. But since it’s technically the “off-season” up here (we don’t like that term because we’re always on for having a good time even when it’s cold), most of the hotels and resorts have package deals for overnight stays, including ones that come with tickets to Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s Santa Cruise which is hosted right here on our property!
Santa Cruise
Santa Cruise is a magical boat ride that takes riders of all ages on a journey to Santa’s Hideaway located right here on Lake Geneva (did you know Santa summers here?). The cruise starts off with the Festival of Trees, which raises money for several charities in Walworth County. It’s our favorite holiday tradition that we hope you enjoy as much as we do! After your cruise, come into Pier 290 to warm up by one of our fireplaces, get a drink and try some new dishes off of our Fireside Menu or some classic comfort food from our regular menu.
Ice Castles
The Ice Castles are returning to the Lake Geneva area this winter! But this time they’re much closer to us in Williams Bay. Ice Castles is an award-winning frozen attraction that’s only built in the winter in six cities across North America. The Ice Castles are build using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-laced by professional ice artists. The castles include LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides and fountains. This year, the Ice Castles are located at Geneva National, which is just around the corner from Williams Bay on Highway 50. Stop by before or after your Ice Castles adventure and try out our Fireside Menu!
Live Music
An event that sticks around during the winter is our live music on the weekends. We have live music every Friday and Saturday throughout the year. They may move inside to avoid the cold temperatures but all of our regulars – like D’Lite Duo, Un-Hitch’D and Glenn Davis – bring the heat and the party to our stage even when it’s chilly outside.
Bringing the Heat Outdoors
This winter we’re bringing back one of our most requested features for winter dining – our Igloos. The igloos are small heated domes placed right out on our beach. You and several of your friends and family (or maybe just you…that’s your choice!) get to enjoy amazing winter views of Lake Geneva just like you’re sitting outside, but stay warm and toasty during your meal. Call for reservations!
We’re also introducing a new feature this winter – an outdoor bar in our heated canopies. Our canopies (open on the weekends) feature THE BEST view of Lake Geneva from a bar, several seating options, multiple TVs and a large wood-burning fireplace. Whether you’re enjoying a drink with friends, getting a meal with your family, or watching a big game – our canopies offer a unique winter experience on the lake.
Special Events
Another great thing about the winter months are all of the holidays we get to celebrate and weekends we get to spend with family and friends. If you have friends and family coming into town for the holidays, bring them to Pier 290. We have plenty of room to accommodate large family groups. We’re also serving weekend brunch this winter so you and your family have a spot to come relax on a Saturday or Sunday morning. We have everyone’s favorite breakfast options – including Bloody Marys and Mimosas!
We will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas, but we will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party! We’ll have a special menu with appetizers, entrees and desserts for the celebration, and we’ll have live music from 4:30pm until after midnight.
And we can’t forget about the craziest event of the Winter – every year on New Year’s Day (around noon) a group of crazies jump into Lake Geneva to celebrate the new year. We won’t be jumping, but we’ll be around to warm you up afterward!
To make reservations for our igloos, a family dinner around the holidays, or a table during our New Year’s Eve party visit our website or give us a call at 262-245-2100.
