ON THE COVER
Celebrate the arrival of 2026 at various parties, live music & family-friendly events tonight in the Lake Geneva area.
James Bond, time traveling & more in this year's NYE celebrations
LOOK AHEAD
The baker House describes its Time Travelers ball as a Victorian-meets-steampunk affair.
Van Wailin' is playing at a New Year's Eve event at Pier 290 in Williams Bay.
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa's Gingerbread House Walk ends Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Look Ahead lists some of the events happening in the Lake Geneva area. The following information is subject to change. Confirming details with event planners is recommended. Email Steve Targo at stargo@lakegenevanews.net to have an event appear in this listing.
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Gingerbread House Walk & Competition — 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Brissago Foyer at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, town of Lyons, grandgeneva.com. Final day for the general public to view entries into this annual competition. See online for more.
Noon Years Eve — 11 a.m.-1 p.m., The Treasury, 303 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan. One thousand balloons will be dropped at this event, which also includes dance music, sparking beverages for all ages and more. Tickets $10.55 via Eventbrite.
Four Wheel Drive New Year's Party — 4 p.m., Studio Winery + Geneva Lake Distilling, 401 Sheridan Springs Road, Lake Geneva. Four Wheel Drive begins its show at 5 p.m. Go to the Studio Winery + Geneva Lake Distilling Facebook page.
New Year's Eve Dining — 4-10 p.m., Geneva ChopHouse and Ristorante Brissago at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, grandgeneva.com. Four-course dinners are at both establishments.
Note: As of press time, tickets were sold out to the dinner at Grand Geneva's Grand Cafe. More details online.
New Year's Eve Dinner — 4-9 p.m., 1878 On the Lake at Lake Lawn Resort, lakelawnresort.com. Prix fixe dinner menu priced at $145 per person. Reserve a spot online.
Get Your Game On Family New Year's Eve Party — 5 p.m.-midnight, The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana, theabbeyresort.com. DJ, dancing, dinner at Waterfront, indoor and outdoor movies, midnight balloon drop and more.
Time Travelers Ball — 5:30 p.m., The Baker House, 327 Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva, bakerhouse1885.com. Cocktails, music, a costume contest and more at this Victorian-meetssteampunk affair. There are two packages for the event. The VIP Dinner Party Package, for $130 per person, starts with cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m. Dinner seating starts at 6:30 p.m. The VIP package also includes a private show by Classical Cabaret. The Time Travelers Ball starts at 9 p.m. The Party Package Only, which is $60 per person, is for entrance into the ball. Go online for more.
Casino Royale New Year's Eve Party — 7 p.m.-1 a.m., Maxwell Mansion, 304 S. Wells St., Lake Geneva, staymaxwell.com. A celebration of the 170-year-old Maxwell Mansion with a James Bond twist, with dancing, a casino and more. Note: Event is listed as sold out online, as of press time. Check online for more.
New York New Year's Eve Dinner Party — 7:30-11:15 p.m., Pier 290, 1 Liechty Drive, Williams Bay, pier290.com. Fourcourse dinner with Van Wailin' playing music live until 10:30 p.m. Guests will watch the ball drop in New York at 11 p.m. See more online.
Live Music: Blue Rhythm — 8 p.m.-midnight, The Thirsty Parrot, W3725 Club House Drive, town of Geneva.
New Year's Eve Family Party — 8 p.m.-midnight, the Great Room at Lake Lawn Resort, lakelawnresort.com. Family Glow Party with DJ, dancing, sparking cider toast at a 10 p.m. "mock countdown" and at midnight, plus more. See online.
New Year's Eve Bash — 9 p.m.-5 a.m., Thumbs Up Saloon, 260 Broad St., Lake Geneva, thumbsuplakegeneva.com. DJ Hollywood provides music, plus free beads, hats, noisemakers and a champagne toast at midnight.
Feast & Fest New Year's Celebration — 9 p.m.-2 a.m., The Abbey Resort, theabbeyresort.com. Four-course prix fixe dinner at 240 West, live music and dancing at Waterfront, plus an open bar, midnight champagne toast and more. While event is open to resort guests, tickets to attend only the celebration are available. See more online.
New Years Eve 2026 at The Treasury — 9 p.m., The Treasury. A black tieoptional event with music by the 17-piece Underground Sound Jazz big band. Also, a 1,000-balloon drop, champagne upon entry and more. Tickets start at $75 on Eventbrite.
Adults Only New Year's Eve Party — 10 p.m.-1 a.m., Geneva Ballroom at Lake Lawn Resort, lakelawnresort.com. Music, dancing, NYE countdown and more. Event is open to those who are staying at Lake Lawn on family or adult packages. General public can purchase a ticket to attend the party for $40. Go online for more.
Friday, Jan. 2, 2026
Parade of Trees — 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Geneva Lake Museum, 255 Mill St., Lake Geneva, genevalakemu-seum.org. Museum guests can tour the numerous trees that were decorated by local organizations, then vote for their favorite. The winner will receive a People's Choice Award. People can visit the tree display during regular museum hours FridaysMondays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., through Jan. 5, 2026.
Santa Cruises — Cruises at 4:20 & 5:20 p.m., Gage Lake Geneva Cruise Line's Winter Harbor, 1 Liechty Drive, Williams Bay, cruiselakegeneva.com /publictours/santa-cruise. Families can take their children on a heated Geneva Lake boat ride to see Santa Claus from the shore of his lakeside hideaway. St. Nick will read off the names of children who made the Nice List this year. Plus a Christmas Tree Festival prior to the cruise and a raffle to support 531 Fund local charities. Final cruises of the season are Jan. 3, also at 4:20 and 5:20 p.m. Go online for more.
Live Music: Jeff & LJ — 5-9 p.m., Studio Winery + Geneva Lake Distilling. Visit the event page on Facebook for more.
Live Music: Jon Allegretto — 6-9 p.m., Geneva Tap House, 252 Broad St., Lake Geneva, genevataphouse.com.
Saturday, Jan. 3
Live Music: Hobie & the Leftovers — 5-9 p.m., Studio Winery + Geneva Lake Distilling.
Monday, Jan. 5
Movie Mondays with Black Point Estate — 2-4 p.m., Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main St., Lake Geneva, lglibrary.org. A series of film screenings this winter with introductions by Dave Desimone, of the Wisconsin Historical Society, then group discussions after. The film to be screened this month is "The Rules of the Game."
