Snow is in the air, as is the Christmas spirit. There are lots of different winter activities with lights and activities for people of all ages.

Christmas Village

Walk or drive through the 35th annual Irvine Park Christmas Village. This light show has over 60,000 lights and over 100 life-size Christmas scenes according to their website.

It is located just 20 minutes from Eau Claire in Irvine Park Chippewa Falls. It is open until Jan. 1, 2023, from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. except for Christmas Eve when it is open until midnight.

While the event is free, they do accept donations and volunteers to help set up and take it down.

This is a fun free event for people of all ages.

Along with Christmas Village Irvine Park also has a free zoo and over 300 acres of scenic and natural area according to its website.

Chippewa Valley Parade of Lights

While it is fun to drive around looking at lights aimlessly, the Eau Claire Parks and Recreation Department created a map of lights for Eau Claire and the surrounding Chippewa Valley.

Houses and businesses decorate for the holidays as they choose and can add themselves to the map, so people are able to easily find lights.

This is available at any time of the day from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31.

Drive around with family or friends, hot chocolate, and some Christmas music enjoying the colorful and exciting Christmas season.

The map can be found on the Parade of Lights website.

Christmas at Ferguson’s

The Christmas spirit is brought to Ferguson’s Apple Orchard.

They sell things from Christmas trees and wreaths to apple cider donuts from their bakery.

Not only do they sell physical items, but they sell experiences as well, like wagon rides and photos with Santa – a lot of things you can find in the North Pole.

Within the orchard they have a Christmas Village with a play-building area and interactive holiday displays.

They are open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Dec. 18. Ferguson’s Orchard can be found at 6470 Balsam Rd, Eau Claire.

All of this information and more can be found on the Ferguson Orchard website.

Geske can be reached at [email protected].