FOND DU LAC COUNTY — If you’re looking for something new to do or see this holiday season, Fond du Lac County communities have you covered.

From holiday movie showings to local markets, there are plenty of activities and shopping opportunities in the greater Fond du Lac area.

Here are a few to add to your list this season.

Dickens of a Christmas in Ripon Dec. 1 to 3

A nod to Ripon’s historic connection to Ripon, Yorkshire in England, the city’s Dickens of a Christmas event will light up the downtown district with carriage rides, carolers and “living windows.”

Starting Dec. 1, the first main event will be the holiday parade at 6:30 p.m., though the day’s activities will also include a Dress-a-Doll contest at the Ripon Public Library, 120 Jefferson St., to benefit area food pantries and kids in need, as well as a gingerbread house contest with displays at Farrell’s Fine Furnishings, 214 Watson St. Both contests will return Dec. 2, and the Dress-a-Doll contest will also return the afternoon of Dec. 3.

Area service clubs and organizations contribute and decorate Christmas trees for the Enchanted Forest at Horicon Bank, 400 Watson St., available to view starting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 10 a.m. Dec. 2.

Free horse-drawn carriage rides start at 2 p.m. Dec. 2, and Saturday’s events lead up to the living windows, which come alive at 5:30 p.m., each depicting a Christmas carol.

Dickens of a Christmas wraps up with the Ripon College Holiday Concert at 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Great Hall in Harwood Memorial Union, 300 Seward St.

For the full schedule of activities, including dining specials, artisan fairs, open houses and more, visit ripon-wi.com.

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Small Business Saturday in Ripon

Many stores in Ripon will have special promotions for Small Business Saturday Nov. 25, and the area has plenty of options for shopping all season long.

Patina Vie, 205 Watson St., offers home goods and décor in a mix of vintage items with modern style, while Hart Mercantile at 206 Watson St. has another variety of decorations and gifts, including locally handmade goods and a full Christmas collection.

More home décor is available at Back Porch Gatherings, 217 Watson St., which also includes garden items; Chic Tique, 231 Watson St., with a little bit of everything; Fiddler Creek, 311 Watson St., for a seasonal-focused feel; and gentleman’s store Gents, 211 Watson St., with vintage decor, vinyl and its own line of coffee.

Watson Street also has a number of boutiques with clothing and gifts, including The American Alchemy at 305 Watson St., Soul Patina at 123 Watson St. and Hamilton’s Ladies Apparel at 125 Watson St.

For jewelry, look out for Diedrich Jewelers, 212 Watson St., specializing in fine and custom jewelry as a family business for the past 100 years.

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Wheels and Reels showing ‘Home Alone’ in Waupun Nov. 30

Waupun will start its post-Thanksgiving holiday festivities with a Wheels and Reels free showing of “Home Alone” at Tanner Park Nov. 30.

Moviegoers have two options to see the movie — at 4:30 or 6:30 p.m. — and can park their cars in front of the screen, tune their radios to the dedicated station and enjoy the movie.

Trolley Night and Midtown Market in Waupun Dec. 14

My Property Shoppe and Thrivent Financial in Waupun will host the free Trolley Night Dec. 14, with the trolleys running from 5 to 7:45 p.m.

The meeting spot for the North Side Trolley will be Modern Mercantile, 23 E. Jackson St., and the meeting spot for the South Side Trolley will be My Property Shoppe, 6 E. Franklin St.

In addition, Midtown Market’s pop-up winter market will coincide with Trolley Night at 4 E. Franklin St., between the two pick-up locations.

Waupun Winter Market Dec. 21

The Waupun Winter Market started in October and will continue every third Thursday through March.

The Dec. 21 market will be at Go-Dutch Solutions, 328 S. Division St., with several vendors in a farmers’ market-like setting, while Go-Dutch offers a limited menu.

Small Business Saturday in Waupun

Waupun’s small business offerings for Small Business Saturday and beyond include a variety of handmade or curated gift ideas.

Imagine That Art Studio, 409 E. Main St., has opportunities for making your own gifts with painting, resin and other craft sessions.

Blue Heron Antiques, 309 E. Main St., offers not only antiques, but also home furnishings and other goods for the home or body. Chic Tique, 300 E. Main St., has a vast inventory of decorations, furnishings and clothes — including many holiday items — and Firefly Gifts, as part of Reiki Essentials, 2 S. Madison St., also has a selection of goods, including a variety of crystals, rotating vintage items and more.

Boutiques include K’s Boutique, 317 E. Main St., with clothing, jewelry and accessories; Stone & Suede Boutique, 417 E. Main St., with clothing and accessories for any style and occasion; and Modern Mercantile, 23 E. Jackson St., which aims to provide modern clothing in a mercantile atmosphere.

Gysbers Jewelry, 305 E. Main St., provides fine jewelry and watches, with specialization in permanent jewelry, ear piercing, and in-house repair and customizations.

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St. Matt’s Market in Campbellsport Nov. 25

Campbellsport’s St. Matthew Catholic School, 415 Mill St., will be host to the St. Matt’s Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 25, featuring handmade jewelry, soaps, art, candles, decorations, accessories and more.

Available refreshments will include chili, hot chocolate and coffee.

Did we miss your favorite holiday hidden gem? Contact Streetwise reporter Daphne Lemke at [email protected].