Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Racine
Racine smells like butter and almonds at Christmas. The city is known as Wisconsin's kringle capital, where Danish bakers have folded pastry into oval rings for generations, and its holiday season opens with a downtown parade and a tree lighting.
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Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
When: Sat, Nov 14, 5:30 to 7:30 pm (carolers from 4:30 pm)
Where: Monument Square, Racine
Cost: Free (parking ramps $4 all day)
The story of Christmas in Racine
How Racine celebrates
Racine's most delicious Christmas tradition came from Danish immigrants, who brought kringle to the area in the 1800s. Kringle is the Danish word for pretzel, but Racine bakers made the pastry oval so it is easier to share. Bendtsen's Bakery opened in 1934, and O&H Danish Bakery has made kringle since 1949. The season starts downtown with the Racine holiday parade and community tree lighting in Monument Square, with carolers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a short fireworks show. A nativity display has also been set up on Monument Square by volunteers.
Christmas last year in Racine
A November 2025 report on the Racine holiday parade described the same evening families still enjoy. Carolers sang in Monument Square at 4:30 pm, the parade started at 5:30 pm from the west side of the State Street bridge and rolled down Main Street and 6th Street to City Hall, and the tree lighting came at 6:50 pm. Santa and Mrs. Claus joined the ceremony, and a short fireworks show, called a four year tradition, followed. In the kringle shops, a 2024 report said O&H Danish Bakery was celebrating 75 years and making more than 10,000 kringles a day.
Fun facts about Christmas in Racine
A good kringle has more than 32 thin layers of butter and dough, and one Racine bakery says its pastry has 81 layers. Making an authentic one takes about three days, because the dough rests overnight. Kringle became the official state pastry of Wisconsin on June 30, 2013. Racine families have also looked forward to free holiday lights at the Racine Zoo, where Kiwanis lights could be seen from North Main Street, and to the Racine Art Museum, which has shown a tree covered in hundreds of hand blown glass ornaments.
Trains and Christmas near Racine
Christmas trains have a place in Racine County. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train has rolled into the Sturtevant Amtrak Depot with a free mini concert, and visitors are asked to bring non perishable food and cash donations that go to the Racine County Food Bank. In later years the train, now called the CPKC Holiday Train, has kept stopping in Sturtevant and in Caledonia, where its show is also free. It is a sweet way for little train fans to see a decorated train up close.
Traditions today
- Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting: A downtown parade ends at City Hall, then Santa and Mrs. Claus join the lighting of the tree in Monument Square, followed by fireworks.
- Kringle for the holidays: Racine bakeries sell oval, flaky Danish kringle, and bakeries like O&H make special holiday flavors.
- Nativity display on Monument Square: Volunteers from the Community Christmas Coalition set up a nativity display downtown that stays up into early January.
- Holiday lights at the Racine Zoo: The Kiwanis holiday lights at the zoo can be seen for free from North Main Street, starting at 5 pm each evening.
- Brunch with Santa at the Racine Zoo: Families can book a seating for brunch with Santa at the zoo, with ticket prices that varied by season.
- CPKC Holiday Train: A decorated train brings a free mini concert and a food drive to Sturtevant.
A fact for kids
Kringle is the Danish word for pretzel, but in Racine it is baked as a big oval ring with more than 32 thin layers. Bakers even let the dough rest overnight.
Questions about Christmas in Racine
What is the most famous Christmas food in Racine?
Kringle is the most famous Christmas food in Racine. Danish immigrants brought the flaky, filled pastry to the area in the 1800s, and Racine is now called the kringle capital of Wisconsin. Bakeries such as O&H Danish Bakery, Bendtsen's Bakery, Lehmann's Bakery and Racine Danish Kringles sell it all year, with special holiday flavors.
What does the word kringle mean?
Kringle is the Danish word for pretzel. The pastry was brought to the Racine area by Danish immigrants and Racine bakers settled on an oval ring, which is easier to slice and share, and that is the shape families now put on the Christmas table.
How is a Racine kringle made?
A kringle is made by folding butter into dough again and again to build thin layers. One source counts more than 32 layers, while one Racine bakery says its pastry has 81. The dough rests overnight, and an authentic kringle takes about three days. Fillings include fruit, nuts and spices.
Is kringle the official state pastry of Wisconsin?
Yes. Kringle became Wisconsin's official state pastry on June 30, 2013. Racine is the city most closely tied to the treat, so it is a point of local pride. It is especially popular during the holidays, particularly Christmas, when many families put a kringle on the table or share one as a gift.
How old is O&H Danish Bakery?
O&H Danish Bakery has been making kringle in Racine since 1949, and a 2024 report said it was celebrating 75 years. It is run by third generation owner Peter Oleson and makes more than 10,000 kringles a day. That is a lot of pastry for a family business, and many are baked for the holidays.
What is the oldest bakery named in Racine's kringle story?
Bendtsen's Bakery, founded in 1934, is the oldest bakery named in the sources we read. O&H Danish Bakery followed, producing kringle since 1949. Lehmann's Bakery, Larsen's Bakery and Racine Danish Kringles are also part of the local kringle story, and each bakery has its own recipes and flavors.
When is the Racine holiday parade and tree lighting?
The Racine Downtown holiday parade and community tree lighting is held on a Saturday in mid November. The 2026 listing shows Saturday, November 14, with the parade at 5:30 pm and the tree lighting at 6:50 pm. For full details and other seasonal dates, see our Racine Christmas events guide on this page.
Where does the Racine Christmas parade go?
The parade starts on the west side of the State Street bridge, travels down Main Street to 6th Street and finishes at City Hall. Carolers begin singing in Monument Square at 4:30 pm, and the tree lighting follows there after the parade. The route is short and downtown, so little ones can see it from the curb.
Does Santa come to the Racine tree lighting?
Yes. Santa and Mrs. Claus appear at the tree lighting ceremony in Monument Square. It is followed by a short fireworks show, which the city described as a four year tradition in 2025. Carolers sing in the square beforehand, starting at 4:30 pm, so families can arrive early and warm up their voices.
Where is the Racine Christmas tree?
The community Christmas tree stands in Monument Square in downtown Racine, where it is lit at the end of the holiday parade. A nativity display has also been set up on the square by volunteers from the Community Christmas Coalition. For this year's lighting time, see our Racine Christmas events guide on this page.
Is there a nativity display in downtown Racine?
Yes. In past seasons volunteers from the Community Christmas Coalition set up a nativity display on Monument Square in downtown Racine, and it stayed up until about January 7. Donations for its upkeep were collected at local bank branches. It is a quiet, free stop for families walking downtown.
Can kids see Christmas lights at the Racine Zoo?
In past seasons, Kiwanis holiday lights at the Racine Zoo could be seen for free from North Main Street, beginning at 5 pm each day. The zoo also held a Brunch with Santa. For this season's confirmed dates and times, please see our Racine Christmas events guide on this page.
Has the Racine Zoo held a brunch with Santa?
Yes. The Racine Zoo has hosted a Brunch with Santa at 2131 North Main Street, with morning and late morning seatings in 2024. Tickets were $35 to $45 that year, with younger children priced lower, and pre-registration was needed. Check the zoo's calendar for the current year.
What is the Racine Art Museum's Christmas tree?
The Racine Art Museum has displayed a Christmas tree decorated with hundreds of hand blown glass ornaments. The museum offered free admission on a past downtown First Friday evening, which makes it an easy, warm stop with kids. Ask the museum for this year's holiday schedule before you go.
How can I explain kringle to my kids?
Tell them kringle is a big, flaky ring of pastry that Danish families brought to Racine long ago. Bakers fold butter into the dough again and again to make dozens of thin layers, then let it rest overnight. Wisconsin even named it the state pastry.
Is there a Christmas train near Racine?
Yes. The CPKC Holiday Train, earlier called the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, has stopped at the Sturtevant Amtrak Depot with a free mini concert, and past schedules also listed Caledonia. It is a chance for little train fans to see a decorated train up close. See our Racine Christmas events guide on this page for dates.
What do visitors bring to the Holiday Train in Sturtevant?
Visitors are asked to bring non perishable food and cash donations, which go to the Racine County Food Bank. The CPKC Holiday Train rolls into the Sturtevant Amtrak Depot with a free mini concert, so families can watch a decorated train and give together. Look at our Racine Christmas events guide on this page for the current schedule.
Are there other Christmas parades in Racine County?
Yes. In past seasons Waterford held a downtown Christmas parade that began at 5 pm, and an older listing also named a Burlington Christmas Parade with a tree lighting and Santa's chalet. Dates change from year to year, so see our Racine Christmas events guide on this page for this year's schedule.
What is the Danish connection to Christmas in Racine?
Danish immigrants brought their pastry traditions to the Racine area in the 1800s. Racine still shows that heritage every Christmas through its kringle bakeries, some run by third generation owners. The oval shape of the pastry and its Danish name, which means pretzel, are two clues to that history that kids can look for.
What makes Racine's Christmas stand out among Wisconsin cities?
Racine puts a Danish pastry at the center of Christmas. Immigrant bakers brought kringle here in the 1800s, and the city is still called the state's kringle capital. A downtown parade, a tree lighting in Monument Square and a nativity display add other traditions to the season.
Sources
- Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting, Downtown Racine Corporation
- The Wisconsin Kringle: A Legacy with Layers of Love from Racine, Civic Media
- Kringle is Wisconsin's official state pastry, Shepherd Express
- There's Christmas in the air, Racine County Eye
- Racine celebrates holiday parade, Civic Media
- Holiday events in Racine County, Visit Racine County
- Brunch with Santa at the Racine Zoo, MKE with Kids