Door County Cherry Blossom Festival | Door County

The Door County Cherry Blossom Festival is not a traditional organized festival with stages, booths, or a single venue. Instead, it's an annual natural spectacle that transforms the entire Door Peninsula into a living celebration of spring, centered on the breathtaking bloom of thousands of cherry trees. The region embraces this short window with themed tours, orchard visits, and local cherry-based treats, making the bloom itself the main event.

Season and Timing

The cherry blossom season typically occurs between May 10 and May 25, but timing depends on that year's weather conditions. Warmer springs bring earlier blooms; cool or rainy conditions delay the peak. The blossoms start in the southern parts of Door County-Sturgeon Bay and Carlsville-then progress north to Fish Creek, Sister Bay, and Ellison Bay.

The blossom stage progresses through:

Bud Swell

Pink Bud

First Bloom

Full Bloom

Petal Fall

Each stage can pass quickly. Full bloom may only last four to six days, particularly if there’s wind or rain.

Geography of the Blossoms

Door County has over 2,500 acres of cherry trees, mostly Montmorency sour cherries. The peninsula’s unique microclimate-created by Lake Michigan on one side and Green Bay on the other-makes it one of the most productive cherry-growing regions in the Midwest.

The best cherry blossom routes and stops include:

1. Cherry Lane (Forestville area):
One of the most picturesque backroads in southern Door County. Rows of cherry trees line both sides of this rural road, offering quiet, postcard-perfect viewing.

2. Highway 42 (Sturgeon Bay to Egg Harbor to Fish Creek):
A key north-south route that passes dozens of orchards and open viewpoints. Pull-offs are available to stop and enjoy the scenery. This stretch offers the best open-vista photography.

3. Highway 57 (Brussels to Jacksonport):
The eastern route also winds past large cherry groves. Less busy than Highway 42 and ideal for more peaceful drives.

4. Seaquist Orchards (Sister Bay):
One of the largest cherry farms in Wisconsin, with nearly 1,000 acres of trees. They allow visitors to walk near orchard edges, and their farm market offers pies, jams, salsa, and other cherry products.

5. Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery (Fish Creek):
A scenic orchard and winery with tasting rooms and a cherry-themed store. This is one of the few places where visitors can enjoy cherry wine under flowering trees.

6. County Roads E, A, and EE:
These rural corridors offer detours that run parallel to the major highways but cut through cherry groves, open farmland, and peaceful countryside.

Activities and Experiences

While there is no formal “Cherry Blossom Festival,” local businesses, farms, and tour operators celebrate the bloom season through events and experiences:

Spring Blossom Tours

Available from trolley tour companies (mainly in Egg Harbor or Fish Creek).

Typical tours last four to five hours.

They include orchard sightseeing, visits to wineries, lunch stops, and expert guides explaining the region's cherry culture.

Some tours use horse-drawn wagons or carriages, adding a rustic charm.

Self-Guided Driving Tours

Popular among photographers and nature lovers.

Visitors drive early in the morning for softer light and quiet roads.

Late afternoons provide golden-hour lighting perfect for landscape shots.

Cherry Markets and Local Products

Visitors can sample and purchase cherry-based foods at orchard markets:

Cherry pie, dried cherries, cherry salsa, cherry BBQ sauce, cherry fudge.

Notable stops: Seaquist Orchards Market, Wood Orchard Market, and Country Ovens.

Photography and Art

The blossom season attracts artists and photographers from across the Midwest.

Early morning is ideal for backlit petal shots; sunset over the bay with a foreground of blossoms is another classic composition.

Nature Walks

Peninsula State Park, Ridges Sanctuary, and Door Bluff Headlands County Park offer walking trails near or through natural cherry and apple groves.

These parks also showcase spring ephemerals, migratory birds, and lake views.

Travel Planning Tips

Lodging: Book early for mid-May weekends. Preferred towns include Fish Creek, Sister Bay, and Egg Harbor.

Clothing: May weather is variable. Pack layers, waterproof shoes, and windbreakers.

Navigation: Cell service may drop in rural areas-download offline maps.

Bloom Reports: Monitor local orchard websites or social media for up-to-date bloom conditions.

Etiquette: Many orchards are private property. Only walk in areas marked as visitor-friendly.

Complementary Events

Though the cherry blossom peak is in May, the Jacksonport Cherry Fest is held the first Saturday of August to celebrate the harvest season. This includes cherry pie-eating contests, arts and crafts, live music, and historical exhibits at Lakeside Park.

The Door County cherry blossom experience offers a blend of scenic beauty, rural charm, and fresh seasonal flavor. It’s not a commercialized festival, but rather a celebration of nature’s rhythm, local agriculture, and the quiet arrival of spring in one of Wisconsin’s most picturesque regions.