Brick Fest Live, Beer & Ballet, Harry Potter in concert: A look ahead to new Green Bay events, returning favorites to kick off 2024

GREEN BAY - The rush of holiday events is over and spring is, let's just say, a ways away.

That leaves winter, which is not without plenty of entertainment options, especially when you fold in a concert calendar with all kinds of tribute acts and a couple of big arena shows.

Here's a sampling of some of the events planned for the Green Bay area in the next four months, until the happenings hit high gear heading into summer.

January: Ice sculptures, a cake dive and Lake Wobegon

The Wedding Show: 5-9 p.m. Jan. 12 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 13 at Resch Expo, Ashwaubenon. The largest wedding show in northeastern Wisconsin celebrates 30 years with more than 100 exhibitors, a cake dive competition on Jan. 12 and fashion shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Jan. 13. $13 adults, $12 seniors, military, and first responders, free ages 18 and younger; ticketstaronline.com and 800-895-0071.

Winterfest on Broadway: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 20 in Broadway District, Green Bay. What kind of winter weather Mother Nature is going to bring to the party is always a surprise, but plans call for ice sculptures, horse-drawn carriage rides, food and drink, a Candy Land Scavenger Hunt at participating businesses and the Broadway District Soup Contest. Free admission.

Garrison Keillor Tonight: 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center. The creator and former host of "A Prairie Home Companion" comes calling for a night of nostalgia from Minnesota's fictional Lake Wobegon. The 81-year-old humorist takes the stage solo for a blend of stand-up, storytelling, song and reflections on the joys of growing old. $39, $49; ticketstaronline.com and 800-895-0071.

February: Harry Potter, Buddy Holly and Mickey Mouse

John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at Riverside Ballroom, Green Bay. A perennial sellout, Mueller and friends return to the historic Riverside to re-create the tour that brought Buddy Holly (Mueller), Ritchie Valens (Ray Anthony) and J.P. Richardson (Linwood Sasser) to the same ballroom stage on Feb. 1, 1959, just two days before all three were tragically killed in a plane crash. $30 cash or check, $33 credit card at Riverside box office or 920-432-5518.

Frosty Family Fun Night: 4-8 p.m. Feb. 3 at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Bay. The 18th annual event makes the most of Wisconsin winter scenery with a chance to enjoy the animals and the grounds at night. Strings of lights and candlelight set the mood for walks and hikes. There's a bonfire, animal bingo and other games, crafts and animal close-ups. Admission is $10 per family or carload, with proceeds benefiting the sanctuary’s R-PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Program. Parking in Bay Beach Amusement Park lot with free shuttle to the sanctuary.

Café Crawl: 8:30 a.m.-noon Feb. 3 in downtown Green Bay. A $10 ticket gets you a punch card for sampling coffees, teas and treats at 10 participating businesses, including five coffee shops, Hotel Northland, Captain’s Walk Winery, St. Brendan’s Inn, Lion’s Mouth Bookstore and LoCo WisCo. Walk or drive to the stops or take a free trolley. Completed punch cards turned in at end of the crawl are eligible for a chance to win a gift card. Tickets at eventbrite.com.

Teddy Bear Toss: During the game against the Madison Capitols at 6:05 p.m. Feb. 3 at Resch Center, Ashwaubenon. You know the drill: Hockey fans show up to the Green Bay Gamblers game with a new teddy bear in hand to throw on the ice when the Gamblers score their first goal. All those stuffed animals then get scooped up and donated to children in local hospitals. It's one big winter warm and fuzzy. $13-$26 adults, $1 less for ages 3-14, 62 and older and military; ticketstaronline.com and 800-895-0071.

Disney on Ice: 7 p.m. Feb. 7-9, 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10, and 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Resch Center, Ashwaubenon. The star-studded cast of this year's show, "Mickey's Search Party," includes beloved Disney characters from "Frozen," "Peter Pan," "Coco," "Toy Story," "Aladdin," "Beauty and the Beast" and other tales. $28-$113; select seats $18 on opening night; ticketstaronline.com and 800-895-0071.

“Jesus Christ Superstar”: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at The Weidner, Green Bay. If you were wearing platforms and bellbottoms the first time you caught the rock opera from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, here’s your chance for showstoppers like “Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)” to give you all the feels all over again. The musical based on the final days of Jesus Christ opened on Broadway in 1971. Its 50th anniversary touring production makes a one-night stop in Green Bay. $68 and up; ticketstaronline.com and 800-395-0071.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at The Weidner, Green Bay. The Weidner Philharmonic — WeiPhi, if you want to sound in the know — will play the entire John Williams score from the 2001 movie as it shows on a 40-foot screen with subtitles. Costumes are encouraged, so don't forget your Gryffindors scarf and Hogwarts robe. Response to the initial announcement was so strong, a second performance was added. Limited tickets remain for both concerts, with the best availability on Feb. 17. $66, $88.50, $94.25, $105.50, $145.25; ticketstaronline or 800-895-0071.

Project Play 60: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Lambeau Field Atrium. Just as cabin fever starts to get serious, the Green Bay Packers offer a day of free fun to get kids out of the house and moving. There will be inflatables, a climbing wall, yoga sessions, interactive games and face painting. Parents/guardians must sign waivers prior to participating: packers.com/projectplay60. Enter through the Oneida Nation Gate.

March: Beer & Ballet, bourbon tasting and a bunch of bricks

Murder Mystery Dinner: 6 p.m. March 1 at Backstage at Meyer, Green Bay. Radio personality Laura McKenna returns to host another of the themed murder mystery dinners. Guests are assigned a character in advance, come dressed as such and then laugh, eat and guess their way through a fictional murder. McKenna has likened them to “a big game of Clue.” Cash bar mingling at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and murder at 6 p.m. $45; ticketstaronline.com and 800-895-0071.

Artigras: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 2 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 3 at Resch Expo, Ashwaubenon. The annual respite from the winter blahs features colorful works from artists from across the Midwest. There are music and dance performances, too. $6 at the door, $4 ages 12 and younger; mosaicartsinc.org.

WIAA State Girls Basketball Tournament: March 7-9 at Resch Center, Ashwaubenon. Green Bay's own version of March Madness typically brings about 40,000 cheering fans and a whole lot of excitement to town.

Green Bay Ballet Festival: March 9 through May 4 at The Weidner and elsewhere. The first-time event will spread the joy across multiple weeks with TBA programming that will include masterclasses, pop-up performances and film screenings. The finale is Beer & Ballet, a night of professional dance featuring the Weidner Philharmonic, some of Tchaikovsky’s greatest scores and beer tastings from local breweries at 7:30 p.m. May 4. Beer & Ballet tickets are $15 students, $25, $36, $45; ticketstaronline.com and 800-895-0071.

Barrels and Boards: A Bourbon Tasting Event: 7-10 p.m. March 22 at Heritage Hill State Historical Park, Allouez. Take the chill off by sipping unique bourbons, noshing from the charcuterie table, sampling barrel-aged spirit/wine pairings and bidding on silent auction items. $105 per person, $35 for designated drivers and non-tasters; heritagehillgb.org. Prices increase March 1.

Brick Fest Live: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 23 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 24 at Resch Expo, Ashwaubenon. Touring event features more than a million toy bricks, including life-size art, hands-on building opportunities and a glow zone. Meet stars from TV’s “LEGO Masters” and shop hard-to-find LEGO merchandise. Sign up for an entry time and purchase tickets ($19.99-$39.99; ages 2 and younger free) at brickfestlive.com.

The Great Bunny Train: March 23-24 at National Railroad Museum, Ashwaubenon. Hop aboard a vintage train for a visit with the Easter Bunny, along with entertainment, crafts and games. Purchase tickets (standard or premium) in advance to reserve a scheduled departure time. $20, $27; nationalrrmuseum.org.

April: Monster trucks, dinosaurs and Jerry Seinfeld

Monster Jam: 7 p.m. April 5, 1 and 7 p.m. April 6 and 1 p.m. April 7 at Resch Center, Ashwaubenon. Drivers make the dirt fly and the rafters rumble as they maneuver 12,000-pound trucks with names like Grave Digger, Earth Shaker and Monster Mutt Rottweiler up to 70 mph and sometimes on two wheels. Get to your seat an hour early for trackside extras, including driver interviews, competition previews and opening ceremonies. $28 and up for ages 2 and older; ticketstaronline.com and 800-895-0071.

Jerry Seinfeld: 7 p.m. April 20 at The Weidner, Green Bay. Unless your best friend bought you a ticket and is waiting to surprise you with it or you’re prepared to pay prices of $360-plus for a mezzanine seat on the secondary market, you’re out of luck. "That's a shame." The comedy legend’s first visit to the hall in six years was a quick sellout.

Jurassic Quest: Noon-8 p.m. April 26, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. April 27 and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. April 28 at Resch Expo, Ashwaubenon. The traveling family attraction features life-size animatronic dinosaurs, some of which move and roar, in realistic scenes meant to transport visitors back millions of years. Activities include dino rides, inflatables, a fossil dig, baby dinos, arts and crafts and photo opportunities. $19 and up; ages 2 and older require a ticket; on sale at jurassicquest.com.

Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@greenbay.gannett.com. Follow her on X @KendraMeinert. 

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Here's some fun things to do in Green Bay in first few months of 2024