A warm, welcoming holiday getaway to Galena, Illinois

Bundled up in hats and gloves, we ducked into a brewpub to shake off the chill and the snow flocking our coats. As my wife and I sipped our beers and watched the falling snow outside, twilight descended on downtown Galena. When we emerged back onto Main Street, the warm glow of streetlights and thousands of luminarias lit up the brisk night.

Situated in far northwest Illinois, Galena embraces winter and the holidays with flourishes worthy of a Hallmark movie. 

“Winter is definitely a great time to experience Galena, especially during the holiday season,” said Rose Noble, president and CEO of Galena Country Tourism. “Truly something magical happens when our historic Main Street is draped with fragrant garland, twinkling lights, and fresh snow. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.”

With skiing and other outdoor diversions, some of the best shopping anywhere, hands-on experiences, and a charming downtown with superb restaurants, Galena provides the perfect getaway to get into the spirit of the season or to recover from all the hubbub afterward.

The wonder begins with a festival that bridges autumn and winter—the annual Nouveau Wine Weekend that heralds Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery’s fall harvest and the release of its fruit-forward Nouveau wine, which is not meant to be aged but rather enjoyed during the holidays. Always held on the third weekend of November—this year November 19 and 20—the tradition’s origins are a nod to a similar celebration in France.

“In 1985, we thought, ‘The French can do it, so why not us?’ ” said Britt White, brand ambassador of Galena Cellars. “Since then, we have been releasing the Nouveau wine each November, the week before Thanksgiving. The Nouveau celebration is so special because not only have we continued this tradition for 37 years, but the entire town is involved and plays a part in celebrating.”

Galena’s weekend activities get under way with a toast on that Friday during a lunch at Galena Cellars’ Main Street tasting room. Many restaurants in town join in the fun by serving traditional French cuisine and wine-inspired meals.

Then a parade of revelers assembles at the storefront at 2:30 for a trek around Main Street in all manner of vehicles and horse-drawn wagons. Onlookers, with glasses of wine in hand, cheer on the roving party. The merriment continues throughout the weekend as restaurants and shops offer wine tastings, live music, and dinner specials.

Also downtown, craft beer lovers should check out the ales on tap at Galena Brewing Company, which offers fine pub fare. Don’t miss the award-winning Fevre River Ale, a straw-colored Bavarian-style wheat beer. If you prefer spirits, stop by Blaum Bros. Distilling Company for a tour of how the facility’s bourbons, vodkas, and gins are crafted in small batches.

Galena glows even more during the following weekend’s Night of the Luminaria and Living Windows celebration. During this enchanted evening–this year on December 11—more than 5,000 luminarias on streets, steps, and sidewalks light up Galena’s historic district. As you stroll Main Street, you’ll see store windows come alive with people performing holiday-inspired scenes. Mrs. Claus might be decorating cookies or musicians could be playing traditional Christmas tunes.

You can take in the spectacle as you explore more than 125 one-of-a-kind stores. Curving Main Street is known as the Helluva Half Mile, and you can find nearly anything you’d want in the charming boutiques that inhabit restored brick buildings dating to Galena’s days as a booming 1800s lead-mining town.

Head outside to hike with goats through another Forever Original Experience. Hoof It Goat Treks originated when Christina Eisbach bought baby goats for her youngest daughter, and the lifelong Galena resident and animal lover discovered that goats followed their family everywhere.

“We started taking the goats, the dog, and the kids on our evening walk through the property,” said Eisbach, who lives about 15 minutes east of downtown. “The goats were always very entertaining. I thought to myself, ‘If I’m this entertained on a nightly basis, I can only imagine how others may feel.’ The idea was born.”

In addition to simple hikes through the woods accompanied by goat companions and their fun antics, Hoof It offers treks that include bonfires, wine tastings, and live music. As you walk along a quiet forest path with goats prancing underfoot, you come away with a greater appreciation for nature.

“Spending time in the forest is very relaxing and calming,” said Eisbach, who operates the company with her two daughters. “Our visitors are always looking for a unique experience. This is something they have never heard of and they have a hard time resisting the charm and wonder.”

Other Forever Original Experiences include candle-making, flower farm tours, and coffee cupping—the art of evaluating coffee flavors and aromas.

During the winter, the resort’s Highlands Complex and General Golf Course transforms into the Nordic Center, where guests can check out ice skates. The resort fetes the season with its Winter Carnival every President’s Day weekend—February 18 through 22 in 2022—that’s open to all, not just resort guests. Highlights include balloon glows at night, an ice bar, sledding, an ice rink, and a snowshoe race.

When we checked out of our bed-and-breakfast after our weekend getaway, rather than being dismayed by the prospect of a five-hour trip home on snowy roads, we were warmed by our memories of Galena’s light in the midst of a cold and dark winter. Enlivened for the holidays, we vowed to return to discover Galena’s summertime charms, as well.

Dennis R. Heinze is regional editor of AAA Explorer’s Midwest edition.