Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (September 8, 2026) – Big band music, vintage automobiles, flappers, the Charleston, and a cocktail called the Door Roar will help turn back the clock when the Door County Historical Society celebrates its 100th anniversary with A Roaring Good Time: Cheers to 100 Years on Thursday, October 1, at The Lodge at Leathem Smith in Sturgeon Bay.
The celebration marks exactly 100 years since the Door County Historical Society was founded on October 1, 1926—and DCHS is inviting the entire community to help celebrate in true Roaring ’20s style.
Setting the soundtrack for the evening will be the Swingin’ Door Big Band, Door County’s only swing band, performing favorites that will keep the dance floor moving throughout the night.
Not sure you know the steps? No problem. Guests will have the opportunity to learn some moves themselves, with dance lessons featuring the Charleston and other dances of the era. Whether you plan to dance all night or simply enjoy the music, there will be plenty of opportunities to get into the spirit of the 1920s.
The experience will begin before guests even walk through the doors. Authentic automobiles from the 1920s will be displayed outside The Lodge, creating a fitting backdrop for the evening—and a perfect opportunity for photos.
Inside, guests can raise a glass to 100 years with a champagne toast or order the evening’s signature cocktail, appropriately named the Door Roar, from the cash bar. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served throughout the celebration.
And this is one party where dressing the part is highly encouraged.
Guests are invited to pull out the fringe, feathers and pearls—or suspenders, bow ties, vests and newsboy caps—and come dressed in their best 1920s-inspired attire. Costumes are not required, but DCHS hopes guests will embrace the theme and help transform the evening into a celebration worthy of the decade in which the Society was born.
“We want people to walk through the doors and feel like they’ve stepped back into 1926,” said DCHS Executive Director Amy Frank. “This is a once-in-a-century celebration and we want it to be an evening that is fun, memorable, and filled with the same enthusiasm for Door County that has sustained the Historical Society for 100 years.”
The Door County Historical Society was founded on October 1, 1926, by local residents committed to preserving the stories and history of Door County. One hundred years later, DCHS continues that mission through its historic sites, collections, publications, educational programs, events and preservation work at Heritage Village in Sturgeon Bay and Eagle Bluff Light Station in Peninsula State Park.
A Roaring Good Time: Cheers to 100 Years is open to everyone. DCHS membership is not required to attend.
Tickets are $60 for the general public and $45 for DCHS members, and advance reservations are required.
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