Holiday hosting in Green Bay is unmatched! From locally made cheeses to handcrafted sweets and fresh-baked breads, this is the season to create something easy, festive, and crowd-pleasing. 

A holiday charcuterie board is one of the simplest ways to impress your guests, and with so many local spots to shop, you can build something uniquely Wisconsin without breaking a sweat.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to creating a board that’s colorful, cozy, and totally ready to set out at any gathering this season!

Start With Your Cheeses

Cheese is the heart of any Wisconsin board, so start with a mix of textures and flavors. Think creamy, sharp, smoky, and fun seasonal varieties. Mixing at least three or four cheeses gives you a base that looks full and feels intentional.

Vern’s Cheese (1241 Lombardi Access Rd Ste D, Green Bay)

Vern's has a great selection of cheese curds (try the ranch ones..you won't be sorry!), and smoked string cheese that’s always a hit at parties.

Scray Cheese (2082 Old Martin Rd, De Pere)

Scray is a classic spot for aged cheddar and traditional Wisconsin favorites- and the cheese is always fresh!

Revolution Public Market (2160 Holmgren Way Suite 103, Green Bay)

Revolution Market often carries a great selection of local grabs and small-batch options that add variety to your board.

Add Your Meats

Layer in your favorites to balance out the board: classic summer sausage, prosciutto, or peppered salami. Fold or roll your meats for volume. It fills gaps, adds texture, and makes the whole board feel more festive.

Paulie’s Chop Shop (933 Anderson Dr, Green Bay)

Paulie's is perfect for grabbing freshly sliced meats with bold flavor. Pair classic cuts with a few crowd-pleasers to make sure there’s something for everyone. 

Maplewood Meats (4663 Milltown Rd, Green Bay) 

Maplewood Meats is a great stop for their smoky meat sticks you can also find them in their holiday gift boxes!

Pelkin’s Smokey Meat Market (1756 Riverside Dr. Suamico)

Pelkin's has a great selection of cured meats and cheeses, plus they have a market full of goodies that would compliment any board!

Choose Fresh-Baked Breads & Crackers

Don’t skip the carbs. A good mix of breads and crackers makes the whole board feel elevated. Keep your slices thin and vary shapes and sizes to give the board that layered, full look.

Not By Bread Alone (940 Hansen Rd, Green Bay)

Not By Bread Alone has soft focaccia, baguettes, and fresh-baked loaves that are perfect for slicing. They also have dips and sides that work so well for charcuterie.

Festival Foods (multiple locations)

Festival is your one stop shop, you could honestly build a great board with this being your only stop if you're in a pinch! Festival is a great stop for crackers, artisan crisps, and specialty breads if you need a quick grab.

Voyageurs Bakehouse (320 N Broadway # 110, Green Bay)

Voyageurs is your go-to stop for all things sourdough bread! They have great loaves- but get there early, they sell out! In their new Green Bay location they also have a beautiful market with local cheeses, meats, and more! 

Bring in the Sides + Sweet Treats!

This is where your board starts feeling fun and festive. Think olives, pickles, nuts, jams, spreads, fruit, and seasonal touches. Even fresh touches like pomegranate seeds, grapes, or sliced pears make the whole board feel ready for the holidays.

Oilerie Green Bay (2064 Lime Kiln Rd, Green Bay)

The Oilerie is the place to find fresh Italian extra virgin olive oil and 25 year old Balsamic for 20 years, all on tap and only bottled once you order it! Fun fact- they were featured on ABC's Shark Tank in 2014!

Seroogy’s Chocolates (144 N Wisconsin St, De Pere)

Seroogy's has been around in the for more than 100 years in the Green Bay community and has amazing chocolate-covered nuts and seasonal treats that fit perfectly in small clusters on the board.

FiveThumbsUp (240 N Broadway Suite C, Green Bay)

FiveThumbsUp makes delicious cheesecake bites that are so easy to place and are always the first thing people reach for! 

Style It Festively

This is where you bring the whole thing together, here are some tips to make it look picture perfect: 

• Pack your board tight so there’s no empty space.

• Mix textures, soft cheese, crisp crackers, juicy fruit, and glossy olives.

• Use small bowls to break up colors and shapes.

• Tuck in a few sprigs of rosemary or fresh greenery for instant holiday warmth.

• Build from the center out, making your largest items the anchor.

A tight, abundant board feels welcoming and seasonal without needing much extra décor around it.

Bonus: Local Wine Pairings

Round out your board with a few Wisconsin sips that pair beautifully with holiday flavors.

The Bottle Room (2300 Lineville Rd, Suite 101, Green Bay)

The Bottle Room is a go-to spot for standout bottles for every palate! If you REALLY want to elevate your board, order some of their apps to go! No one has to know they're not homemade! 😉

Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery (N2185 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Kewaunee)

Parallel 44 offers crisp whites and smooth reds that complement cheese perfectly!

Von Stiehl Winery (115 Navarino St, Algoma)

If you're near the lakeshore, Von Stiehl has fun festive seasonal wines that pair well with chocolate and dessert boards.

Duck Creek Vineyard & Winery (5046 County Rd R, Denmark)

If you want to hit all three at once, Duck Creek Vineyard and Winery has great wines, distilled liquor, AND a brewery all in one! Don't forget to try some moonshine- you won't regret it. 

Happy Hosting

Holiday gatherings in Green Bay are all about good company, good food, and celebrating the season with the people you care about. With a board packed with local flavors and festive touches, you’ll have something special to set out at any party.

And while you’re planning your holiday fun, be sure to check out our Winter Events Guide for everything happening across Green Bay this season.