Not every facet of the holiday season is universally beloved. There will always be a Grinch or three out there pooh-poohing all the Whos and their various ways of spreading cheer. I’d argue, however, that a well-done light display comes the closest to getting a unanimous thumbs-up (or at least a begrudging acceptance).
Over the years, downtown Milwaukee has shown a decent knack for just the right amount of illumination. The streets keep things fairly tasteful, while the parks contain a bigger helping of over-the-topness for those who prefer more pizazz. And it doesn’t get much pizazzier than the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival Kickoff Extravaganza happening Thursday evening at Pere Marquette Park.
The annual beginning of a brighter downtown will get underway at 5:30 p.m. with Kid Boogie Down providing family-friendly beats to warm you up on what’s looking like a chilly night. The entertainment keeps rolling from there with a whole roster of performers, including:
- DJ Shawna
- Erin Fricker
- First Stage
- Dance Academy of Mexico
- Jenny Thiel
- The Marquette University Gospel Choir
- Studio K Flamenco
- Ben Mulwana
No offense to all the talented individuals stepping into the spotlight, but inarguably the stars of the show (at least to the smaller attendees) are Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will swing by in time for the fireworks show that hits the skies shortly before 7 p.m. While all of that is going on, everyone in attendance will be able to grab free cocoa and cookies, and the Jingle Bus will run for free after the show courtesy of KB Excursions.
If you decide to hop on board, you’ll get a tour of the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival’s main attractions:
- “Community Spirit Park” at Cathedral Square Park
- “Santa’s Celebration Square powered by We Energies” at Zeidler Union Square
- “¡Felices Fiestas! sponsored by Generac” at Pere Marquette Park
- “Slice of Ice Lights” at Red Arrow Park
The Jingle Bus will also run Thursday to Sunday from 5-9 p.m. between Dec. 5 and 29, leaving from Courtyard Milwaukee Downtown (300 W. Michigan St.). You can find more information on the bus, including how to book a tour in advance, on the Milwaukee Downtown website.
Something you’ll likely see on the motorized tour is the Ornament Trail spread throughout the downtown area (but mostly along West Wisconsin Avenue). There are 16 stops along the trail, including 15 gigantic ones hand-painted by a local or national artist, plus the dozen or so ornaments piled up in the Court of Honor median. You can also grab an activity guide to make sure you see every installment and get a few coupons for local businesses you’ll encounter on the trail.
The Ornament Trail will be around through Jan. 19, while the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival wraps up Jan. 1. For more information on all of the holiday happenings, visit the Milwaukee Downtown website.
