Every week, Milwaukee With Kids answers a simple question for families across the area: What are we going to do this weekend? From indoor activities to outdoor adventures, we’ve got you covered. For the full weekend list, make sure to visit the Milwaukee With Kids website.
Free fun
Milwaukee Lakefront Holiday Drone Show
Veterans Park
Dec. 13 | 5-6:30 p.m.
Join UScellular and T-Mobile for a free, family-friendly drone show illuminating the Milwaukee skyline. All are welcome to enjoy the lights, community cheer and hot chocolate. In addition to holiday classics, attendees will enjoy drone designs created by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee members. Join us at Veteran’s Park for holiday cheer!
Winter Wonder Woods
Hawthorn Glen
Dec. 10-13 | 5-8 p.m.
Explore the winter beauty of Hawthorn Glen with an evening walk through the woods, featuring nature-inspired displays that gently illuminate the path and your understanding of the natural world. Complimentary warm drinks and cookies will be available, as Milwaukee Recreation offers the experience to all community members for free! No need to register for a time slot. Just stop by and enjoy the seasonal serenity while creating lasting memories and new traditions.
Chanukah Festival & Gelt Drop
The Yard at Bayshore
Dec. 14 | 4-6 p.m.
Join Chabad-Lubavitch of Wisconsin as they light up Milwaukee with this all-ages celebration of light, joy and community! This year’s event features a live concert with Eli Marcus, giant Menorah lighting and epic Gelt drop, LED robot dancers and interactive light experience, kids crafts, giveaways, train rides, delicious food from Deli on Crown, warm drinks, donuts and more!
Christkindl Market
Downtown Menomonee Falls
Dec. 13 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Enjoy a Hallmark moment with family and friends as Menomonee Falls transforms into a winter wonderland this December. Step into a European-inspired Christkindl Market Village market full of artisan vendors, warm drinks, handmade goods, cozy holiday vibes and a Kinder Korner for the little ones. Families will enjoy professional portraits inside Santa’s Workshop, live reindeer, a princess meet-and-greet with Elsa and Anna, hot chocolate and horse-drawn carriage rides around the historic block.
Shows, theater and more
Holiday Pops with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Bradley Symphony Center
Dec. 13-21 | Various showtimes
Milwaukee’s favorite hometown holiday tradition returns! Join the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra as they deck Allen-Bradley Hall with holiday cheer. Ring in the holidays with the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, keep your eye out for the Jolly Old Elf himself, and raise your voice during the audience sing-along backed by the full power of the orchestra and Milwaukee Symphony Chorus.
Saturday Fun Day
Milwaukee Rep’s Herzfeld Center
Dec. 13 | 10 a.m.-noon
Celebrate the season with a festive morning of games, hands-on activities and holiday cheer for all ages. Meet Ebenezer Scrooge and more characters from A Christmas Carol, enjoy storytelling, explore holiday crafts, and get a sneak peek at upcoming youth classes and camps. It’s a fun way for families to connect, create and share in the magic of the holidays together.
European Village Alive!
Milwaukee Public Museum
Dec. 13 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Learn about the history of European holiday traditions from MPM’s docents, who will be dressed in period attire and sharing stories with visitors throughout the delightfully decorated European Village exhibit. Plus, enjoy a special performance by the Crystal Lake Central High School Madrigal Singers in the courtyard from 1-3 p.m. This touring ensemble will be dressed in Renaissance attire as they perform songs from the early 1300s through present-day contemporary music.
’Tis the season
Santa’s Christmas Cavalcade
Downtown Milwaukee
Dec. 12 | 5-7:45 p.m.
See Santa and Mrs. Claus on this festive route riding atop a vintage fire truck. The North Pole’s most famous residents will depart from the Milwaukee Public Market's Water Street entrance and travel east on Wisconsin Avenue to the lakefront before passing Pere Marquette Park, Cathedral Square Park, Zeidler Union Square, Catalano Square and Light the Hoan.
Friday Night Holiday Lights
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Dec. 12 | 4-8 p.m.
Experience the magic of the season as you stroll through the Villa’s beautifully decorated gardens, aglow with twinkling lights and festive charm. Enjoy a cozy cup of hot chocolate and take in the sights and sounds of the holidays in this enchanting evening setting. Perfect for families, friends and anyone who loves a little holiday sparkle, this special night at the Villa is sure to brighten your season.
Cocoa With the Clauses
Cathedral Square Park
Dec. 13 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus return for this annual cocoa klatch. The free outdoor event is a chance for kids to share their wish lists, and for moms and dads to grab a keepsake photo with the famous festive couple, plus elves and other holiday characters. Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa sponsored by Educators Credit Union will also be provided.