The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival returns for its 20th year as the city’s official kick-off to the holiday season. It all began on Thursday, Nov. 15, at Pere Marquette Park (900 N. Plankinton Ave.) with pre-show entertainment followed by a holiday variety show and the city’s largest switch-flipping ceremony. Downtown Milwaukee is now thoroughly bedecked with lights, making for something of an enormous, urban version of Santa’s North Pole headquarters.
Indeed, the jolly man himself was on hand for this festive occasion. Accompanying him were performances by area musicians, dancers and actors. The “Kick-Off Extravaganza” featured music by Platinum, Jenny Thiel and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. There were dance numbers from members of Young Dance Academy, theatrical excerpts from Black Arts MKE’s production of Black Nativity and fiery performance art by Prismatic Flame. Also, Milwaukee Repertory Theater actors performed scenes from A Christmas Carol.
Beyond the entertainment aspects of the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival Kick-Off Extravaganza, guests feasted on complimentary cookies and warmed up with hot cocoa, as well as embarked upon Jingle Bus rides throughout Downtown. The evening’s celebration wrapped up with a fireworks display. It was a terrific way to kick off the holiday season.
Places to Go, Things to Do, Ride the Jingle Bus!
Each 40-minute Jingle Bus tour—narrated by Milwaukee Downtown public service ambassadors imparting stories about landmarks and attractions along the way—is a fuss-free means to view all the holiday magic. Riders begin in the Jingle Bus Warming House outside the Plankinton Clover Apartments (161 W. Wisconsin Ave.); therein, they can enjoy complimentary holiday treats before embarking upon their Jingle Bus tour. These rides continue throughout the season, departing between 6 p.m. and 8:20 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays, through Sunday, Dec. 30. Jingle Bus rides are $2 per person (cash only).
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The festival is coordinated by Milwaukee Downtown, BID (Business Improvement District) #21, and includes themed installations in three parks: “Community Spirit” at Cathedral Square Park; “Candy Cane Cove” at Pere Marquette Park; and “Santa’s Lighted Lodge” at Zeidler Union Square. Street decorations now abound throughout the area, with an 18-block stretch of lights suspended above Wisconsin Avenue. After the Thursday before Thanksgiving’s official throwing of the “on” switch, more than 500,000 lights and dozens of animated displays will remain to brighten Milwaukee early-winter evenings through New Year’s Day.
The plaza at 310W (310 W. Wisconsin Ave.) has been decorated with light-adorned trees and colorful yarn creations by Retailworks, Inc. Inside the lobby, carolers, cocoa and cookies await visitors on Wednesdays, Dec. 5 and 19. Santa and Mrs. Claus welcome all to “Cocoa with the Clauses” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Cathedral Square Park; it’s a free outdoor event in which children can personally present their wish lists to Santa.
Indeed, now through Sunday, Dec. 9, “Santa’s Mailbox” at Cathedral Square Park is open for ready correspondence with jolly old St. Nick. Letters to Santa should include a return address but require no postage. Santa and his helpers will ensure that each return-addressed letter gets a personal, written response. Receiving much attention is the first-ever traditional German holiday market—Christkindlmarket—at the Fiserv Forum, complete with food, drinks, collectibles and gifts. There’s free admission to Christkindlmarket, which is open now through Monday, Dec. 31 (closed Christmas Day).
New this year, certainly, is the Downtown Milwaukee streetcar, The Hop, which enables shoppers and other visitors to Downtown Milwaukee throughout the season to connect with all the holiday festivities and myriad local businesses. Rides aboard The Hop remain free, courtesy sponsorship by Potawatomi Hotel and Casino. The Hop runs from the Intermodal Station (433 W. St. Paul Ave.) and continues past the Milwaukee Public Market (400 N. Water St.), with Burns Commons (1300 N. Franklin Place) as its final destination. Our sleek streetcar line links Downtown Milwaukee with the Historic Third Ward and the Lower East Side along a route filled with shops and attractions.
Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 is an organization that was established 20 years ago to support the interests of the Downtown-area business community. Launched through private-sector leadership, Milwaukee Downtown is a management district organization that oversees 150 square blocks, representing approximately 500 property owners in the center of Downtown Milwaukee. The organization funds specific initiatives aimed at creating a clean, safe, enjoyable and friendly environment—including the annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival.
