The elves at Milwaukee Downtown are busy preparing for the 27th installment of the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival.
The six-week festival will return November 20 – January 1, transforming Cathedral Square Park, Pere Marquette Park, Red Arrow Park and Zeidler Union Square into festive winter scenes. Street decorations will also adorn three downtown thoroughfares, including Wisconsin Avenue, which will feature an 18-block stretch of silver and gold chandeliers suspended above each intersection.
In addition, The Ornament Trail will return with nearly 20 super-sized holiday ornaments hand painted by a diverse assortment of acclaimed artists. The holiday baubles’ growing footprint will appear along Wisconsin Avenue, a portion of Water Street and in near-Downtown neighborhoods. Also returning this year is Santa’s Mailbox sponsored by Educators Credit Union at Cathedral Square Park.
Festivities will begin with the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival Kickoff Extravaganza presented by Johnson Financial Group on Thursday, November 20 at 6:30pm in Pere Marquette Park, 900 N. Plankinton Ave. The highly anticipated show will feature live music, dance acts, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a fireworks ceremony and pre-show entertainment starting at 5:30pm.
The bright night of festivity will begin at 5:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment by Kid Boogie Down. Following this dance warm-up, guests will enjoy performances by DJ Mr. NY, characters from Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s “A Christmas Carol,” Anita’s Dance Center, The Squeezettes, select cast members from Cirque du Soleil’s “‘Twas the Night Before…,” Marquette University’s Gold ‘n Blues, Christopher Gilbert, Willow Newell – Miss Wisconsin, and Jenny Thiel. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also make an appearance. The evening will wrap up with a fireworks show, shortly before 7 p.m. Guests in attendance will receive free cocoa and cookies and can take part in free Jingle Bus rides, operated by KB Excursions, after the fireworks.
After the Nov. 20th kickoff, residents and visitors can view the light displays, coordinated by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, through Jan. 1. Four Downtown parks will be transformed into winter wonderland scenes: “Community Spirit Park” at Cathedral Square Park; “Santa’s Celebration Square powered by We Energies” at Zeidler Union Square; “¡Felices Fiestas!” at Pere Marquette Park and “Slice of Ice Lights” at Red Arrow Park. Street decorations will also adorn three Downtown thoroughfares, including Wisconsin Avenue, which will feature an 18-block stretch of silver and gold chandeliers suspended above each intersection.
Visitors can see all the sights aboard the Jingle Bus, a 40-minute narrated tour that offers a no-fuss way to view all of Downtown Milwaukee’s offerings during the holiday season. Tours will depart from the Festival’s new Warming House at Red Arrow Park, 920 N. Water St. Jingle Bus operating hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays through Sundays, Dec. 5 – 28. Tickets are $8 per person (excluding tax and fees). Advanced ticket sales are encouraged. Spanish tours are offered on select nights. Discounted parking is available for riders at the BMO Tower garage, 771 N. Broadway, for $3.24 with validation from the Jingle Bus info table.
For more information on the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival Kickoff Extravaganza and to purchase Jingle Bus tickets, visit This Link.
Please note: Dates and times are subject to change, and occasionally events may be cancelled. Please check the event website to confirm the latest details.
