Welcome to the MKE With Kids Events Calendar — your go-to guide for family-friendly events in the Milwaukee area. From free storytimes and hands-on workshops to can’t-miss festivals and seasonal celebrations, we round up the best local happenings for kids and families all in one place.
Want to share an event? Submit it here for consideration.
New Years Eve Party! Come celebrate New Year's Eve at The Big Backyard. We are opening our doors for a fun-filled family friendly event. Party with your kids and be home in time to watch the ball drop. Fun will include playing in our warm playground, Kids DJ with music, games and prizes, bouncy house, […]
NOW SHOWING AT THE DANIEL M. SOREF THEATER AND PLANETARIUM Check out the Planetarium programs and giant films playing daily. Now through January 22, 2026 (Wednesdays through Mondays) 10:30 a.m. Wisconsin Stargazing 11:10 a.m. Serengeti: Journey to the Heart of Africa 12:10 p.m. The First Stargazers 12:50 p.m. Call of the Dolphins 1:50 p.m. Wisconsin […]
Ring in the "new year" with us at noon! Live music/video show by DJ Lukewarm complete with lights, lasers, bubbles, and more! FREE STUFF: The 1st 200 kids (with paid admission) will receive FREE light up gear to ring in the new year with!Limit 1 per child while supplies last. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EXPECT?- […]
NOON Year’s Eve at The New Fashioned Where: The New Fashioned (Bars & Rec) When: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Families can welcome the new year early with a playful midday celebration at The New Fashioned. Kids can enjoy HyperBowling, deck curling, a craft station, family trivia, a bubble dance party, face painting, and a festive photo op. The […]
WhirlyBall New Year’s Eve Afternoon Family Fun Event Location: WhirlyBall Brookfield, 185 S. Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a day of action-packed family fun at WhirlyBall Brookfield! Enjoy WhirlyBall, bowling, laser tag, and a delicious Pivot Room buffet featuring pizza, mac & cheese bites, fresh-baked cookies, and more. Two activity sessions are available: 12:00–2:00 PM […]
WINTER BREAK December 22, December 29-January 2 10 a.m. - Noon; 1 – 3 p.m. Join MPM Educators as we highlight some of our favorite frozen topics during winter break! Feel the furs that cover Arctic animals, discover how to tell apart horns, tusks, and antlers, and explore the differences between the mammoths and mastodons that […]
Enjoy a Milwaukee Wave Home Game at the UWM Panther Arena in Downtown Milwaukee! 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.
Little Nature Museum Come and visit the Little Nature Museum and see animals native to Wisconsin, including tree frogs, several species of turtles, snakes, many birds and even a hawk. Monday-Friday: 4-5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 3-4 p.m. Attendance is FREE! Please note: Dates and times are subject to […]
November 20, 2025 - January 1, 2026 It’s a glowrious time to be Downtown! Our parks and streets will soon be aglow with holiday spirit and more than a half million brilliant bulbs. Meanwhile, a flurry of shows, Santa photo ops and exceptional dining opportunities are beckoning friends and family to gather here all season long! So, make […]
RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY, DELICIOUS FOOD, AND FUN AT LOU MALNATI’S! On December 31st, enjoy a family-friendly Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party at your local participating Lou Malnati’s. Toast the New Year, celebrate with the kiddos, and dig in to a delicious meal. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Early Countdown Dinner Brookfield […]
November 22 - January 31* *Closed for Thanksgiving (11/27) & Christmas (12/25) *Open Fridays & Saturdays only in January November 22 & 23 (Grand Opening): 5pm to 10pm November 24 - December 11 Sunday - Thursday: 5pm to 9pm Friday & Saturday: 5pm to 10pm December 12 - December 20 Sunday - Thursday: 5pm to […]
The Ingleside Hotel If Christmas Were A Place, It Would Look Like This! Celebrating our 30th year as Wisconsin’s most spectacular drive-through holiday lights event! 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.
November 21 - December 31 / 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (admission gates close at 8:15 p.m.) Dec. 3-31; except closed Dec 8-9, 15-16, 24-25 Wild Lights and frosty nights! Experience the magic of the Zoo after dark, walking through hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights throughout the forest and pathways. Enjoy an enchanted evening […]
Zoo Year's Eve at Wild Lights Milwaukee County Zoo December 31st, 2025 Zoo Year's Eve is your last chance to bask in the Zoo's sparkling holiday light sculptures. This special occasion transforms the zoo into a luminous wonderland with a 1-mile path adorned with animal-themed light displays and hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights. It's […]
WED DEC 31 @ 7:00 PM vs WASHINGTON WIZARDS TUE FEB 3 @ 7:00 PM vs CHICAGO BULLS SUN FEB 22 @ 2:30 PM vs TORONTO RAPTORS TUE FEB 24 @ 7:00 PM vs MIAMI HEAT SUN MAR 15 @ 2:30 PM vs INDIANA PACERS SUN MAR 29 @ 2:30 […]
NEW YEAR'S PARTY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31ST Live Music 7:30PM-12:30AM | Torch Light Parade 10:30PM | Fireworks 10:30PM 105 Cedar Creek Rd, Slinger, WI Celebrate the arrival of 2026 with an unforgettable New Year's Eve at Little Switz. As the mountain comes alive with music, lights, and laughter, you'll dance into the new year surrounded by […]
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Wed, December 31 | 10pm Cheer District Ring in the new year with a fireworks display, following the Milwaukee Bucks game! 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.
Celebrate the first sunrise of 2025 with a guided hike through Havenwoods State Forest! Dress warmly for the weather, wear your boots in case of some mud and borrow some snowshoes at the nature center if there’s enough snow! Warm up by a campfire afterward! This event is weather-dependent. Group/Program Hosting: Havenwoods State Forest Event […]
Join a park ranger in celebrating the new year with a guided hike through Mauthe Lake Rec Area on the Tamarack Trail. The hike is a 2.2-mile loop. Enjoy the crisp winter air, quality time with the community and a cozy fire at the picnic shelter to finish. Meet at the beach parking lot, dress […]
November 22, 2025 - January 4, 2026 Show Dome Theme: Holiday Show Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm Saturday-Sunday: 9am-4pm Closed: Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day 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.
Celebrate the first sunrise of 2025 with a guided hike through Havenwoods State Forest! Dress warmly for the weather, wear your boots in case of some mud and borrow some snowshoes at the nature center if there’s enough snow! Warm up by a campfire afterward! This event is weather-dependent. Group/Program Hosting: Havenwoods State Forest Event […]
WINTER BREAK December 22, December 29-January 2 10 a.m. - Noon; 1 – 3 p.m. Join MPM Educators as we highlight some of our favorite frozen topics during winter break! Feel the furs that cover Arctic animals, discover how to tell apart horns, tusks, and antlers, and explore the differences between the mammoths and mastodons that […]
First Day Hike at Kohler-Andrae State Park Thursday, January 1, 2026, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Begin your new year in the outdoors! Join naturalist Laurie Hylen for a hike along the shore of Lake Michigan. Meet at the Bathhouse and chart your course for an outdoor adventure. Bring some treats and celebrate the start […]
Ring in 2026 by jumping into frigid Lake Michigan with thousands of fellow Wisconsinites—or simply cheer from the shore with hot cocoa in hand. The greater Milwaukee area offers multiple polar plunge opportunities, from the legendary Bradford Beach tradition to charity-focused events supporting Special Olympics athletes. Bradford Beach: Milwaukee's biggest polar plunge The Bradford Beach […]
Deck the Streets and Village...There's no place like MPM for the holidays! November 16, 2025 - January 25, 2026 Wednesdays through Mondays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experience the magic of the holiday season inside two of MPM's most beloved exhibits, Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village, where the walkthrough turn-of-the-century streetscapes have been transformed […]
Cool Fool Kite Festival (Free!) Jan. 1, 2026 | Veterans Park, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Start the new year with kite-flying fun at this free festival along Milwaukee’s lakefront. Watch expert kite flyers, enjoy ice sculpting demonstrations, and warm up with free coffee and hot chocolate. Bring your own kite or buy one on-site! Please note: […]
FREE ADMISSION to the Milwaukee Public Museum! 2026 DATES AND TIMES from 10:00am to 5:00pm *Ticket will be accepted for entry anytime between 10:00am and 4:30pm. Visit length is not limited. Free for all visitors on the first Thursday of every month. FREE admission for Kohl's Thank You Thursdays. ALL visitors* (excluding groups) receive FREE access to […]
Winter is here! Come celebrate with us at the Central Library and complete a fun winter-themed scavenger hunt. 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.
December through Early March 2026 (weather permitting): See website for updates Red Arrow Park 414.289.8791 | countyparks.com Ice skate in the heart of Downtown at the “Slice of Ice” rink while surrounded by twinkling lights and dazzling décor. Skate rentals are $11 for adults and $9 for children. Ice skating is free with your own […]
NOW SHOWING AT THE DANIEL M. SOREF THEATER AND PLANETARIUM Check out the Planetarium programs and giant films playing daily. Now through January 22, 2026 (Wednesdays through Mondays) 10:30 a.m. Wisconsin Stargazing 11:10 a.m. Serengeti: Journey to the Heart of Africa 12:10 p.m. The First Stargazers 12:50 p.m. Call of the Dolphins 1:50 p.m. Wisconsin […]
Let's kick off the new year with our free, fun, and fantastic yoga event! On Jan. 1, join us at Beulah Brinton Community Center for an active start to 2026! Please bring your own yoga mat, water, and towel. Event Information When: Jan. 1, 2026 Where: Beulah Brinton Community Center (2555 S. Bay St.) Register […]
First Day Hike at Harrington Beach State Park Thursday, January 1, 2026, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Description: Start the new year with fresh air and beautiful views at Harrington Beach State Park’s annual First-Day Hike! Choose your own adventure or join the guided hike led by Amanda and the Harrington Beach Hikers Meetup Group. Warm […]
First Day Hike at Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit Thursday, January 1, 2026, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Join us to start the new year on a high note! Wear plenty of layers and well-treaded boots, as there might be mud or ice on the trails. Choose one of the guided hike options: […]
WINTER BREAK December 22, December 29-January 2 10 a.m. - Noon; 1 – 3 p.m. Join MPM Educators as we highlight some of our favorite frozen topics during winter break! Feel the furs that cover Arctic animals, discover how to tell apart horns, tusks, and antlers, and explore the differences between the mammoths and mastodons that […]
Little Nature Museum Come and visit the Little Nature Museum and see animals native to Wisconsin, including tree frogs, several species of turtles, snakes, many birds and even a hawk. Monday-Friday: 4-5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 3-4 p.m. Attendance is FREE! Please note: Dates and times are subject to […]
Thursdays from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Washington Park - NEW Location! 1859 N 40th St Milwaukee WI Calling everyone for an unforgettable evening of laughter and friendly competition at Washington Park! Bring your favorite board games or choose from our selection. Come for popcorn and more! Please note: Dates and times are subject to […]
November 20, 2025 - January 1, 2026 It’s a glowrious time to be Downtown! Our parks and streets will soon be aglow with holiday spirit and more than a half million brilliant bulbs. Meanwhile, a flurry of shows, Santa photo ops and exceptional dining opportunities are beckoning friends and family to gather here all season long! So, make […]
Drive into the magic of the Winter Glow Experience: A Drive-Thru Holiday Light Show, a radiant journey filled with hundreds of dazzling, larger-than-life holiday displays that sparkle with festive wonder. From the comfort of a cozy car, sip a favorite drink, snack on treats, and let the synchronized lights dance in harmony with holiday tunes. […]
November 22 - January 31* *Closed for Thanksgiving (11/27) & Christmas (12/25) *Open Fridays & Saturdays only in January November 22 & 23 (Grand Opening): 5pm to 10pm November 24 - December 11 Sunday - Thursday: 5pm to 9pm Friday & Saturday: 5pm to 10pm December 12 - December 20 Sunday - Thursday: 5pm to […]
The Ingleside Hotel If Christmas Were A Place, It Would Look Like This! Celebrating our 30th year as Wisconsin’s most spectacular drive-through holiday lights event! 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.
November 22, 2025 - January 4, 2026 Show Dome Theme: Holiday Show Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm Saturday-Sunday: 9am-4pm Closed: Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day 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.
Join us at the New Berlin 2Inspire Center for some STEM fun over Winter Break! Our series of 1 day winter camps includes: Monday December 29th - Robot Invasion Camp Tuesday December 30th - Imagine Arts Academy-Maker Camp! Friday January 2nd- Brixology Junior Engineering Day *Single Day Camps run 9-4pm* $99 each day Drop kids […]
WINTER BREAK December 22, December 29-January 2 10 a.m. - Noon; 1 – 3 p.m. Join MPM Educators as we highlight some of our favorite frozen topics during winter break! Feel the furs that cover Arctic animals, discover how to tell apart horns, tusks, and antlers, and explore the differences between the mammoths and mastodons that […]
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am 11:00 am 12:00 pm Turtles and snakes are some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet. Join our team for an adventure in our Great Lakes Future exhibit as you meet the animal ambassadors that call Discovery World home and gain a better understanding of our friendly […]
COMMUNITY FREE DAY FOR VIOLINS OF HOPE: STRINGS OF JEWISH RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE DATE: January 2, 2026 TIME: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. LOCATION: Jewish Museum Milwaukee COST: FREE for MKE County Residents We invite all Milwaukee County residents to experience the powerful Violins of Hope exhibit free of charge during this special Community Free […]
The historic and magical Kooky Cookie House has its new and permanent location at Shady Lane Greenhouse in Menomonee Falls. Kids of all ages will enjoy this opportunity to walk thru the functioning cookie factory. From those who have treasured memories of days gone by to those little ones who will get the chance to […]
US Olympic Team Trials Long Track Return to the Pettit National Ice Center US Speedskating announced that the 2026 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Long Track will be held at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 2-5, 2026. Top skaters from around the nation will compete for spots to represent Team USA […]
Deck the Streets and Village...There's no place like MPM for the holidays! November 16, 2025 - January 25, 2026 Wednesdays through Mondays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experience the magic of the holiday season inside two of MPM's most beloved exhibits, Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village, where the walkthrough turn-of-the-century streetscapes have been transformed […]
Winter is here! Come celebrate with us at the Central Library and complete a fun winter-themed scavenger hunt. 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.
December through Early March 2026 (weather permitting): See website for updates Red Arrow Park 414.289.8791 | countyparks.com Ice skate in the heart of Downtown at the “Slice of Ice” rink while surrounded by twinkling lights and dazzling décor. Skate rentals are $11 for adults and $9 for children. Ice skating is free with your own […]
Want to share an event? Submit it here for consideration.