Updated for 2025
Get ready to experience the best Christmas lights in Milwaukee for 2025!
If you’re searching for the best holiday and Christmas lights near Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up this year’s most magical light displays – everything from free park walk-throughs and sparkling neighborhood traditions to drive-through light shows that let you stay cozy in the car.
This guide gives you everything you need in one spot: dates, locations, and insider details to make planning simple.
For more magical holiday experiences, check out our 2025 Milwaukee Holiday Guide for Families.
Best Holiday Lights in Milwaukee (2025)
Quick picks for the most magical light displays this season:
Brand-New for 2025
- Winter Glow – Brown Deer Park
Drive-through • Synchronized lights + music • Arrives November 2025 - Christmas Carnival of Lights Upgrades
Snowless Tube Slide + Ice skating + glowing walking path - Friday Night Holiday Lights at the Villa
Walk-through • 2 special dates only — Dec. 5 & 12
Top Free Displays
- Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival – Downtown
- Candy Cane Lane – West Allis
- Winter Wonderland – Garden District
- Miller Valley Holiday Lites – Milwaukee
- Hoan for the Holidays – Hoan Bridge
- Corners of Brookfield
- Making Spirits Bright – Sheboygan
- Wonderlight Walk – Hart Park
Favorite Drive-Through Light Shows
- Winter Wonders – Franklin
- Country Christmas – Pewaukee
- Christmas Carnival of Lights – Caledonia
- Kapco’s Kids2Kids Wonderland – Grafton
- Enchantment in the Park – West Bend
- Winter Glow – Brown Deer Park
- Illuminate Ozaukee — Cedarburg
- Christmas at Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary — West Bend
- Making Spirits Bright – Sheboygan
- Santa’s Workshop – Cedarburg
- Christmas in the Country – Grand Geneva
Walk-Through Favorites
- Wild Lights – Milwaukee County Zoo
- Friday Night Holiday Lights at the Villa – Villa Terrace
- Select walk-through nights at drive-through shows (see details below)
Neighborhood Highlights
- Lights on Glen Cove – Muskego
- Jamestown Lights – Caledonia
- Santa Street – Whitefish Bay
What’s New for 2025: Holiday Lights Around Milwaukee
Before we dive into our full list of the best Christmas lights in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin, here are the exciting new holiday light experiences debuting in 2025:
Winter Glow
- Winter Glow is a brand-new, mile-long holiday light drive-through
- Coming to Brown Deer Park in November 2025
- Synced to festive music for a fully immersive, cozy-in-the-car experience
Christmas Carnival of Lights – New Attractions
- Candy Village is enhanced this year with ice skating, a glowing walking path, and festive photo ops.
- Snowless Tube Slide: Glide down a brand-new winter thrill – no snow required!
- Upgraded Listening Experience: Stream crystal-clear festive tunes right from your phone or connect via Bluetooth. Prefer the classic way? You can still tune in on the radio station.
Friday Night Holiday Lights at the Villa
- On December 5 & 12 from 4–8 p.m., Villa Terrace will sparkle with holiday magic.
- Stroll through the decorated gardens glowing with twinkling lights, sip hot chocolate, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Free Holiday Light Displays in Metro Milwaukee
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
Location: Downtown Milwaukee (Various Parks and Wisconsin Avenue)
Dates: November 20, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Entry Fee: Free
- The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival celebrates its 26th season this year!
- New Warming House at Red Arrow Park: This year, the Jingle Bus departs from a brand-new Warming House, located at Red Arrow Park. Grab tickets, enjoy complimentary cookies and cocoa, warm up, and use the restroom before your tour. The new location also partners with Biggby Coffee and offers extra fun once the Slice of Ice skating rink opens.
- Community Spirit Park at Cathedral Square Park, where evergreens are decorated by local schools and organizations
- Santa’s Mailbox at Cathedral Square Park
- Pere Marquette Park comes alive with animated holiday characters and North Pole scenes
- Zeidler Union Square offers interactive photo opportunities with Santa, reindeer, and festive settings
- Wisconsin Avenue is lined with 18 blocks of glittering chandeliers above each intersection.
- Ornament Trail features 20 super-sized hand-painted ornaments designed by local and national artists with ties to Milwaukee
- Festivities begin with the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival Kickoff Extravaganza on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 at 6:30pm in Pere Marquette Park, 900 N. Plankinton Ave with live music, dance acts, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a fireworks ceremony and pre-show entertainment starting at 5:30pm.
Miller Valley Holiday Lites
Location: Miller Valley, 3897 W State St, Milwaukee, WI
Dates: Friday December 5 – 26, 2025
Entry Fee: Free
Highlights:
- Miller Valley Holiday Lites is a beloved Milwaukee tradition, offering a spectacular light show that takes place at the historic Frederick Miller’s Plank-Road Brewery.
- Holiday lights synchronized to festive music.
- The show runs every 10 minutes between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
- Visitors encouraged to pull up their cars, tune in to 91.1 FM, and enjoy the dazzling lights from the warmth of their vehicle.
Hoan for the Holidays
Location: 600 S. Water St.
Dates: 2025 Dates Coming Soon
Brighten your season with the dazzling holiday lights of Milwaukee’s iconic Hoan Bridge! This festive display will shine throughout the holiday season, with a special highlight when a magical 10-minute light show will light up the night during Christmas in the Ward.
Candy Cane Lane
Location: West Allis, between 92nd-96th St. and Montana Ave to Oklahoma Ave
Dates: Opens November 28th, 2025
Entry Fee: At-will donation to the MACC Fund (Credit cards now accepted)
- Over 300 homes decorated with festive lights and candy cane-wrapped trees
- Visitors can drive through or walk the neighborhood
- Mr. and Mrs. Claus often make appearances to spread holiday cheer & pass out treats
- Began in the 1980s to support a local child battling cancer
- Donations benefit the MACC Fund, supporting childhood cancer research
- A long-standing holiday tradition for families in Milwaukee
Winter Wonderland in the Garden District
Location: 6th & Norwich, one block south of Howard
Hours: Dusk-Midnight
Dates: 2025 Dates Coming Soon
- This festive holiday display is free for families to walk through and enjoy.
- There is typically a tree lighting ceremony at the beginning of the season with music and caroling and special treats
- Look out for other special events like a chance for kids to visit with Santa and share their holiday wishes
Wonderlight Walk (Hart Park, Wauwatosa)
Location: Hart Park, 7300 W Chestnut St, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Dates: 2025 Dates Coming Soon
Stroll through the enchanting Wonderlight Walk in Hart Park. Starting just south of the Muellner Building, this magical walk along the Oak Leaf Trail sparkles with festive lights and holiday cheer. The trail leads directly to The Village for the Tosa Holiday Market! Convenient parking is available at Hart Park.
Corners of Brookfield
Location: 20111 W Bluemound Rd, Brookfield, WI 53045
Dates: 2025 Dates Coming Soon
- From Thanksgiving through the New Year, The Corners will light up the night with larger-than-life light installations and displays. The highlights these year are TBD!
- Santa’s mailbox in Market Square vestibule allows little boys and girls to deposit their wish list letters to Santa all season long.
- A sell-out event each year, live reindeer typically visit the town center
- The Corners also holds a beloved annual Town Holiday Tree Lighting
Enchantment in the Park
Location: Regner Park, 800 N. Main Street, West Bend, WI
Dates: Friday, November 28 – Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Entry Fee: Free (suggested $10 donation or non-perishable food item to support Washington County food pantries)
Highlights:
- Drive-through entrance on Silverbrook Drive, with access to the full holiday light display
- Walk-through entrance on Main Street, featuring a shorter route with access to holiday lights
- Horse and carriage rides available on select nights for $5 per person (ages 15 and under ride free)
- Concessions provided by Casa Guadalupe Education Center, with proceeds supporting local Hispanic communities
- Pro Tip: Expect a wait – this is a popular event!
Making Spirits Bright
Location: 3030 Calumet Dr., Sheboygan
Dates: November 28th – December 31st, 2025
Get ready to delight in holiday spirit at Making Spirits Bright, a magical drive-thru light show hosted by the Sheboygan County Rotary Clubs in Evergreen Park. This festive event is completely free, but don’t forget to bring pantry items to support the Sheboygan County Food Bank. It’s a holiday tradition that shines bright for a good cause.
Santa’s Workshop
Location: Washington Avenue, downtown Cedarburg, WI 53012
Dates: 2025 Santa Days at Santa’s Workshop in Cedarburg
Highlights:
- 15×15-foot gingerbread house graces Cedarburg’s Washington Avenue for the entire Christmas season
- Santa and Mrs. Claus often stop by in the days leading up to Christmas.
- When Santa’s not in to greet guests, you can peek in the windows to see his charming fireplace and the toys he and the elves have been working on.
- Keep an eye out for a special events when Santa and Mrs. Claus will spend the evening walking around Cedarburg and posing for photos!
Drive-Through Holiday Light Displays Around Milwaukee
Winter Glow — Brown Deer Park (NEW!)
Dates: Starting November 2025
Location: Brown Deer Park
Winter Glow is a brand-new, mile-long holiday light experience coming to Milwaukee in November 2025. Families can enjoy dazzling displays perfectly synced to cheerful holiday music – all from the warmth of their own car. Expect around 60 minutes of festive fun, favorite treats, and glowing memories for all ages.
Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens
Location: Whitnall Park, 6751 S. 92nd Street, Franklin, WI
Dates: 2025 Dates Coming Soon
Winter Wonders is a popular 1.4-mile drive-through holiday light display located at Boerner Botanical Gardens and Whitnall Park. Featuring over one million LED lights, this event transforms the surrounding area into a magical winter scene, with over 500 illuminated trees and festive holiday-themed displays. As one of the longest light displays in the area, Winter Wonders offers a dazzling experience for visitors of all ages, with new and exciting displays added each year.
Country Christmas at the Ingleside Hotel
Location: Ingleside Hotel, Pewaukee, WI
Entry Fee: Pricing varies by experience (walking, drive-through, wagon rides)
Highlights:
- Over a mile-long drive-through trail with more than one million holiday lights
- Features include the 200-foot Bearville Tunnel with 30,000 computerized lights and other themed displays
- Christmas Village: Indoor space with festive treats, a model train display, and the new Raccoon Band singing Christmas tunes
- Village Park: Stroll through with photo opportunities, including a 42-foot Christmas tree and new walk-through light tunnel
- The Streets of Bethlehem: A walk-through exhibit of nearly life-sized nativity figurines, including a replica of the Pope’s personal collection
- Special experiences include Walking Nights, Wagon Rides, and Bikes and Lights nights
The Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights
Location: Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, 8425 Hwy 38, Caledonia, WI 53108
Dates: Fridays & Saturdays later hours | Select peak Saturdays open until 10:30 PM
Santa through Dec 23: evenings only
Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Day
Highlights:
- New this year: Enhanced Candy Village, Snowless Tubing Slide, and upgraded listening experience
- Over 2 million dazzling lights synchronized to holiday music
- Drive through a 1.6-mile route filled with hand-crafted displays and lights high in the trees
- View the entire display from your vehicle
- Santa’s Giant Sleigh and Golf Cart Holiday Train offer unique viewing experiences
- Santa’s Workshop features festive treats, holiday gifts, and specialty items
- 10 minutes south of General Mitchell Airport.
Kapco’s Kids2Kids Christmas Wonderland
Location: 1150 Cheyenne Ave, Grafton, WI
Dates: 2025 Dates Coming Soon
Highlights:
- Drive-thru experience with over one million lights
- Three light tunnels and hundreds of holiday inflatables
- Live nativity scene and Santa’s Workshop featuring live reindeer
- Christmas Village with quaint storefronts and a rink for ice skating villagers
- Guests are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to donate as part of the Kids2Kids Toy Drive, which has collected over 225,000 toys for local charities.
Illuminate Ozaukee
Location: Herman A. Zeunert Park, Cedarburg, WI
Dates: Thurs–Sat for three weekends + December 21 & 22, 2025
Suggested donation of $20 (cash and credit accepted)
Highlights
- A festive drive-thru holiday light show
- Beautiful displays created by local nonprofits and businesses
- Special characters and Santa will be on-site to greet guests
- Donations support the Ozaukee Nonprofit Center and partner agencies
- Visitors will receive a booklet with a QR code to vote for their favorite display
- Tune in to 93.9 FM for holiday music as you enjoy the lights
- Bring letters to Santa and drop them in his mailbox
Christmas at Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: 1901 Shalom Drive, West Bend, WI 53090
Dates: 2025 Dates Coming Soon
In the warmth of your own car, drive slow, relax and enjoy the wildlife and the unique holiday displays and decorations. The entire zoo is lit up with special LED lighting for the night time drive-thru. Wildlife viewing is good day or night. The drive-thru will take one hour.
After the Holiday drive-thru, enjoy entrance into the petting zoo and a crackling camp fire. Animal feed for the petting zoo is available for purchase in the gift shop.
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa – Christmas in the Country
Lake Geneva, WI
Grand Geneva Resort’s Christmas in the Country celebration shines with more than two million twinkling lights and 70 dazzling holiday displays. The festivities officially kick off with the Illumination Ceremony featuring fireworks, photos with Santa, and holiday treats like cookies and cider. Guests and visitors can drive through the resort’s light displays or take a ride on the heated Trolley Tour of Lights (free for resort guests, fee for non-guests). The celebration continues through the holiday season, with highlights including a Gingerbread House Walk, Brunch with Santa, and the new nostalgic holiday bar, Tinsel & Tonic.
Walk-Through Holiday Light Displays Around Milwaukee
Walk-Through Nights
A few of the area’s best drive-through holiday light shows offer special walk-thought nights this year:
- Christmas Carnival of Lights: Friday, November 28th, 2025
- Country Christmas: November 14-16, 21-23 & 26, 2025
Friday Night Holiday Lights at Villa Terrace
Location: Villa Terrace (2220 N. Terrace Ave. Milwaukee, WI)
Dates: December 5 & 12th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Experience the magic of the season at Friday Night Holiday Lights. 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.
Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo
Location: 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Dates: November 21 – December 31, 2025 (Closed Nov. 24-27, 30, Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 24-25)
HIghlights:
- The Milwaukee County Zoo transforms into a festive wonderland during Wild Lights
- Features hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights along a 1-mile walk-through trail
- Pathways and forested areas are illuminated with vibrant animal-themed sculptures and dazzling displays
- Suitable for all ages, offering a magical holiday experience
- This year’s event includes even more lights, making it bigger and brighter than ever
- Drive-Through experience is available on select dates. The 30-minute drive follows the same illuminated route, with food and merchandise stops along the way
Neighborhood Displays
Lights on Glen Cove
Location: S71 W16459 Glen Cove Ct., Muskego, WI (off Janesville Rd.)
Dates: Starting the second week of December
Entry Fee: Non-perishable food item or monetary donation for the Muskego Food Pantry
- Marvel at over 35,000 LED lights synchronized to holiday music at Lights on Glen Cove, a free, community-focused display in Muskego.
- Tune in to 87.9 FM to enjoy the festive tunes while you watch the lights
- Runs nightly from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and until 10 p.m. on weekends (weather permitting). Located in a residential neighborhood, visitors are reminded to be respectful of the area and its residents while enjoying the show.
- Donations of non-perishable food or monetary contributions are accepted to support the Muskego Food Pantry.
Jamestown Lights
Location: Taurus Drive (South) Just East of Highway K and 38, Caledonia, WI, United States, 53406
Head to Caledonia where seven home in the Jamestown subdivision decorate with lights synchronized to a music program heard on 97.7 FM. It’s now in its 14th year! Don’t miss the talking tree called Douglas Fir, and he has a co-host guitar playing tree by the name of Randy Balsam.
Santa Street in Whitefish Bay
Lexington Boulevard has become a wonderland of towering, 12-foot-tall inflatable Santas, delighting residents and visitors alike. It all started with one mom’s fun idea and rapidly grew into a neighborhood-wide display. What began as a group of seven Santas has now expanded to 17, creating a magical parade of “ho-ho-homes” along the street.
Milwaukee Holiday Light Show Tips
Make the most of your holiday light adventures with these practical tips from local families:
- Visit on a Weeknight: Most drive-through and walk-through light shows are much less crowded Monday through Thursday – plus, some offer weekday discounts.
- Arrive Early (or Late): Peak times are usually 6–8 p.m. Arriving right at opening or closer to closing can mean shorter waits and easier parking.
- Dress for the Weather: Even if you’re staying in the car, pack extra blankets, hats, and gloves — and a thermos of hot cocoa for the kids.
- Bring Donations: Many displays (like Candy Cane Lane and Making Spirits Bright) collect non-perishable food items or toys for local charities.
- Tune In for Music: Some drive-throughs sync lights to a specific radio station – check signage at the entrance and cue up your holiday playlist.
- Plan Bathroom Breaks: For longer routes like Country Christmas or Winter Wonders, make a quick restroom stop before entering the queue.
- Capture the Magic: If you’re taking photos, turn off your flash and steady your phone against the window or dashboard for the best glow.
Dive Deeper into the Holiday Spirit!
As you gear up for the festive season, don’t miss out on these wonderful resources we’ve gathered just for you. Explore our related articles to make the most of your holiday experience:
- Places to Meet Santa: Find the perfect spot for your little ones to share their holiday wishes with the big guy himself.
- Santa’s Mailboxes: Learn where you can send your kids’ letters to Santa and add some extra magic to their holiday season.
- Magical Holiday Experiences: Uncover special activities and events that will make this holiday unforgettable.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
