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The holiday season is in full swing, and there are tons of ways to get into a festive spirit! Here are our top picks for the weekend:
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FEATURED: Cocoa With the Clauses (Canceled due to cold weather)
Cocoa With the Clauses (FREE!)
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location: Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Share your wish lists and grab a keepsake photo with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, meet elves and other holiday characters, and enjoy complimentary cookies and hot cocoa.
👉 Get the full details.
NEW THIS YEAR!
Friday Night Holiday Lights at the Villa
Date: Friday, December 12, 2025, 4-8 p.m.
Location: Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Enjoy a cozy cup of hot chocolate as you stroll through the Villa’s beautifully decorated gardens, aglow with twinkling lights and festive charm.
👉 Light up the night.
THERE’S MORE! There will be a “Night Before Christmas” Children’s Reading at the Villa Terrace on Saturday, December 14, from 1 to 3 p.m.
FREE FUN
Santa’s Cavalcade (Weather Update Below)
Date: Friday, December 12, 2025, 5 p.m.
Location: Downtown Milwaukee
Santa Clause is still coming to town, but tomorrow’s (Dec. 12) Santa Cavalcade will look a little different. Instead of riding on our antique firetruck, Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch and jazz singer Sarah Fierek will make two cozy indoor stops, plus a visit to one of Milwaukee’s most festive parks.
Milwaukee Lakefront Holiday Drone Show
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 5-6:30 p.m.
Location: Veteran’s Park, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202
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.
👉 Click here for more info.
Winter Wonder Woods
Date: December 10-13, 2025, 5-8 p.m.
Location: Hawthorn Glen Nature Center, 1130 N. 60th St., Milwaukee, WI 53208
Explore winter beauty with an evening walk through the woods, and enjoy complimentary warm drinks and cookies. No registration required this year!
👉 Learn more about what you’ll find on the walk.
Chanukah Festival & Gelt Drop
Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025, 4-6 p.m.
Location: The Yard at BAYSHORE, 5800 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale, WI 53217
This year’s festival features live music, a giant menorah lighting, gelt drop, LED robot dancers, glow face paint, train rides, a photo booth, food, warm drinks, and donuts.
👉 Light up Milwaukee.
Christkindl Market in Menomonee Falls
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Downtown Menomonee Falls
Step into a European-inspired Christkindl Market Village market! Enjoy professional portraits inside Santa’s Workshop, live reindeer, a princess meet and greet with Elsa and Anna, warm hot chocolate, and horse-drawn carriage rides around the historic block!
👉 Get more details.
MORE TOP PICKS
Holiday Pops by Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Date: December 13-21, 2025 (various showtimes)
Location: Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53203
Milwaukee’s cherished musical holiday tradition features classic holiday tunes, carols, and festive sing-alongs performed by MSO.
👉 Find a showtime for your family.
Saturday Fun Day at Milwaukee Rep’s Herzfeld Center
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10 a.m.-Noon
Location: Milwaukee Repertory Theater Herzfeld Foundation Education & Engagement Center, 108 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Celebrate the season with games, hands-on activities and crafts, storytelling, a sneak peek at upcoming youth classes and camps, and the chance to meet Ebenezer Scrooge and more from A Christmas Carol.
👉 Get more details.
European Village Alive!
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53233
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.
Season’s Screenings Retro Movie Series at Marcus Theaters
Date: December 5-18, 2025
Location: Marcus Theaters
Bring the whole family to the movie theater to see classic holiday films, back on the big screen! Tickets start at $6.
SANTA TRACKER
Santa Tracker
Santa will be at the Saint Kate, North Point Lighthouse, and even the Waukesha Airport this weekend!
👉 Check our Events Calendar for more stops on Santa’s route.
Kids’ Disco on 88.9 FM Radio Milwaukee
Celebrate the start of the weekend and the end of the wiggles with Dori Zori and Kids’ Disco on 88.9 FM Radio Milwaukee (Saturdays, 9-10 a.m.)! Enjoy an hour long non-stop mix of music for the whole family to enjoy.
Ready for More Family Fun?
Milwaukee is packed with even more exciting activities and hidden gems for you to explore with your family this season. Whether you’re looking for spontaneous outings or planning ahead, we’ve got you covered!
📅 Explore Our Events Calendar
From seasonal celebrations to ongoing attractions, our Events Calendar is your go-to guide for family-friendly happenings in and around Milwaukee. Discover new experiences every day, tailored just for you.
☀️ Fall Fun
Check out our Milwaukee Fall Fun Guide to uncover the best apple orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and more!
🎡 Don’t Miss Our Top Picks!
Looking for more must-visit spots? Dive into our guides on:
- Milwaukee’s Best Playgrounds – Discover the most fun and unique play areas for kids of all ages.
- Kid-Friendly Restaurants – Enjoy a meal where the whole family is welcome.
- Indoor Playgrounds – Perfect for those rainy or chilly days.
- Top Museums for Kids – Unleash your child’s curiosity with engaging exhibits.
- Free & Affordable Activities – Have a blast without breaking the bank.
📬 Join Our Community!
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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.
