Friday, December 9, 2022, 5-7 p.m.
Admission: FREE
See Santa and Mrs. Claus riding atop a vintage fire truck along this festive route. Sarah Fierek will also be on board, singing jazzy holiday tunes. The truck departs from the Milwaukee Public Market at 5:15 p.m. and travels throughout downtown Milwaukee.
The route passes by Red Arrow Park, Pere Marquette Park, Zeidler Union Square, Wisconsin Avenue, Cathedral Square Park, Broadway, Catalano Square, and Light The Hoan.
Santa’s Christmas Cavalcade >>
Saturday, December 10, 2022, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Straight from the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus return for this annual cocoa klatch. The free outdoor event is a chance for kids to share their wish lists, and for moms and dads to snap a keepsake photo. Just remember to bring your camera!
Elves and other holiday characters will also be there, plus complimentary cookies and hot cocoa sponsored by Taste of Home will be provided.
Friday, December 9, 2022, 4:15-7:15 p.m.
Admission: FREE (suggested donation of cash or nonperishable food items for local food banks)
After a two-year hiatus and being only a virtual experience last year due to COVID-19, the Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train returns to the rails for 2022! It’ll be rolling through the Milwaukee area on Friday, December 9, 2022, making stops in Wauwatosa, Hartland and Oconomowoc.
The Holiday Train is about 1,000 feet in length with 14 brightly decorated rail cars. Each car is decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED lights and holiday designs.
At each scheduled stop, the illuminated train arrives and pulls to a safe stop in front of the crowd. Then the stage door lowers and the live performances of holiday-themed songs begin. There is also a brief presentation with local food bank officials and dignitaries. Once the band plays its farewell song, the stage door closes, and the train heads off to the next stop. Each stop lasts about 30 minutes.
Each event is completely free, and attendees are encouraged to bring monetary or healthy nonperishable food bank donations to help alleviate hunger in their own local community.
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train>>
December 10-24, 2022
Admission: $46-$152
Shake off the winter chill and gather again with friends and family for one of Milwaukee’s favorite holiday traditions, featuring the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra and students of Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy.
Dancers from around the world create a winter wonderland in this timeless story, steeped in festive cheer.
This is the 25th and final year of the current production, before an all-new Nutcracker takes the stage in 2023.