1. Christmas Dinner at ARIA
FRIDAY FROM 2-8 P.M. | SAINT KATE – THE ART HOTEL
Enjoy a holiday inspired, home-cooked, Midwestern meal at ARIA in the Saint Kate Arts Hotel. The festive menu features a three-course meal including chicken and dumpling soup, Caesar salad, herb roasted prime rib or an 8 oz. filet, whipped Yukon potatoes, creamed Tuscan kale and, for dessert, eggnog crème brûlée. Reservations are required and can be made at 414-270-4422 or online at Open Table.
2. Christmas at the Iron Horse Hotel
FRIDAY FROM 7-11 A.M., SATURDAY FROM 7 A.M.-2 P.M. | IRON HORSE HOTEL
Cozy up in the library by a roaring fire and surround yourself with vintage-inspired holiday décor at the Iron Horse Hotel during their Christmas dining specials this weekend. Christmas Day Brunch will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include prime rib and eggs and a bottomless mimosa and Bloody Mary cart on top of their usual brunch menu. Reservations can be made by calling 414-831-4677 or by visiting Open Table online.
3. Christmas Celebration Brunch at the Pfister
SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M.-3 P.M. | THE PFISTER HOTEL
Brunch in the Pfister’s “elegantly decorated” ballroom on Christmas morning will include a complimentary mimosa or Bloody Mary and a full buffet. The buffet features an assortment of fresh seafood, Wisconsin cheeses, carved meats, made-to-order omelets, holiday salads and starters, customizable pastas and more. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 414-935-5850 or 877-704-5320.
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4. Bucks Game
SATURDAY AT 1:30 P.M. | FISERV FORUM AND NATIONAL TV
The Milwaukee Bucks are facing off against the Boston Celtics this weekend at home. Christmas-day games often feature some of the NBA’s biggest matchups and this game is no different. You can get tickets to the home game or catch it on ABC.
5. Sweater Party and Gift Exchange
SUNDAY FROM 2-6 P.M. | SUGAR MAPLE
Things will be festive at the Sweater Party and Gift Exchange at The Sugar Maple. All you have to do is wear a holiday sweater and bring a gift. The gift opening happens at 3 p.m. The bar will be pouring flights of variants of The Fermentorium’s Sweater Weather Milk Stout.
6. Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour
SUNDAY AT 3 P.M. AND 7:30 P.M. | FISERV FORUM
Rock out to holiday classics with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra as the group celebrates the 25th anniversary of its landmark album Christmas Eve and Other Stories. The group will perform its “multi-sensory extravaganza” at the Fiserv Forum at 3 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets for both shows are available on Ticketmaster.
7. Kwanzaa 2021: Opening & Traditional Ceremony
SUNDAY AT 3 P.M. | WISCONSIN BLACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY & VIRTUAL
Join the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum for the Kwanzaa Opening and Traditional Ceremonies this Sunday. This event is a space for celebration and reflection, and the Wisconsin Black Historical society uses Kwanzaa “as a platform to discuss the issues of the African American community.” There will be speakers, entertainment, dancing, drumming and vendors. This free program begins at 3 p.m. and doors open for the in person event at 1 p.m. Register online here.
8. Watch a Movie at the Oriental Theater
MULTIPLE SHOWTIMES | ORIENTAL THEATER
Three new films open this weekend at the Oriental Theater: The Lost Daughter, Red Rocket and Licorice Pizza. It’s also the last weekend to see Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch. There’s no better time than the holidays to cozy up, snack on popcorn and watch a good movie, so head over the Oriental and enjoy an independent film while supporting a local theater.
9. Catch the Final Weekend of Milwaukee Holiday Performances
MULTIPLE SHOWTIMES | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
This is the last weekend to enjoy the Milwaukee Ballet’s Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Catch A Christmas Carol in their final performance on Friday, and the final performances of A Charlie Brown Christmas and the Nutcracker are on Sunday. All three shows still have tickets available on their websites for these final performances.
10. Candy Cane Lane
ALL WEEKEND | WEST ALLIS
From 96th Street to 92nd Street and Montana Avenue to Oklahoma Avenue in West Allis you will find some of the most extreme Christmas decorations in Milwaukee County. This is the last weekend to see the neighborhood light show. It’s a free experience but Santa is there to collect donations for the MACC Fund, a worthy cause.
