Featured Events
1. The Elf Bar: Christmas Pop-Up Experience
THURSDAY AT 5 P.M. | MO’S IRISH PUB
The elves have taken over Mo’s Irish Pub and turned it into a winter wonderland for this special pop-up event. A selection of elf-themed cocktails will be served alongside games and festive photo opportunities. Keep an eye out for the hundreds of elves scattered around! There is also a family friendly session at 1 p.m and 2:30 p.m. to allow kids to enjoy the Christmas magic. Tickets are available online for $15.50 each.
2. Christmas in the Ward
FRIDAY FROM 5:15 P.M.-8:15 P.M. | CATALANO SQUARE
Come celebrate the early Christmas season in the historic Third Ward! Festivities include a vintage-inspired Christmas tree lighting ceremony, hot cocoa and mulled wine, and local music. There will be a selection of local food trucks and a s’mores roasting area, too. Following the tree lighting there will be a winter fireworks show and kids can give Santa their wishlists from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Jolly’s House.
3. Whisker Wonderland
SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M. | HUMBOLDT PARK PAVILION
Almost Home Cat Rescue MKE is hosting a variety of local vendors for a market at Humboldt Park. A portion of the proceeds go to helping pay for rescue expenses. Almost Home is a volunteer-run, cage-free rescue that runs on donations.
4. The West Allis Christmas Parade
SATURDAY FROM 4:45 P.M. TO 6 P.M. | DOWNTOWN WEST ALLIS
Christmas time is near and it’s time for the Christmas Parade! Starting in downtown West Allis, the parade will feature marching bands, live performers, floats and vintage vehicles, elves and Santa Claus.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
More Events
5. WPR Pint-Sized Concerts at the Milwaukee Art Museum
THURSDAY FROM 5 P.M. TO 7 P.M. | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
This month’s Pint-Sized Concert features classical musician Peter J. Thomas. Thomas is a cellist in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and has performed all over the world as a soloist. The concert is pay-what-you-wish and there will be a pop-up bar open before and during the performance.
6. Chainmaille: 4-in-1 Dagger Earring Making Class
THURSDAY FROM 6 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M. | THE JEWELERS GUILD
For $75, you can learn how to craft with chainmaille at the Jewelers Guild. The class is 1.5 hours long and each student will walk away with a unique, hand-made pair of earrings and a bracelet. This is a beginner level class, suitable for families. There are no torches or hammers involved.
7. Tabletop Game Night
THURSDAY FROM 6 P.M. TO 10 P.M. | THE SUGAR MAPLE
It’s tabletop game night over at the Sugar Maple and the event is free! The game concierge Lisa will help groups pick out a game. Don’t worry if you don’t have a group though, she will also help match you with new friends. The Sugar Maple doesn’t serve food, so they are inviting folks to carry in from their favorite local restaurant. No outside beverages are allowed.
8. Vintage Trivia Bingo
THURSDAY FROM 7 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M. | AMORPHIC BEER
It’s like bingo and trivia had a baby. 80% bingo and 20% trivia, the game is run using a vintage bingo machine and some nerdy trivia questions. The game is free to play and prizes are available to win.
9. Punk Night
THURSDAY FROM 7 P.M. TO 10 P.M. | NASHVILLE NORTH
Nothing says holiday season like a night full of punk rock music… right? The setlist features Tlalok, PAX, Smooth Talkers and Que So What. It’s guaranteed to be a high energy night. The event is free to attend. 21+ only.
10. MIAD Holiday Sale
THURSDAY FROM 6 P.M.-8 P.M., FRIDAY FROM 5 P.M.-8 P.M. AND SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. | MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN
MIAD’s holiday tradition is back for the first weekend of December. The holiday sale offers hand-made art created by MIAD students and alumni ranging from sculptures to jewelry and more. 70% of the proceeds go directly to the artist and the other 30% is used for MIAD student scholarships. It’s a great opportunity to meet and support local artists and art students.
11. Doug Hatch: The American Scene Opening Reception
FRIDAY FROM 5 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M. | TORY FOLLIARD GALLERY
Doug Hatch is a Wisconsin-native painter known for capturing photo realism in his works. His subjects include urban landscapes, interiors and outdoor scenery. Hatch is inspired by the way objects transform under different lighting. He will be giving an artist talk from 6 to 6:30 p.m. during the opening reception. This event is free to attend and suitable for all ages.
12. Ex Fabula’s StorySlam “Date Night”
FRIDAY AT 6:30 P.M. | FALCON BOWL
Ex Fabula’s StorySlams invite members of the community to share personal stories without props or notes, and this time, the theme is date night. Guests can throw their name in the hat for a chance to share their stories of romantic adventure, or choose to watch from the audience. At the end, guests will vote for their favorite storyteller to be invited to share a story at all stars in May. Tickets are $12 for general admission.
13. Code and Create Day
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FROM 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M. | DISCOVERY WORLD
Discovery World is celebrating creative thinkers with Code & Create Day. Participants will have a chance to work alongside CS Connect, Greatbox Labs and Girls Who Code to ask questions, learn about the world of coding and create a computer keychain.
14. Coffee Shop Astrophysics
SATURDAY FROM 1 P.M. TO 3 P.M. | ANODYNE COFFEE SHOP
In a world where education is getting harder and harder to access, Anodyne Coffee and UW Milwaukee are teaming up to provide free lectures given by graduate students and postdocs. This weekend, the UWM Physics Department is giving a talk on What You Probably Don’t Know About AI. Go get some coffee and learn something new.
15. The Flamenco Nutcracker
SATURDAY AT 3 P.M. AND 7 P.M. | SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
If you’ve seen the Nutcracker a million times before, try this fresh twist on the traditional ballet. Choreographer Manuel Gutierrez transformed the story using flamenco dance techniques from Spain to create an upbeat, dynamic Holiday show. The show is suitable for all ages and general admission tickets start at $35.
16. Family Hours at Up-Down
SUNDAY FROM 10 A.M.-2 P.M. | UP-DOWN
Up-Down is opening the arcade to families with kids of all ages for an afternoon of gaming. Games are 25 cents, or one token, each and there will be pizza and soda for sale for lunch. The full bar will be available for adults over the age of 21. All minors must attend with someone over 21.
17. Malört Fest 2025
SUNDAY AT 11:30 P.M. | 3475 S KINNICKINNIC AVE
Milwaukee is uniting forces with Chicago to bring back Malört Fest for another year. Goodkind will be providing food and there will be a special Malört cocktail menu available. The Green Bay Packers will play the Chicago Bears at 12 p.m. and the teams from Jeppson’s Malört and Milwaukee Record will be giving away prizes all day. A meat raffle will be held during the football game and all proceeds will be donated to the Hunger Task Force.
18. Christmas Cookie Walk
SUNDAY AT 1 P.M. | WILSON COMMONS
With each purchased container, guests can walk through rows of homemade Christmas treats and fill up. As long as the container can close, they’re all yours. Kids containers are $7, a small adult container is $9 and a large container is $15. Each guest is limited to two containers. All proceeds go back to the residents at Wilson Commons.
