1. Museum Store: Holiday Shopping Weekend
ALL WEEKEND | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
Milwaukee Art Museum expanded its museum store, which now spans two floors and has a much more robust collection of art, jewelry, designer pieces and more. The first 50 shoppers each day will receive a free gift and everyone is able to enter a drawing to win prizes.
2. Joy Tree Lot
ALL WEEKEND | JOY ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Need a tree? Joy Ice Cream Social is turning the lot next door into a tree lot to support Tosa West Theatre. Stop by to grab a tree, or just snag an ice cream cone and a cozy holiday photo op. The tree lot will be open until everything is sold out.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Letters to Santa
ALL WEEKEND | PFISTER HOTEL
The Pfister has exclusive access to the North Pole this holiday season. Children can write a letter to Santa and drop it off at the Pfister’s north pole mailbox beginning this weekend and running through Dec. 15. Children will get a free cookie and a personalized note from Santa.
4. Twas The Night Before: Cirque Du Soleil
ALL WEEKEND | MILLER HIGH LIFE THEATER
Cirque Du Soleil is coming to Milwaukee this weekend, performing its first ever holiday show based on the poem “A Visit From Saint Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, with acrobatics, holiday music and more. The show runs Nov. 27-Dec. 1. Get tickets here.
5. Turkey Trot
THURSDAY AT 9 A.M. | MCKINLEY/VETERANS PARK
It’s not too late to sign up for this Milwaukee tradition. Run either an 8K or 5K bright and early on Thanksgiving Day and be met at the finish line with cheering crowds, Cranky Al’s donuts and a hoodie or fleece. Register here.
6. Saz’s Shuttle to Lambeau Field
THURSDAY AT 3 P.M. | SAZ’S STATE HOUSE
You can venture up to Lambeau Field for the Thanksgiving Packers game with this shuttle package. It comes with a complimentary open bar, boxed lunch and soda. Note that tickets do not include tickets to the game. The shuttle leaves at 3 p.m. Reserve your spot here.
7. Milwaukee Plaid Friday Pop-Up
FRIDAY FROM 10 A.M.-3P.M. | DENIZEN MKE
An alternative to a typical black Friday, Denizen MKE is hosting a pop-up centered on homemade goods. Explore dozens of vendors from all over Milwaukee, from Big White Yeti Candle Co. to Wander & Co. The event is free to attend, and there will be a cash bar.
8. Black Friday Vintage Fest at Ope Brewing
FRIDAY FROM 7-9:30 P.M. | OPE BREWING COMPANY
Ope Brewing Company is hosting a vintage festival for Black Friday. Shop Fresh to Death Vintage, Jungle Gems, Funkadelic Findz and casa duBois, and grab a beer, while listening to live music by Dak DuBois & Co.
9. Black Friday Retro Dance Party
FRIDAY AT 6 P.M. | TURNER HALL BALLROOM
This Friday, Turner Hall with erupt with retro electronica as four DJs – Radio Radio, Substance 101, the Salford Lads Club and DJ Paul H – spin music from the ’80s and ’90s. Get tickets here.
10. Milwaukee Makers Market
SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M.-4 P.M. | DISCOVERY WORLD
Milwaukee Makers Market is back at Discover World with over 50 makers, including A&J Ceramics, My Sistuh’s Trunk, Emmanuels Mix and more. The market is free to attend.
11. Small Business Saturday Open House
SATURDAY | NŌ STUDIOS
If you’ve been meaning to pop into NŌ Studios, this is your chance. Shop local vendors, watch free screenings of films and enjoy food from Fully Loaded food truck at this Small Business Saturday event. Admission is free, but get tickets on Eventbrite here.
12. Saint Kate Holiday Marketplace
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 4 P.M. | SAINT KATE – THE ARTS HOTEL
Shop over 60 local artists and vendors at the Saint Kate Holiday Marketplace. Admission is free, but reserve your spot here.
13. Christmas with Lorie Line
SUNDAY AT 3 P.M. | WILSON THEATER AT VOGEL HALL
Classical pianist Lorie Line is coming to Milwaukee in her 35th year of performances for her fourth solo tour. She’ll play holiday songs, music from her catalog and more. Plus, opera singer Jimmy Finch will join her on stage. Get tickets here.
14. Hover Craft
SUNDAY FROM NOON-6 P.M. | PRITZLAFF BUILDING
This Sunday, the Pritzlaff Building will come alive with over a hundred local vendors at one of Milwaukee’s longest running holiday markets. Attendees can expect a diverse array of items from all kinds of designers, crafters and more. Get tickets here.
15. Breakfast With Santa
SUNDAY FROM 10 A.M.-3 P.M. | MOTOR
Santa is making a guest appearance at MOTOR on the first three Sundays in December. Enjoy a holiday brunch buffet, cookie decorating, movies and photos with Santa himself. Tickets are available on OpenTable.
16. Krampusnacht
SUNDAY FROM 3-10 P.M. | BREWERY DISTRICT
Krampus is a half-goat, half-demon creature who accompanies Saint Nicholas on his visits to children. At Krampusnacht, find folks dressed up like Krampus, vendors, llive music, dance and more. Plus, there’s a parade at 7 p.m. that will feature angels, demons and Krampus.
17. Day With(out) Art 2024: Red Reminds Me…
SUNDAY AT 4 P.M. | CACTUS CLUB
Watch “Red Reminds Me…,” a program of seven videos from Visual Aids at the Cactus Club this Sunday for World AIDS Day. The program “invites viewers to consider a complex range of images and feelings surrounding HIV, from eroticism and intimacy, mothering and kinship, luck and chance, memory and haunting.” This event is for all ages and is free to attend.
