2009 Holiday Fun Guide

It’s about that time to slip on an extra pair of socks, pull out the winter boots and prepare for Wisconsin’s notoriously splendid winters (Your choice to insert sarcasm). The holidays always provide a shameless excuse to drink more and eat dozens of scrumptious sugary treats, too. For your entertainment this season, we provide our version of what Milwaukee would be like if it were a mug of hot cocoa: a cup filled with warm (and sweet) ideas to experience all over town. The holidays really are the most wonderful time of the year!

Milwaukee Coach & Carriage Holiday Rides
414-272-6873

Enjoy all the nighttime, glittery holiday festivities with that special someone while riding in a horse-drawn carriage.

Apple Holler Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides
Apple Holler, Sturtevant
1-800-238-3629

Ride in a sleigh drawn by a team of horses.  This unique experience brings families and friends together and gets them outdoors in the cold months to participate in the magic of the season!

M&I Bank Holiday Display
M&I Bank, 770 N. Water St.
414-765-7700

Come and check out M&I’s famous holiday display, featuring more than 50 life-sized, costumed Steiff animals from FAO Schwartz.

Slice of Ice
Red Arrow Park
Opens Nov./Dec. (weather permitting)
414-257-PARK

Bring friends and family down for a skate in the park this winter season. Opening day features free skate rentals!

Hand Craft Your Holiday
Katie Gingrass Gallery
241 N. Broadway
Through Dec.
414-289-0855

Handcraft your holiday with wearable art, unique accessories and fine art jewelry by local and nationally recognized artists.  Enjoy the spirit of the season!

The Friday Night Show:  Discoveries of New Worlds
UW-Milwaukee Manfred Olson Planetarium
Through Dec. 11
414-229-4961

For an alternative method of getting into the spirit of the season, come to the planetarium for a weekly viewing of new worlds at 7 p.m. Learn about how we are able to find other planets and what they are like!

East Town Trees
East Town Neighborhood
Through Jan. 2
414-271-1416

See more than 30 wooden trees decorated by local businesses and retailers around East Town.

Downtown Jingle Bus
The Shops of Grand Avenue
Thursday – Sunday through Jan. 3

Board the Jingle Bus for a 40-minute, narrated tour of Milwaukee’s merriest holiday spots while enjoying hot cocoa, coffee and cookies.

Holiday Show at the Domes
Mitchell Park Conservatory
Through Jan. 3
414-649-9800

Visit The Domes for a breathtaking Christmas show that features Swedish, Danish, Finnish and Norwegian holiday and traditional customs.  See a Norwegian cottage, Dala horses, Danish nissen (gnomes) and more!

The Polar Express
Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater
Milwaukee Public Museum
Nov. 27 — Jan. 3
414-319-4629

We all enjoyed the heartwarming children’s book, The Polar Express.  Now experience this classic Christmas story in 3-D at the IMAX!

Westown Indoor Market
The Shops of Grand Avenue
Every first and third Wednesday through Feb. 17
414-276-6696

The Westown Farmer’s Market has moved indoors for the winter. Come check out your favorite vendors while listening to live musical performances.

 

KK Holiday in Bay View
Dec. 1

Head south for a holiday art crawl along the shops of KK between Beecher and Lincoln. Stick around for a silent auction, wine tasting, carolers and cheerfully decorated storefronts.
East Town Holiday Market
Chase Tower Lobby, Water & Wisconsin
Dec. 3
414-271-1416

Peruse holiday gifts made by Wisconsin artists and pick up gift certificates to great local restaurants and retailers.

Christmas in the Ward
Historic Third Ward, Catalano Square
Dec. 4-5
414-273-1173

Have breakfast with Santa and stick around for carriage rides, a tree lighting and holiday shopping!

Forest of Holiday Trees
Milwaukee County Zoo
Dec. 4 – Jan. 4
414-771-5500

Just because it’s not warm outdoors doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the zoo. Wander through an enchanted forest of child-decorated holiday trees. What’s more lovely than light displays and polar bears?

The International Gift Shop
Quaker Meeting House, 3224 N. Gordon Place
Dec. 4-5
414-263-2111

Shop for eclectic holiday gifts from around the world and help support non-profit Quaker organizations. Enjoy hot drinks and hearty eats in the café and bring along a non-perishable food item to donate to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

Playhouse Disney Live
The Milwaukee Theatre
Dec. 4-5
414-908-6001

Blast off to adventure with your favorite Playhouse Disney pals! Get ready to laugh, sing and play along at this live show.

Discovery World Holiday Artisan Market
Discovery World
Dec. 5-6
414-765-9966

Peruse one-of-a-kind handmade work by more than 20 local vendors and artisans and enjoy live music, DIY workshops, hot chocolate and complimentary gift wrapping.

Brady Street Festivus
Brady Street
Dec. 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13

Whether or not Christmas is your thing, head down to Brady Street for some holiday cheer, shopping and competitions. You might win an  authentic Festivus pole!

Breakfast & Lunch with Santa
Milwaukee County Zoo
Weekends, Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20
414-771-5500

The entire family can enjoy a special breakfast or lunch with Father Christmas this holiday season. Afterward, visit the animals!

Breakfast with Santa
The Pfister Hotel
Dec. 5, 12 & 19
800-558-8222

Children can enjoy a magical breakfast with Santa and his elves in the Pfister’s lovely Imperial Ballroom and receive a special Christmas gift from the man himself!

Saturdays with Santa
Grand Avenue Food Court
Dec. 12 & 19

Visit Santa, create a free holiday craft and enjoy a show filled with music, games and prizes!

Alternative Gift Fair/Buy Local Fair
Lakefront Brewery Palm Garden
Dec. 6

Our Milwaukee, in association with Outpost Natural Foods, is hosting this year’s Alternative Gift Fair/Buy Local Fair, which supports the community and strengthens our economic base this holiday season. Sponsored in part by ThirdCoast Digest, this event is a great opportunity to purchase your presents while giving back to non-profits.  As you wander the fair, chat with representatives from local groups, then fill out a card if you wish to donate.  Share the holiday spirit!

Boerner’s Holiday Celebration
Boerner Botanical Gardens
Dec. 6
414-525-5635

Come down to the lovely Boerner Botanical Gardens for a gingerbread brunch with Santa, sponsored by Bartolotta’s Catering. Stick around after the meal for storytelling and crafts with Santa!

Wilson Center Big Band
Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts
Dec. 9
262-781-9520

Enjoy great songs like “The Christmas Song,” “White Christmas” and “Joy to the World” all jazzed up to warm you from head to heart!

Rev Up the Holidays
The Harley-Davidson Museum
Dec. 10
400 W. Canal St.
877-436-8738

Naughty or nice, it doesn’t matter at Biker Claus’ Wish List Party! Create your motorcycle holiday wishlist with the help of experts from Harley-Davidson Motor Company Parts & Accessories. Each wishlist will be entered in a raffle to win prizes.

Dave and Carole-ing for Christmas
Riverside Theater
Dec. 12
414-286-3663

Dave and Carole from 96.5 WKLH will host this event with special guests like the Cudahy Carolers, comedian Joey Kola, Greg Koch and other cast members of the morning radio show.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Bradley Center
Dec. 13
414-276-4545

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the NYC rock band best known for its heavy rock renditions of traditional Christmas songs, brings its exhilarating live show to the Bradley Center this season. Performances at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

MAM After Dark: Very Velvet Holiday
Milwaukee Art Museum
Dec. 18
414-224-3200

EnjoyDIY Studio, music by Radio Milwaukee DJs, after-hours access to galleries, great food and drink and much more. This eventful evening goes from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Annie
Milwaukee Theatre
Dec. 18 & 19
414-908-6001

Leapin’ lizards! Experience the classic musical about never giving up hope.  This is a timeless tale that is sure to enhance your holiday spirit!

Winter Solstice
UW-Milwaukee Manfred Olson Planetarium
Dec. 21
414-229-4961

The UWM Theatre Department brings the special planetarium show “Winter Solstice”.  This includes a discussion about the significance of winter solstice as well as some of the myths about the constellations.

Winter Break Fun
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
Dec. 28 – Jan. 1
414-390-KIDS

It’s a winter wonderland of fun for kids during winter break! Participate in educational games, stories and crafts or build your own igloo!

New Year’s Eve

Jim Gaffigan
Pabst Theater
Dec. 30 – 31
414-286-3663

Check out hilarious comedian (and the other half of Pale Force!) Jim Gaffigan on New Year’s Eve live at The Pabst, and laugh your way into 2010.

New Year’s Eve at Noon
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
414-390-KIDS

New Year’s can be fun for kids too! They’ll get to make their own party hats and noise makers and ring in the New Year a bit early with a juice toast!

Harlem Globetrotters
Bradley Center
414-276-4545

Come see the Globetrotters do what they do best — a Milwaukee family tradition for almost 40 years!

New Year’s Eve with a POP!
Milwaukee Art Museum
414-224-3200

Bring the whole family for this exciting early hours gathering. Delight yourself with gallery games, music, an open studio and many more Pop-art inspired activities. Ring in the new year Warhol-style!

Pfister New Year’s Eve Celebration
The Pfister Hotel
877-704-5340

Say hello to 2010 in style with an intimate five-course gourmet dinner and while ballroom dancing to the music of The Nick Contorno Orchestra.

Spoon and Jay Reatard
Riverside Theater
800-511-1552

Ring in the New Year with great tunes, arcade games, beer tasting and a balloon drop!

New Year’s Eve at Red Arrow Park
Red Arrow Park
414-257-PARK

Come for outdoor ice-skating against picturesque city views, and stay for a dazzling fireworks display when the ball drops.
 
New Year’s Eve with Family
Mitchell Park Conservatory
414-649-9800

Welcome 2010 at The Domes! Experience a desert oasis, a tropical jungle and a lush floral garden all in one place.

InterContinental Milwaukee Hotel NYE Package
InterContinental Milwaukee
414-276-8686

Ring in the New Year with a romance-filled getaway at the contemporary, four-star InterContinental Milwaukee hotel. Upon your arrival, expect a bottle of champagne complemented by fresh, ripe strawberries in your deluxe room.

Hilton Milwaukee NYE Celebration
Hilton Milwaukee City Center
414-271-7250

This unique New Year’s Eve package offers a tropical getaway with a guest room at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, water park passes to Paradise Landing for up to five guests, a special New Year’s Day breakfast buffet and more.

Miller Free Rides

Whatever you do this New Year’s Eve, make sure you do it safely. Hop on for a free bus ride to and from your party destinations anywhere MCTS travels, courtesy of Miller Brewing Company.

Polar Bear Plunge
Bradford Beach
New Year’s Day

Brave the icy depths of Lake Michigan with this annual tradition!