Winter Fest brings holiday magic to the Delta Center

Milwaukee Winter Fest lasts six days, Dec. 26-31, at the Delta Airlines Center.

Carousels. Zip lines. Crafts. Live music. A holiday village. A giant snow globe. A radar snowball pitch. Inflatable adventures and family fun as far as the eye can see.

To say there’s a lot going on at Milwaukee Winter Fest is a bit of an understatement. The six-day indoor festival, now in its second year, takes over the Delta Center starting Dec. 26, and offers parents and kids a light-hearted escape in the midst of the holiday season.

While last year’s festival began earlier and stretched across 10 days, Cheryl McShane, president of Professional Events & Consulting, the company running the festival, said they chose this year to focus on the days after Christmas and before New Year’s, when families are more relaxed and available.

“We found that Milwaukee residents are extremely busy during the holidays,” McShane said, “and before Christmas, they’re too busy to really enjoy it. We wanted it to be less stressful for families.”

It’s the second biggest change to the festival, after a structural shift that categorizes all the various activities into six “zones.” McShane said this simplifies the festival, making it easier for families to hone in on their preferred styles of entertainment.

Winter Fest's many activities include a holiday bungee run, in the zone designated for kids 6 and up.

Some of the zones are merely divided by suggested age, with the Journal Sentinel South Pole Adventure Zone (for 6- to 12-year-olds) featuring Velcro and rock walls, a holiday bungee run and one of the state’s largest indoor zip lines. Igloo Island (for ages 5 and below) offers a safe playground with a coloring mural and the age-neutral North Pole Adventure Zone packs in traditional carnival rides and a giant snow globe for photos. Others are activity-based: the Metroparent Operation MOVE Zone emphasizes physical fitness, Peppermint Lane is a hub for crafting and arts, and the Holiday Village, a “green” zone made of reused products and featuring an all-ages train ride.

It already sounds like a lot – and that’s not including the stage with live entertainment throughout the week, the huge roller rink, the “live” penguin mascot Peeko and the Polar Café, with concessions and Wi-Fi for parents. McShane said such diversity is necessary to ensure every member of the family can enjoy Winter Fest. But her favorite part is getting to see them see that variety. “The minute the kids turn the corner, their faces light up. It’s magical. I’m really looking forward to seeing families enjoy that magic this year.”

Almost all of Winter Fest’s activities are throughout the week, but two in particular break the mold. On Dec. 28, Winter Fest will host Milwaukee’s Got Talent, an all-ages singing competition from 2 to 8 p.m. judged by Chasin’ Mason’s Billy O’Dwyer, urban pop artist Corey Pieper and last year’s winner, 14-year-old singer/songwriter Hannah Mrozak. While McShane said about 20 participants had already registered, they’ll still take applications all the way up until the 26th, so there’s still time to strive for the grand prize: six hours of recording time at Studio Z and additional Winter Fest tickets.

The last day of the festival is dominated by music as well, but this time courtesy of Radio Disney, which will hold an early New Year’s Eve celebration from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31, complete with music, games and an early countdown. Note alternate pricing here though: $12 across the board for everyone over 2, or $10 if purchased online.

Tickets for Winter Fest itself are $15 for children ages 3-17 and $10 for adults, with discounted tickets available for $12 and $8, if you buy online before Dec. 25. Additionally, half-price tickets are available at local Educator’s Credit Unions and Walther’s Model Railroad Equipment, while supplies last. For hours and more information, visit the festival’s website.