Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival to dazzle downtown visitors, Nov. 17 – Jan. 1

MILWAUKEE (October 20, 2022) – Milwaukee’s downtown will be illuminated Nov. 17 – Jan. 1 as more than 500,000 lights and dozens of animated displays are set aglow for the 24^th Annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival presented by Johnson Financial Group.

The annual display of lights, coordinated by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, will transform three downtown parks into winter wonderland scenes – “Community Spirit Park” at Cathedral Square Park, sponsored by Madison Medical Affiliates; “Christmas Chalet” at Pere Marquette Park and “Santa’s Celebration Square powered by We Energies” at Zeidler Union Square – as well as street decorations along three downtown thoroughfares, including an 18-block stretch of lights along Wisconsin Avenue.

Downtown Milwaukee’s holiday lights will officially kindle with an in-person switch-flipping ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in Pere Marquette Park, 900 N. Plankinton Ave. The highly-anticipated show, deemed the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival Kickoff Extravaganza, will feature live music, dance acts, sensational feats, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a fireworks ceremony and pre-show entertainment starting at 5:00 p.m. Free cocoa and cookies sponsored by DoubleTree by Hilton will be offered, plus free Jingle Bus rides will be made available after the show for guests to take in all of downtown’s festive panorama.

“The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival presented by Johnson Financial Group bundles the city’s most festive family traditions,” said Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21. “We’re overjoyed to welcome guests back for our in-person kickoff that ignites half a million lights across the city and resume our Jingle Bus tours – both of which have become synonymous with the holidays in Milwaukee.”

Throughout the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival presented by Johnson Financial Group, families can view all the decorated scenes aboard the Jingle Bus which returns in-person this year. The 40-minute narrated tour is a no-fuss way to see the magic of downtown. New this year, pre-booking is required for all Jingle Bus rides. Limited tours will be available to book in advance online for only $5 per person. Tours will depart from The Avenue, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave., Thursdays through Sundays, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Nov. 18 – Dec. 30. Please note the Jingle Bus will operate free from Pere Marquette Park on kickoff night, Nov. 17. Also, the service will not operate on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

For more information on the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival presented by Johnson Financial Group, visit www.milwaukeeholidaylights.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.