Last updated: November 11, 2024
Get ready for festive excitement in West Allis! Our guide features all the exciting holiday happenings. For West Allis regulars and one-time guests, our guide is your compass through the winter wonderland.
Popular events this season include the enchanting Enchant Christmas, where dazzling light displays and holiday markets await visitors. Another highlight is the Holiday Folk Fair International, which showcases a vibrant array of cultural traditions and festive crafts. And the West Allis Christmas Parade is something you definitely don't want to miss, with its charming floats and community spirit. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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West Allis Holiday Light Displays
Christmas Tree Lighting Program
- What to Expect
- Traditional tree lighting ceremony with community participation.
- Description
- The Christmas Tree Lighting Program at West Allis City Hall Centennial Plaza features a festive ceremony culminating in the illumination of the city's iconic tree.
- Where
- West Allis | More Info : Christmas Tree Lighting Program
Enchant Christmas
- What to Expect
- Immersive story-driven light maze with unique ice skating experiences.
- Description
- Enchant Christmas is an award-winning holiday light maze experience featuring stunning, custom-designed light sculptures, unique ice skating, and various festive attractions. Guests embark on a mission to save Christmas by discovering hidden light sculptures in an immersive, story-driven environment.
- Where
- Franklin | More Info : Enchant Christmas
Holiday Lights Festival
- What to Expect
- Dazzling light displays and interactive holiday decorations.
- Description
- The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival features over 500,000 lights and animated displays transforming downtown into a vibrant winter scene. The event includes an Ornament Trail, Jingle Bus rides, and festive activities in three parks.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : Holiday Lights Festival
Country Christmas
- What to Expect
- Spectacular drive-through holiday lights display with animated figures and holiday scenes.
- Description
- Country Christmas is a drive-through holiday lights display featuring over a million lights on 40 wooded acres. The event includes a trip through the Country Christmas Trail and entrance to Christmas Village and The Streets of Bethlehem. Visitors can enjoy animated figures, holiday scenes, and a working model train display.
- Where
- Pewaukee | More Info : Country Christmas
Wild Lights
- What to Expect
- Holiday light display with interactive exhibits.
- Description
- The Milwaukee County Zoo transforms into an illuminated destination with hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights, featuring themed displays and special attractions like the 28-foot Pixel Pine Tree and LiteZilla Light Wall.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : Wild Lights
SnowGlobe Holiday Festival
- What to Expect
- Immersive holiday light maze experience.
- Description
- SnowGlobe Holiday Festival is a captivating holiday experience featuring a SnowGlobe-Inspired Light Maze, Christmas Cocktails and Pop-Up Bars, Christmas Village, VIP and Private Event Experiences, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, an Ice-Skating Trail, and live entertainment.
- Where
- Franklin | More Info : SnowGlobe Holiday Festival
West Allis Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christkindlmarkt at the Farmers Market
- What to Expect
- Traditional European-style Christmas market with local food and craft vendors.
- Description
- Christkindlmarkt at the Farmers Market is a traditional European-style Christmas market featuring over 60 vendors, including Wisconsin Specialty food retailers and artisan craft vendors. Enjoy live music and a variety of local food trucks and beer from local breweries.
- Where
- West Allis | More Info : Christkindlmarkt at the Farmers Market
West Allis Holiday Shows and Entertainment
West Allis Christmas Parade
- What to Expect
- Premier night-time Christmas parade in southeastern Wisconsin.
- Description
- The West Allis Christmas Parade is an annual holiday tradition featuring marching bands, live performers, creative floats, and vintage vehicles. Meet elves and cartoon characters, and wave to Santa Claus at the end of the parade.
- Where
- West Allis | More Info : West Allis Christmas Parade
A Christmas Carol
- What to Expect
- Ebenezer Scrooge's transformative journey through the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
- Description
- A timeless adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" featuring Matt Daniels as Ebenezer Scrooge, with enchanting music, dance, costumes, and special effects.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : A Christmas Carol
Christmas in the Ward
- What to Expect
- Rare winter fireworks display over the Milwaukee River.
- Description
- Christmas in the Ward is a festive holiday celebration featuring live music, a tree lighting ceremony, Santa visits, fireworks, and local food vendors.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : Christmas in the Ward
Santa’s Christmas Cavalcade
- What to Expect
- Santa and Mrs. Claus on a vintage fire truck with live holiday music.
- Description
- See Santa and Mrs. Claus riding atop a vintage fire truck, accompanied by local singer Sarah Fierek singing jazzy holiday tunes as they travel throughout downtown Milwaukee.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : Santa’s Christmas Cavalcade
Holidays On The Hop
- What to Expect
- Live holiday music performances on board the streetcar.
- Description
- The Holidays on The Hop event in Milwaukee features live holiday-themed music performances on board the streetcar, accompanied by free holiday cookies provided by the Baird Center and Levy Restaurants. The event also includes festive decorations at all 20 streetcar shelters, highlighting messages from downtown partners.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : Holidays On The Hop
Haunted Holidays Tour
- What to Expect
- Haunted holiday tour through a historic concert venue.
- Description
- Explore the historic Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee, WI, where you'll encounter ghosts and experience the venue's spooky history. The tour begins at the Craft Beer Lounge with a free holiday drink, then proceeds to the Penthouse Lounge for a self-guided tour. Highlights include the Spectacular Eagles Ballroom, various dressing rooms, and the Haunted Pool with thousands of artist autographs.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : Haunted Holidays Tour
The Nutcracker
- What to Expect
- Elaborate sets and costumes in a classic ballet performance.
- Description
- The Nutcracker: Drosselmeyer's Imaginarium is a holiday ballet performance featuring Milwaukee Ballet's full company, students from Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy, and the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky's beloved score live.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : The Nutcracker
TSO: The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve
- What to Expect
- Rock opera with pyrotechnics, lasers, and a unique storyline.
- Description
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve," a rock opera featuring a runaway who breaks into an abandoned vaudeville theater on Christmas Eve, where she is turned around by the theater's caretaker using ghosts and spirits from the building's past. The show includes a new and larger presentation of the beloved holiday tradition, balancing new elements with old favorites and offering a quirky charm.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : TSO: The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve
West Allis Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Folk Fair International
- What to Expect
- Celebrating diverse cultures with traditional music, food, and interactive exhibits.
- Description
- The Holiday Folk Fair International is America's premier multicultural festival, celebrating the cultural heritage of southeastern Wisconsin through music, food, dance, and art.
- Where
- West Allis | More Info : Holiday Folk Fair International
Allis in Winterland
- What to Expect
- Holiday-themed activities and crafts at the city hall art gallery.
- Description
- Allis in Winterland is a holiday event at the West Allis City Hall Art Gallery featuring kid-friendly activities, themed crafts, and a holiday movie. Visitors can write letters to Santa and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
- Where
- West Allis | More Info : Allis in Winterland
Home For The Holidays at Old World Wisconsin
- What to Expect
- Immersive historical holiday celebration with traditional activities and decorations.
- Description
- Home For The Holidays at Old World Wisconsin features historic buildings, festive decorations, and traditional holiday activities like Victorian Santa's workshop, horse-drawn wagon rides, and holiday crafts.
- Where
- Eagle | More Info : Home For The Holidays at Old World Wisconsin
A Victorian Christmas
- What to Expect
- Historical etiquette lessons and themed tea service.
- Description
- Celebrate the holiday season with a Victorian-themed tea service at the Schuster Mansion, featuring historical etiquette lessons, a buffet of flavored teas, and a self-guided tour of the mansion.
- Where
- Milwaukee | More Info : A Victorian Christmas
Santa Cycle Rampage
- What to Expect
- Family-friendly, 12-mile holiday bike ride with police escorts and festive music.
- Description
- Join thousands of costumed riders for a family-friendly, 12-mile slow roll bike ride through Milwaukee, supporting youth and family cycling education programs.
- Where
- Wauwatosa | More Info : Santa Cycle Rampage
Waukesha Christmas Parade
- What to Expect
- Community-driven holiday celebration with festive floats and marching bands.
- Description
- The Waukesha Christmas Parade is a cherished community event that brings together local groups, businesses, and schools to kick off the holiday season. Colorful floats adorned with shimmering lights and marching bands create a joyful atmosphere as Santa Claus waves and cheerful participants distribute candy canes and treats.
- Where
- Waukesha | More Info : Waukesha Christmas Parade