2025 Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival 27th season will run November 20, 2025 thru January 1, 2026
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival is back to explore the lights and sights around Downtown Milwaukee. With sparkling interactive displays at Pere Marquette Park, Zeidler Union Square and Cathedral Square, it’s the perfect chance to capture a memory that ignites joy for everyone, no matter their age.
It’s a glowrious time to be Downtown! The parks and streets are aglow with holiday spirit and more than a half million brilliant bulbs. Meanwhile, a flurry of shows, Santa photo ops and exceptional dining opportunities are beckoning friends and family to gather here all season long!
Annual Tree Lighting and Kick-off Extravaganza
November 20th, 2025. Read more on the November 21st kick-off tree lighting event.
Jingle Bus
Free ride on the night of November 20, 2025! *”Weather permitting”
2025 Dates TBD
Courtyard Milwaukee Downtown
This 40 minute narrated tour highlights the main attractions of the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival, including the 4 parks:
- “Community Spirit Park” at Cathedral Square Park
- “Santa’s Celebration Square powered by We Energies” at Zeidler Union Square
- “Felices Fiestas! sponsored by Generac” at Pere Marquette Park
- “Slice of Ice Lights” at Red Arrow Park
Jingle Bus tickets are $8 per person and must be purchased in advance at milwaukeeholidaylights.com
Discounted parking is available for Jingle Bus riders at InterPark The Avenue Garage, 615 N. 2nd Street.
2025 Holiday Ornament
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival ornaments are one-of-a-kind keepsakes. Great gifts for family, friends, coworkers and business associates, each year features an iconic Downtown landmark cast in pewter. Purchase this year’s ornament and past years’ in the Milwaukee Downtown store.
Please note, ornaments must be ordered by close of business on Wednesday, Dec. 17 to receive by mail before Christmas.
Milwaukee Downtown invites you to explore The Ornament Trail along Wisconsin Avenue, Water Street and in the Historic Third Ward this holiday season. Get an Ornament Trail activity guide and enjoy discounts and promotions from nearby businesses along the way. Guides will be available in mid-November.
A collection of larger-than-life holiday ornaments will enliven city sidewalks as part of the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival presented by Johnson Financial Group. 15 ornaments have been uniquely hand-painted by a local or national artist with Milwaukee ties, in addition to a dozen oversized ornaments in the Court of Honor median on West Wisconsin Avenue.
Cocoa with the Clauses – TBD on 2025 Event Details
Presented by Madison Medical Affiliates
Sat, December 14, 2024 | 11am to 2pm
Cathedral Square ParkSanta and Mrs. Claus return for this annual cocoa klatch. The free outdoor event is a chance for kids to share their wish lists and for moms and dads to grab a keepsake photo. Elves and other holiday characters will also be there! Plus, complimentary cookies and hot cocoa sponsored by Taste of Home and Dunkin’ will be provided.
Santa’s Mailbox
Santa’s Mailbox
Sponsored by Educators Credit Union
With support from Serving Older Adults and National Association of Letter Carriers – Pioneer Branch 2
November 12 – December 16, 2024
Cathedral Square ParkDowntown has a magical connection to the North Pole right in Cathedral Square Park. Drop your child’s letters and wish lists into Santa’s Mailbox to receive a personalized reply from the big guy himself! No postage required. Just remember to include a return address.
Downtown Holiday Lights
November 20, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Make it back to explore the lights and sights around Downtown Milwaukee. With sparkling interactive displays at Pere Marquette Park, Zeidler Union Square and Cathedral Square, it’s the perfect chance to capture a memory that ignites joy for everyone, no matter their age.
Downtown is your photo-worthy wintertime destination. Show your view of the Festival with #MKEHolidayLights.
FIND ALL THE HOLIDAY FUN AND CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN OUR Lake Country Family Fun CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY EVENT GUIDE!
