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Your First Christmas in Milwaukee: 5 Things You Can’t Miss



Once your Milwaukee mover has unloaded the truck, you’ll see that Christmas is a wonderful time to be there. It is a twinkling city full of holiday cheer. Here are five things you can’t miss this season.

1. Visit the Pabst Mansion
This mansion is a renaissance revival home from 1892 during a time when Pabst was king in the area. It was the home of Milwaukee’s archbishops from 1908 to 1975, and was nearly torn down for a parking lot. But the building was saved, and is now beautifully decorated for Christmas. “Dickens Dinners” are held in December. The Dinner is a traditional English feast with a reading from Charles Dickens from A Christmas Carol.

2. Experience the Holiday Lights Festival
In Pere Marquette Park, there is the tree lighting followed by fireworks. Then, you can tour the 500,000+ lights, 360 wreaths, 35 animated sculptures, and 17 Moravian stars. This is a six-week festival packed with activities for the whole family.

3. Watch the Holiday Parade
The 85th Annual Milwaukee Holiday Parade will take place on November 19. It consists of about 100 units and is about one hour long. It includes 20 bands, full sized-floats, 30-40 foot helium balloons, costumed characters, radio and TV personalities, and Santa Claus.

4. Visit Christmas in the Ward
Experience the holiday cheer in the Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee. Be a part of an historic tree lighting, with Santa and his reindeer, fireworks, and entertainment. Walk the decorated Third Ward and shop for Christmas presents. Buy cocoa and cookies, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, and buy a Christmas tree. Be sure to check out the store window-decorating contest.

5. Ice skating
Have fun ice-skating at Red Arrow Park, across from the Marcus Center. It’s free if you bring your own skates. There is a warming house with a fireplace and a Starbuck’s.

Once your Milwaukee mover has everything unpacked and settled, head out with your scarves and mittens for a night out in holiday style.

(Photo attributed to flickr member @Scott Ableman via the creative common license)