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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHoliday lights map<\/p>\n
The City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree, Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival and Candy Cane Lane holiday events make the season bright.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There’s something magical about Christmastime in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n Sounds cliche, I know. This is the season of Hallmark movies, after all.<\/p>\n But, I kid you not, I still remember the butterflies I’d get crossing the Hoan Bridge into the city around the holidays as a kid. I was probably going to a First Stage holiday production, a family tradition back then, or a cozy dinner at Barbiere’s<\/a>. Maybe we were headed for the Holiday Folk Fair International<\/a> in West Allis or the Brewers Clubhouse Sale<\/a> at then-Miller Park.<\/p>\n Between then and now, there have been many more holiday shows, festive eats, Folk Fairs and Clubhouse Sales.<\/p>\n There are just those things we do again and again, year after year. And, next year, God willing, we’ll do ’em all again. That’s part of the beauty of this time of year \u2013 the tradition.<\/p>\n The years have been sprinkled with other holiday cheer, too. A tour of the Pabst Mansion<\/a> \u2013 my next-door neighbor during my Marquette days \u2013 all dolled up. Driving through the holiday lights, lights and more lights of Candy Cane Lane<\/a>. A Christmas outing with an old friend at the Mitchell Park Domes<\/a>, which has a holiday-themed one this time of year.<\/p>\n Whether you’re a Milwaukee homer, like me, or a first-time visitor, I’ve created a festive itinerary for a day downtown during the most wonderful time of the year.<\/p>\n It’s what I would suggest to a loved one, somewhat off the top of my head, if they asked me what to do downtown in the coming days for “it feels like Christmas” fun and food.<\/p>\n Almost everything on this list is directly downtown, with two or so things being a 10- to 15-minute drive away.<\/p>\n I’ve included a full \u2013 and I do mean full \u2013 schedule, including “choose your own adventure” portions. Some additional dining options are at the bottom in case you’re kicking off your boots, taking off your coat and planning to stay a while.<\/p>\n Everything below I’ve done before, some in years past. And would do again.<\/p>\n Note: Since we’re around the holidays, if hours aren’t listed below, check the place’s social media page and website before going there to make sure it’s open the given day you’re planning to visit.<\/p>\n While the iconic Pfister Hotel is a vibe all its own year-round, that’s turned up a notch this time of year.<\/p>\n In the lobby proudly stands an 18-foot tree glistening with 5,100 lights. Around the hotel are other decorated trees, 150 large-scale bows made from 750 yards of ribbon and 320 feet of garland, according to a Pfister spokesperson.<\/p>\n Cozy, yet refined. Charming and timeless.<\/p>\n And, you can take it all in as you make your way over to Caf\u00e9 at the Pfister for brunch (menus here<\/a>).<\/p>\n It’s even where two boyhood friends \u2013 former Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig and former senator and Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl \u2013 had a weekly lunch reservation<\/a> for the last 12 years of Kohl’s life. It’s a personal fave of mine, too.<\/p>\n If you’re looking to up the holiday cheer even more, the hotel hosts Breakfast with Santa brunches<\/a> in the Grand Ballroom Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21 (reservations required).<\/p>\n The Pfister \u2013 consistently named one of the country’s best historic hotels<\/a> \u2013 is known for being where the most famous stay<\/a> while in town. And, it’s famous itself \u2013 for being haunted<\/a> … allegedly.<\/p>\n A taste of Milwaukee’s brewing history mixed with the spirit of the season and stunning architecture. The mansion, once owned by Captain Frederick and Maria Pabst, gets transformed into “a winter wonderland with dazzling holiday d\u00e9cor that changes annually,” according to its website. Every room offers a “unique holiday experience.” People can take self-guided tours of the historic house museum, all decked out. While it’s been a couple of years since I last visited, it’s one of those things that I think to myself, “I should do that again,” whenever I drive by. Visit the mansion’s website<\/a> for more info, including tour options<\/a> and tickets.<\/p>\n If you’ve been to the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory during the winter, you know just how good it feels to step into the Tropical Dome and escape the cold in a steamy rainforest environment that houses 1,200 species of plants. Another one of the three beehive-shaped Domes, the Show Dome, is hosting “12 Days of Christmas: A Playful Parody” through Jan. 4. It features “whimsical displays inspired by the inescapable verses of this beloved song – with a botanical flair,” the Domes’ website says. Plus, the Show Dome has a holiday tree and several special events still coming up. The third Dome, the Dessert, is 50-degrees this time of year and has 600 plants, including giant cacti. More info, including hours and pricing can be found here<\/a>. The Domes are about a 10-minute drive from downtown.<\/p>\n To the Third Ward we go!<\/p>\n Whether you have a little last-minute Christmas shopping left to do or have a gift to buy for “me, myself and I,” this is a shopping destination where you can easily pop from shop to shop. There’s the Milwaukee Public Market \u2013 which was named the nation\u2019s best public market in USA TODAY\u2019s\u00a010BEST Readers\u2019 Choice Awards<\/a> \u2013\u00a0local boutiques and brands, like Unfinished Legacy<\/a>, and popular chain retailers, including Anthropologie and Lululemon.<\/p>\n From bustling sidewalks during prime times to the giant holiday tree in Catalano Square, it’s giving “Christmas time in the city.” And, when you need a warm-up or pick-me-up, the Ward has no shortage of cozy cafes, including Valentine \u2013 one of my go-tos \u2013 Anodyne inside the Public Market, Colectivo, Likewise and Grace.<\/p>\n That neighborhood is also where you’ll be having dinner tonight, if you’re following this guide to a T.<\/p>\n Anytime someone asks me for a dinner rec in Milwaukee, Onesto is my tried and true. Even my bougiest bud from Chicago, a regular at Maple & Ash and Adalina, was a fan when I recommended it to him a couple of years back.<\/p>\n I was there with a best friend not too long ago. We sat at one of the tables at the front of the restaurant, lined along those ginormous windows. Feeling all cozy and content inside while watching people stroll on by, like we were in a snowglobe.<\/p>\n Onesto feels sophisticated and special without being stuffy or outrageous. Benson\u2019s Restaurant Group, which Onesto is a part of, described the restaurant’s holiday vibe as “minimal winter wonderland.”<\/p>\n My order, always: The fusilli, featuring asparagus, cremini mushroom and truffle cream sauce. It’s so good I just haven’t been able to bring myself to switch it up. Often, I opt for a side Caesar salad, too. And, to drink, either a refreshing iced tea or a mocktail.<\/p>\n In addition to its full menu, Onesto is offering Christmas week specials, called “The Feast of Seven Fishes,” from Dec. 19 through Dec. 30. Those include an east coast oysters appetizer with cranberry mignonette; a chilled seafood salad with rock shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, mussels and lemon-caper vinaigrette; pomodoro pasta, featuring braised whitefish, grilled swordfish, San Marzano tomatoes and bucatini; and an Italian roll cake dessert made with chocolate sponge cake, peppermint buttercream, chocolate ganache and sugared cranberries.<\/p>\n For New Year’s Eve, Onesto will have its regular menu, plus specials, including a chilled seafood platter app with shrimp cocktail, east coast oysters, chilled lobster and champagne mignonette; tortellini pasta with wild mushroom duxelles, truffle cream and shaved black truffle; and a 24k gold cannoli, featuring pistachio cream, dark chocolate and gold leaf.<\/p>\n Knowing from experience, make a reservation.<\/p>\n As I mentioned earlier, holiday productions have always been a cornerstone of this time of the year for me.<\/p>\n This time around, I’ll be checking out “A Wonderful Life” at Fort Atkinson’s Fireside Dinner Theater. In past years, it’s been The Rep’s “A Christmas Carol” \u2013 which is celebrating its 50th anniversary! \u2013<\/a> “Elf the Musical” at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (multiple times) and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” from First Stage, among others.<\/p>\n There’s simply never a shortage around here. But … how do you choose what to see?<\/p>\n Just like Santa, arts editor Jim Higgins makes his own list. But, instead of names of who’s naughty or nice, Higgins highlights a few of the several holiday shows you can still catch around here<\/a>. A couple do close Dec. 21, but others carry on until after Christmas.<\/p>\n Another option that’s in a similar vein, but more lowkey and typically less spendy than live theater: Catching a festive flick at one of these area theaters that are showing ’em this season<\/a>.<\/p>\n You’ll be filled with next-level nostalgia as you feel like you’re taking a step back in time.<\/p>\n If you get my Be MKE newsletter<\/a> (shameless plug), you know Cedarburg’s\u00a0Rivoli\u00a0Theater has got me in the movie-going spirit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Right downtown, there’s …<\/p>\n The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival<\/a> includes these displays: \u201cCommunity Spirit Park\u201d at Cathedral Square Park, \u201cSanta\u2019s Celebration Square powered by We Energies\u201d at Zeidler Union Square, \u201c\u00a1Felices Fiestas!\u201d at Pere Marquette Park and \u201cSlice of Ice Lights\u201d at Red Arrow Park. There are also lighted chandeliers down Wisconsin Avenue. Bonus: Also along Wisconsin Ave. (and other select spots nearby) is an Ornament Trail<\/a>, featuring 20 larger-than-life, hand-painted ornaments.<\/p>\n Over in the Deer District, err Cheer District<\/a>, there’s the City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree and more than 30 other trees lit up around Fiserv Forum.<\/p>\n About a 15-minute drive from the city is West Allis’ Candy Cane Lane, a neighborhood where hundreds of residents decorate their houses elaborately<\/a> for the holidays, which supports the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund. It’s bordered by 96th Street to the west, 92nd Street to the east, Montana Avenue to the north, and Oklahoma Avenue to the south. You can drive it or walk it. Either way, there are these rules<\/a> to follow. It’s free, though donations to the MACC Fund are encouraged, which can be made at a collection site on 95th Street between Oklahoma and Manitoba or online at candycanelanewi.com<\/a>. Runs through Christmas Day.<\/p>\n A couple years ago, I put together a social media video, highlighting a handful of the area’s pop-up bars<\/a>. It was an absolute blast, seeing how they all decked their halls \u2013 and pretty much every space else.<\/p>\n Our neck of the woods\u00a0is bursting with pop-ups<\/a>, from Sippin’ Santa at Pufferfish to Miracle on 2nd St. at The Tin Widow, which made\u00a0Yelp’s 10 Outrageous Holiday Pop-Up Bars 2025 list<\/a>.<\/p>\n Holiday decor galore paired with an on-theme nightcap? Count me in! I’ll have your most festive mocktail, please and thank you.<\/p>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.jsonline.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Holiday lights map The City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree, Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival and Candy Cane Lane holiday events make the season bright. There’s something magical about Christmastime in Milwaukee. Sounds cliche, I know. This is the season of Hallmark movies, after all. But, I kid you not, I still remember the butterflies I’d get […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2206979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[353212,22116,54641,311569,22034,239348,239372,239374,61678,331700,323324,345132,345135,25632,239349,339770,24392,345133,313216,26575,350546,239343,239347,23759,147314,69477,153291,240351,23139,240579,240574,239344,345594,42101],"class_list":["post-2206978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-channel","tag-christmas","tag-destinations","tag-eve","tag-events","tag-events-u0026-listings","tag-geographic","tag-geographic-reference","tag-guides","tag-hallmark","tag-hallmark-channel","tag-holiday","tag-holiday-marketplace-hub","tag-holidays","tag-holidays-u0026-seasonal-events","tag-hub","tag-listings","tag-marketplace","tag-milwaukee","tag-new","tag-new-years-eve","tag-overall","tag-overall-positive","tag-positive","tag-reference","tag-seasonal","tag-tourist","tag-tourist-destinations","tag-travel","tag-travel-guides-u0026-travelogues","tag-travelogues","tag-u0026","tag-wi","tag-years"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/My-best-Milwaukee-things-to-do-restaurants-for-Christmas-holidays.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2206978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2206978"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2206978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2206980,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2206978\/revisions\/2206980"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2206979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2206978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2206978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2206978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Brunch<\/h2>\n
Caf\u00e9 at the Pfister<\/h3>\n
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Choose your own adventure<\/h2>\n
Christmas at the Pabst Mansion<\/a><\/h3>\n
Mitchell Park Domes<\/a><\/h3>\n
Shopping the Third Ward<\/h3>\n
Dinner: Onesto, my tried and true<\/h2>\n
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Choose your own adventure: A holiday production, Christmas movie or legendary lights<\/h2>\n
Holiday productions<\/h3>\n
A trip to a theater for a Christmas movie \u2013 and a step back in time<\/h3>\n
Holiday lights displays<\/a><\/h3>\n
Night cap: Holiday pop-up bar<\/h2>\n
P.S.: Extra dining ideas in case you’re in town for several days or just want to swap something out from above<\/h2>\n