The 26th Annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival, presented by Johnson Financial Group, will amp up the holiday cheer in Downtown Milwaukee starting Thursday, Nov. 21 and run through Wednesday, Jan. 1.
The six-week festival, coordinated by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, will transform three Downtown parks into festive winter scenes: “Community Spirit Park” at Cathedral Square Park, sponsored by Madison Medical Affiliates and Ideal Property Management; “Santa’s Celebration Square powered by We Energies” at Zeidler Union Square; and “¡Felices Fiestas! presented by Generac” at Pere Marquette Park.
Street decorations will also adorn three Downtown streets, including Wisconsin Avenue, which will feature an 18-block stretch of silver and gold chandeliers suspended above each intersection. In addition, last year’s Ornament Trail will return bigger and bolder, with 20 supersized holiday ornaments hand painted by acclaimed artists.
Plus, the holiday baubles’ growing footprint will appear along Wisconsin Avenue and a portion of Water Street, and Santa’s Mailbox, sponsored by Educators Credit Union, returns to Cathedral Square Park.
Festivities will kick off with a switch-flipping ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in Pere Marquette Park, 900 N. Plankinton Ave. The event will feature live music, dance acts, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a fireworks ceremony and pre-show entertainment starting at 5:30 p.m.
“The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival is a fun and festive tradition for Milwaukee-area families,” said Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21. “We look forward to delivering another magical season filled with glittery lights and interactive holiday displays where new memories can be ignited.”
More details on the festival and its kickoff ceremony will be available in the coming weeks, including a brochure detailing all the events and shows occurring in Downtown Milwaukee during the six-week festival.
For more information on the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival presented by Johnson Financial Group, visit milwaukeeholidaylights.com.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
