Snuggle up with some holiday cheer as OnMilwaukee shares stories of everything merry and bright in the spirit of the season.
The OnMilwaukee Ho Ho Holiday Guide is brought to you by Harley-Davidson Museum and MolsonCoors.
The Milwaukee Public Market is getting into the holiday spirit with a series of festive, family-friendly events, many of which are free and open to the public.
Gingerbread display
The festivities kick off this weekend with the annual Parade of Gingerbread Houses Presented by MATC. Dec. 6-12, guests can take in the impressive display of gingerbread houses created by students in the Baking and Pastry Arts Program at Milwaukee Area Technical College. The creations will be on display in the Palm Garden at the market where visitors can vote for their favorites and place bids on individual gingerbread displays. Proceeds from winning bids will benefit MATC.
Christmas tree sale
The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Lot will also return at the corner of St. Paul Avenue and Broadway. Visitors can pop by on Dec. 7 or Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to purchase wild-harvested Balsam Firs from Northern Wisconsin. The trees range in size from "Charlie Brown style" options to fuller natural growth trees. All are available while supplies last.
Santa Claus
Santa’s Christmas Cavalcade in partnership with Milwaukee Downtown will take place on Dec. 7 and Dec. 13 beginning at 5:15 p.m. The festive parade will showcase Santa and Mrs. Claus riding atop a vintage fire truck along with local singer/songwriter Sarah Fierek, who will perform original holiday tunes. Non-perishable food donations for Hunger Task Force will be collected before departure, with barrels located near the fire truck.
The cavalcade departs from the Milwaukee Public Market's Water Street entrance and travels through Downtown Milwaukee heading east on Wisconsin Avenue to the lakefront and past landmarks including Pere Marquette Park, Cathedral Square Park, Zeidler Union Square, Catalano Square and Light the Hoan.
For guests who'd like to get more up close and personal with Santa, there's also Breakfast with Santa, which takes place on Dec. 21. Although the breakfast portion of the event is sold out (with proceeds benefiting Penfield Children's Center), visitors are invited to stop by the market between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for photos with Santa and holiday wishes.
Holiday Cooking Classes
Looking to create something new and delicious for the holidays? Learn from the professionals by signing up for one of the market's holiday-themed classes, which take place in the Madame Kuony Demonstration Kitchen upstairs.
Classes include:
- Holiday Entertaining in Style with Staci Joers | Dec. 16, 5:30 p.m.
- Italian Christmas Cookies with Michael Solovey | Dec. 21, 12 p.m.
- From Sea to Sizzle: Surf & Turf with Chef Michael Solovey (Hands-On) | Dec. 27, 5 p.m.
A full list of classes and ticketing information is available online.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
