Here are some of the many places where you can meet Santa around Milwaukee this year

Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·7 min read
Santa waves to the crowd as fireworks start during the 25th annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival on Nov. 16 at Pere Marquette Park in Milwaukee. There are lots of opportunities to visit with Santa before he makes his rounds on Christmas Eve.
Santa waves to the crowd as fireworks start during the 25th annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival on Nov. 16 at Pere Marquette Park in Milwaukee. There are lots of opportunities to visit with Santa before he makes his rounds on Christmas Eve.

Santa might be busy prepping for Christmas, but it looks like he's still got some time to meet people across the Milwaukee area ahead of the holiday. Here's just a few places where you can find him before Christmas:

RELATED: Where in the world is Santa? How to find the online Santa tracker.

Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee

Join Santa at the Pfister for breakfast with his elves in the festive ballroom on Dec. 16 and 17. Every child can take photos with Santa and will receive a gift. They'll also be able to make crafts while composing a letter to Santa.

Seating is available from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Breakfast is $72 for adults and $30 for ages 3 to 10, and free for 2 and younger. Reservations are required with full payment. To make a reservation, visit www.thepfisterhotel.com.

Find Santa: Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee

Saint Kate, Milwaukee

Guests can enjoy brunch in Saint Kate's festive ballroom with Santa on Dec. 16. They can take photos with Santa, and every child will receive a gift and can make crafts while writing a letter to Santa.

Reservations are required. Brunch is $65 for adults, $29 for ages 3 to 10 and free for children younger than 2. To make a reservation, visit www.saintkatearts.com.

Find Santa: Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn, Milwaukee

Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee

A man dressed as Santa waves to parade-goers during the Harley-Davidson 115th anniversary parade in 2018.
A man dressed as Santa waves to parade-goers during the Harley-Davidson 115th anniversary parade in 2018.

Join Santa for an annual breakfast at the Harley-Davidson Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. Parents and children can snap a photo with Santa on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Call 414-287-2778 to make a reservation.

Find Santa: Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 W. Canal St., Milwaukee

Santa's Christmas Calvalcade, Milwaukee

Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride a Historic Third Ward firetruck through downtown Milwaukee during Santa's Christmas Cavalcade.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride a Historic Third Ward firetruck through downtown Milwaukee during Santa's Christmas Cavalcade.

You can see Santa and Mrs. Claus riding a firetruck through downtown Milwaukee during Santa's Christmas Cavalcade on Dec. 2 and 8.

The route leaves from the Milwaukee Public Market's Water Street entrance at 5:15 p.m. and travels east on Wisconsin Avenue to the lakefront, with visits in Pere Marquette Park, Cathedral Square Park, Zeidler Union Square, Catalano Square and Light the Hoan between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Find Santa: Departs from the Milwaukee Public Market, with visits throughout downtown

Milwaukee County Historical Society, Milwaukee

Visit the Milwaukee County Historical Society to see the holiday display, take a picture with Santa, make an ornament and write a letter to Santa.

The event is from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10. Cookies, brownies and hot chocolate will be for sale in Mrs. Claus' kitchen. Museum admission is complimentary. Photos with Santa are $10 each or two for $15.

Find Santa: Milwaukee County Historical Society, 910 N. King Drive, Milwaukee

Discovery World, Milwaukee

Santa will be sharing stories at Discovery World from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3. The event is included with the cost of general admission.

Find Santa: Discovery World, 500 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee

North Point Lighthouse, Milwaukee

Santa will be at the North Point Lighthouse from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17. Attendees can have their picture taken with him at his maritime workshop. Regular admission rates apply.

Find Santa: North Point Lighthouse, 2650 N. Wahl Ave., Milwaukee

Pabst Mansion, Milwaukee

Santa is visiting the Pabst Mansion each Sunday during the holiday season. He'll be at the mansion from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 17, with a special visit on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There's limited space available, so advance ticket purchase is recommended. Tickets can be found at www.pabstmanison.com. Tickets are $20 for adults, $13 for ages 6 to 17 and $8 for ages 3 to 5.

Find Santa: Pabst Mansion, 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee

Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee

Santa will visit the Third Ward from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in Catalano Square.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., can visit Santa in Jolly's Gingerbread House and take photos with him. There's a suggested donation of $5 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin.

Find Santa: Catalano Square, 147 N. Broadway, Milwaukee

Cathedral Square Park, Milwaukee

Cathedral Square Park is one of three brilliantly lit parks for the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival.
Cathedral Square Park is one of three brilliantly lit parks for the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are returning for the annual trip to Cathedral Square Park this year.

This free event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9. Make sure to bring your own camera. Elves and other holiday characters will also be there, and there will also be free treats.

Find Santa: Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St., Milwaukee

Sprecher Brewery, Glendale

Take a photo with Santa and go on a brewery tour at Sprecher Brewery. While you're on the tour, Sprecher will use your picture to create a custom label and put that label on as many 12-packs of 16-ounce root beer bottles as you want.

This event runs Sundays through Dec. 17. Tours are at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 3, 4 and 5 p.m. To book, visit www.sprecherbrewery.com

Find Santa: Sprecher Brewery, 701 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale

Brookfield Square Mall, Brookfield

Jaylin Gillstrom of Hartland shares a special moment with Santa at Brookfield Square Mall in 2009.
Jaylin Gillstrom of Hartland shares a special moment with Santa at Brookfield Square Mall in 2009.

Santa will be available for photos with your family and pets at Brookfield Square Mall until Christmas Eve. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. Photo packages start at $39.99. To make your reservation, visit www.shopbrookfieldsquaremall.com.

Find Santa: Center Court at Brookfield Square Mall, 95 N. Moorland Road, Brookfield

Southridge Mall, Greendale

Steve Selanak, a building maintainence worker at Southridge Mall, checks the placement of presents in 2009 during final adjustments for the Santa's throne display in preparation for Santa's arrival.
Steve Selanak, a building maintainence worker at Southridge Mall, checks the placement of presents in 2009 during final adjustments for the Santa's throne display in preparation for Santa's arrival.

Santa will be taking photos at Southridge Mall from until Christmas Eve before he heads back to the North Pole.

Black Santa will be at Southridge from 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 8, and Santa will be taking photos with pets on Dec. 11. Walk-ups are welcome, but reservations are strongly recommended. Photo packages range from $25.99 to $51.99. To make a reservation, visit www.southridgeshoppingmall.com.

Find Santa: Southridge Mall, 5300 S. 76th St., Greendale

Mayfair, Wauwatosa

Holiday shoppers weren’t the only ones at Mayfair mall in November 2021. A family pays a visit to Santa in between shopping at the mall.
Holiday shoppers weren’t the only ones at Mayfair mall in November 2021. A family pays a visit to Santa in between shopping at the mall.

Santa will be available for photos with your family and pets at Mayfair until Dec. 24. There will be a sensory friendly Santa on Dec. 3.

Reservations are encouraged, but walk-up guests are also welcome. Photo packages range from $19.99 to $49.99. To reserve your time with Santa, visit www.mayfairmall.com.

Find Santa: Mayfair, 2500 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa at Level 1, near Nordstrom

Sendik's Food Market, multiple locations

You can take photos with Santa at the following Sendik's locations:

Sunday, Dec. 3

  • Elm Grove: 13425 Watertown Plank Road, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

  • Brookfield-The Corners: 20222 Lower Union Street, noon to 1:30 p.m.

  • Waukesha-Meadowbrook: 701 Meadowbrook Road, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 9

  • Hartland: 600 Hartbrook Drive, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

  • Germantown: N112 W15800 Mequon Road, 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 10

  • Oconomowoc: 1450 Olympia Fields Drive, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

  • West Bend: 280 18th Ave., 12:30 to 2 p.m.

  • Grafton: 2195 First Ave., 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 17

  • Franklin: 5200 W. Rawson Ave., 10 to 11:30 a.m.

  • Greenfield: 7901 W. Layton Ave., 12:30 to 2 p.m.

  • New Berlin: 3600 S. Moorland Road, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Santa's Workshop, Cedarburg

Santa's Workshop is a temporary structure that provides a home away from home for Santa and Mrs. Claus in downtown Cedarburg every year.
Santa's Workshop is a temporary structure that provides a home away from home for Santa and Mrs. Claus in downtown Cedarburg every year.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will stop by their gingerbread house to meet with as many families as possible.

You're encouraged to arrive early to add your family to the time slot, as there are limited number of slots each day. Santa will be there through Dec. 23. For a list of times, visit www.cedarburgchristmas.com.

Find Santa: Downtown, W63 N641 Washington Ave., Cedarburg

Ebert's Greenhouse, Ixonia

Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit Ebert's Greenhouse on Dec. 2 and 3 to listen to Christmas wishes and read stories.

They'll be there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days; story times are from noon to 1 p.m.

Find Santa: Ebert's Greenhouse, W1795 Fox Road, Ixonia

Breakfast with Reindeer, Delafield

Bring your family for Breakfast with the Reindeer from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 2. Guests are encouraged to bring their camera to photograph loved ones with Santa, live reindeer and a magical elf. Tickets are available at www.delafieldchamber.com.

Find Santa: Delafield Fish Hatchery, 417 Main St., Delafield

RELATED: These Milwaukee-area bars are hosting Christmas pop-ups, from 'Sippin' Santa' to 'Elf'

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Santa Claus: Take pictures with Santa at Mayfair, Sendiks