Where you can see holiday lights and displays in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin
Here is a list of the annual light displays to view by foot, car or boat for the holiday season in the Milwaukee area.
BMO Harris Bank
“50 Years of Holiday Magic” window display, through Jan. 3. Drawing on classic storybook themes, the fairytale arrangement of more than 80 life-sized stuffed animals features colorful vignettes and costumes, accessible for viewing through the ground floor windows of BMO Tower. It and will be illuminated in the evenings. On Water Street from Mason to Wells streets.
Cheer District Illuminated by We Energies
The City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree, a Jack Daniel’s barrel tree, and over 30 lit trees throughout the Deer District plaza surrounding Fiserv Forum, beginning Nov. 18. 1134 N. Phillips Ave. deerdistrict.com
Candy Cane Lane
Neighborhood holiday light display shines Nov. 25 through Dec. 25 from 6-9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Friday, 5-10 p.m. Saturday, 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Free-will donations are collected with all donations benefiting the MACC Fund — Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. The location is bounded by Oklahoma and Montana avenues, and 92nd to 96th streets, West Allis. candycanelanewi.com
The Corners of Brookfield
Light installations and displays, featuring Santa’s sleigh and a light tunnel, will be lighting up the night from Nov. 26 through the New Year. 20111 W. Bluemound Road, Brookfield. thecornersofbrookfield.com
Drexel Town Square
Light the Square holiday light show with synchronized music is on view Dec. 9 through end of the month. 8040 S. Sixth St., Oak Creek. visitoakcreek.com
East Troy Lights
The East Troy Electric Railroad's Santa Parade Train will make its annual journey into downtown East Troy at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 to light the Memorial Christmas Tree and kick-off the Holiday Light Show. Timed shows continue through Dec. 31 on the hour at 5, 6, 7 and 8 p.m. daily. Walk through or watch the show from your car. East Troy Village Square Park, Main St., East Troy. easttroyllights.com
Feztival of Trees
Walk through indoor display of fully decorated trees with music light show, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 19; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 20; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 21-23, 25; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 26. (Closed on Thanksgiving day). Trees will be raffled off on the final day. Admission is $5 per person; children under age 12 are free. Tripoli Shrine Center, 3000 W. Wisconsin Ave. tripolishrine.com
Garden District Neighborhood Association
Winter Wonderland lighting display, open dusk to midnight Nov. 29-Jan. 6. Farmers Market area and gardens at 6th St. and Norwich Ave. milwaukeegdna.com/
Hawthorn Glen
Winter Wonder Woods, 5 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9-10, 16-17. Walk trails through the woods decorated with over 25,000 lights, and stop to view displays, fun facts along the trail, and the selfie station. $4 per person, free for children 2 years old and younger. Advance registration required online for timed entry. 1130 N. 60th St. milwaukeerecreation.net/rec/Special-Events/
The Ingleside Hotel
“Country Christmas” holiday lights feature The Trail, Christmas Village, and Streets of Bethlehem. Walking Nights, 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18-20. $7 per person. Drive-through Nights, Nov. 25-30, and Dec. 2-Jan. 1. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Holidays; 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday. $25 per carload or minivan Sunday-Thursday; $30 Friday, Saturday and Holidays. Check online for minibus and larger vehicle pricing. 2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee, (262) 547-0201; thecountrychristmas.com
The Kooky Cooky House
Open noon-4 p.m. Friday-Sundays from Nov. 18 through Dec. 23. The automated gingerbread cookie factory has vintage decorations from the 1960s and 1970s, and shows a cookie making assembly line run by robots mixing batter and decorating cookies. Located in The Yard at Bayshore, 5800 N. Bayshore Drive, Glendale. thebayshorelife.com/
Lake Geneva Cruise Line
Santa Cruise, Nov. 25 through Dec. 30. Lake tours run Wednesday-Sunday, (no tours Dec. 24-25). Passengers see lighted holiday displays and watch as Santa emerges from his hideaway. Cruises depart from Williams Bay at 1 Liechty Drive. santacruiselakegeneva.com
Miller Valley Holiday Lites
The drive-through display will shine from 6 to 10 p.m. every night from Dec. 2-25. The light shows run every five minutes, and those attending should remain in their cars and park between the A-frame signs on either side of State Street. While watching the lights, guest should tune their car radios to 91.1 FM to enjoy the holiday music that accompanies the hillside show at 4251 W. State St. millerbrewerytour.com/events
Milwaukee County Zoo
Wild Lights, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1-4, 7-11, 14-23, 26-31. Stroll one-mile path filled with animal-themed light displays. Adult $18 online/ $20 at the gate; child (ages 3 to 12) $16 online/ $18 at the gate. Parking is free. 10001 W. Blue Mound Road. milwaukeezoo.org/visit/
Milwaukee Holiday Lights
The annual display runs from Nov. 17 through Jan. 1 with lights in three downtown parks, Cathedral Square Park, Pere Marquette Park, Zeidler Union Square, and an 18-block stretch of lights along Wisconsin Ave. milwaukeeholidaylights.com
West Bend Enchantment in the Park
View this interactive holiday light show by foot or motor vehicle, open daily 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 25 through Dec. 24. New additions include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Bumble. Suggested donation of $10 (cash or check), or non-perishable food donations (no glass containers). Drive-through visitors enter from Silverbrook Drive. Walk-through visitors enter from Main St. Regner Park, 800 N. Main St., West Bend. enchantmentpark.org
Winter Wonders
Drive-through holiday lights display at Boerner Botanical Gardens from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18 through Jan. 1. Open on all holidays. $25 carload; $35 early entry ticket; $50 limousine. Larger vehicles by reservation, call (414) 525-5602. Enter at Whitnall Park Golf Course, 6751 S. 92nd St., Franklin. winterwonders.org
Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights
Drive through Jellystone Park Camp Resort, Nov. 19-23 and Nov. 26 through Jan. 1 (closed Christmas Day). View lighting displays synchronized to music. Timed entry ticket hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Pre-purchase recommended. Car $30; large passenger van $45. Additional pricing options for larger vehicles, Santa’s Sleigh Ride, or Golf Cart Holiday Train. 8425 Highway 38, Caledonia. wichristmascarnival.com
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Holiday lights, displays in the Milwaukee area you should see in 2022
