It’s holiday season in Kenosha! Explore our guide for the top festive events and activities. For Kenosha natives and visitors alike, this guide reveals the city's holiday magic.
Popular events include the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival, a delightful display of vibrant lights illuminating downtown Milwaukee. Uniquely, Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens allows visitors to stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens adorned with seasonal decorations. And the Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring thousands of lights that create a memorable winter wonderland. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Kenosha
- Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival (Milwaukee)
- Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens (Hales Corners)
- Henry Vilas Zoo Lights (Madison)
- Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show (Janesville)
- Country Christmas (Pewaukee)
- Enchantment in the Park (West Bend)
- Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo (Milwaukee)
- Fox Cities Festival of Lights (Harrison)
- Candy House Family Workshop
- Christmas Carnival of Lights (Caledonia)
See these and even more events listed below!
Kenosha Holiday Light Displays
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
What to Expect:
Dazzling light displays and interactive holiday exhibits.
Description:
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival transforms Downtown Milwaukee into a vibrant winter scene with over 500,000 lights, glittering chandeliers, and interactive displays. Visitors can enjoy the Ornament Trail, Jingle Bus rides, and visits to Santa's Mailbox.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens
What to Expect:
Touchless, drive-through holiday light show with over one million LED lights.
Description:
Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens features a 1.4-mile drive-through holiday light show with over one million LED lights, offering a festive and family-friendly experience.
Where: Hales Corners | More Info: Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens
Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show
What to Expect:
Dazzling after-dark walk with 1.5 million lights.
Description:
The Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show features over 1.5 million twinkling lights, themed displays, and animations in a family-friendly outdoor setting. This annual event transforms the gardens into a vibrant winter spectacle with doors opening at 4:30 PM and last admission at 8:30 PM.
Where: Janesville | More Info: Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show
Henry Vilas Zoo Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Henry Vilas Zoo Lights features over one million lights, unlimited carousel rides, and Santa photos until December 23rd, set amidst a beautiful zoo setting.
Where: Madison | More Info: Henry Vilas Zoo Lights
Enchantment in the Park
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light display with horse-drawn carriage rides and live music.
Description:
Enchantment in the Park is an interactive holiday light display featuring over 1 million LED lights, music, and performing arts. Visitors can drive or walk through Regner Park to experience dazzling light displays and enjoy various festivities, including horse-drawn carriage rides and live music.
Where: West Bend | More Info: Enchantment in the Park
Country Christmas
What to Expect:
Spectacular drive-through holiday lights display with animated figures and holiday scenes.
Description:
Country Christmas is a spectacular drive-through holiday lights display featuring over a million lights on 40 wooded acres. The event includes a trip through the Country Christmas Trail and entrances to Christmas Village and The Streets of Bethlehem. Visitors can enjoy animated figures and holiday scenes from the comfort of their cars.
Where: Pewaukee | More Info: Country Christmas
Fox Cities Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Handicap-accessible trails with new display additions.
Description:
The Fox Cities Festival of Lights is a community-driven holiday light display at Darboy Community Park, featuring over 50 displays with more than 100,000 lights. The event includes a half-mile walk through wooded trails, showcasing iconic Fox Cities landmarks and traditional holiday characters. Santa visits every night except December 24 and 25, and hot chocolate and other beverages are available for purchase.
Where: Harrison | More Info: Fox Cities Festival of Lights
Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
The Milwaukee County Zoo transforms into an illuminated destination with hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights, specially adorned pathways, and forested areas. This festive event features twinkling lights and decorative displays, making it a standout holiday activity.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo
Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens
What to Expect:
Nature-inspired light displays with over 350,000 lights.
Description:
The WPS Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens features over 350,000 twinkling lights in 40 nature-themed displays, including the caterpillar and butterfly house, with festive activities like photos with Santa and holiday crafts.
Where: Green Bay | More Info: Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens
Christmas Carnival of Lights
What to Expect:
2 million dazzling lights in a drive-through light show.
Description:
The Christmas Carnival of Lights features 2 million dazzling lights in a drive-through light show, with speciality items, hot cocoa, and Santa's GIANT Sleigh and Golf Cart Holiday Train rides.
Where: Caledonia | More Info: Christmas Carnival of Lights
Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour
What to Expect:
Extensive Christmas light display with a festive market and activities.
Description:
Sam's Christmas Village and Light Tour is a spectacular display of over 12 million Christmas lights along the Apple River in Somerset, Wisconsin. The event features a Christmas market, reindeer, Santa, and a bar and grill. Visitors can enjoy a walk-through or drive-through experience with various activities and accommodations available.
Where: Somerset | More Info: Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour
Rotary Lights
What to Expect:
Massive holiday light display with various activities.
Description:
Rotary Lights is a spectacular holiday display in La Crosse, Wisconsin, featuring over 3 million lights, live nativity scenes, and festive activities like ice skating and carriage rides.
Where: La Crosse | More Info: Rotary Lights
Kenosha Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christmas in the Falls Christkindl Market
What to Expect:
Traditional German cuisine and music in a festive market setting.
Description:
The Falls Christkindl Market is an authentic German market in Menomonee Falls Downtown District, featuring traditional cuisine, German music, and unique crafts. Enjoy bratwursts, Glühwein, and heavenly desserts while taking professional portraits with Santa Claus and embarking on a delightful carriage ride through the charming Main Street.
Where: Menomonee Falls | More Info: Christmas in the Falls Christkindl Market
Kenosha Other Holiday Activities
Fused Glass Christmas Tree Votive
What to Expect:
Handcrafted glass decoration for holiday decor.
Description:
Create your own festive fused glass Christmas tree votive, perfect for adding a warm glow to your seasonal decor.
Where: Kenosha | More Info: Fused Glass Christmas Tree Votive
Candy House Family Workshop
What to Expect:
Hands-on edible house construction.
Description:
Create a house good enough to eat using graham crackers, pretzel rods, cookies, frosting, candy, and imagination. Design and construct a fantasy house fit for Hansel and Gretel.
Where: Kenosha | More Info: Candy House Family Workshop
New Years Kids Camp
What to Expect:
Hands-on New Year's celebration activities for kids.
Description:
At the New Year's Kids Camp, children will create festive gear and noise makers to ring in the New Year. They will learn about New Year's traditions from around the world and participate in fun activities to celebrate at home.
Where: Kenosha | More Info: New Years Kids Camp
Mini Wet Felted Pumpkins
What to Expect:
Hands-on wet felting workshop creating mini pumpkins.
Description:
Learn the basics of wet felting wool fibers in this fun and easy class. Each participant will create at least three pint-sized pumpkins perfect for fall decor. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided.
Where: Kenosha | More Info: Mini Wet Felted Pumpkins
Xtreme Bar Bingo at The Boathouse Pub & Eatery
What to Expect:
Free bingo with progressive jackpot and deluxe prizes.
Description:
Join us for Xtreme Bar Bingo at The Boathouse Pub & Eatery, where you can socialize and meet new friends while playing 9 games of bingo for a chance to win deluxe prizes like a 50" TV, iPad, designer purse, or sporting event tickets. The progressive jackpot starts at $3,000 and increases by $1,000 each week until it reaches $15,000.
Where: Kenosha | More Info: Xtreme Bar Bingo at The Boathouse Pub & Eatery
Home for the Holidays at Old World Wisconsin
What to Expect:
Immersive historical holiday celebration with diverse cultural traditions.
Description:
Home for the Holidays at Old World Wisconsin features historic buildings adorned with holiday greenery, offering activities like horse-drawn wagon rides, traditional crafts, and festive celebrations of various ethnic traditions.
Where: Eagle | More Info: Home for the Holidays at Old World Wisconsin
Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Community-sourced holiday decorations raffled off to benefit local animals.
Description:
The Festival of Trees is a family-friendly event featuring beautifully decorated trees, wreaths, and other holiday décor sponsored by community members and local businesses. Raffle tickets are available for a chance to win these festive items, and the event includes live music, a bake sale, and a holiday boutique.
Where: Slinger | More Info: Festival of Trees
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Pleasant Prairie (6 miles)
- Mount Pleasant (8 miles)
- Zion (10 miles)
- Gurnee (15 miles)
- Caledonia (16 miles)
- North Chicago (18 miles)
- Grayslake (20 miles)
- Round Lake Beach (20 miles)
- Oak Creek (21 miles)
- Libertyville (22 miles)
- South Milwaukee (23 miles)
- Franklin (24 miles)
- Mundelein (24 miles)
- Vernon Hills (26 miles)
- Muskego (27 miles)
- Greenfield (28 miles)
- Highland Park (28 miles)
- McHenry (29 miles)
- New Berlin (31 miles)
- Buffalo Grove (31 miles)
- Wheeling (31 miles)
- West Allis (31 miles)
- Northbrook (32 miles)
- Milwaukee (32 miles)
- Wauwatosa (33 miles)
- Palatine (35 miles)
- Crystal Lake (35 miles)
- Glenview (36 miles)
- Wilmette (36 miles)
- Brookfield (36 miles)
- Rolling Meadows (36 miles)
- Waukesha (36 miles)
- Mount Prospect (36 miles)
- Woodstock (37 miles)
- Morton Grove (38 miles)
- Algonquin (38 miles)
- Lake in the Hills (38 miles)
- Des Plaines (38 miles)
- Skokie (38 miles)
- Carpentersville (39 miles)
- Niles (39 miles)
- Park Ridge (40 miles)
- Hoffman Estates (40 miles)
- Rogers Park (41 miles)
- Elk Grove Village (41 miles)
- West Ridge (41 miles)
- Huntley (42 miles)
- Edgewater (42 miles)
- Lincoln Square (43 miles)
- Streamwood (43 miles)
- Albany Park (43 miles)
- Portage Park (43 miles)
- Roselle (44 miles)
- Uptown (44 miles)
- Hanover Park (44 miles)
- Menomonee Falls (44 miles)
- Irving Park (44 miles)
- North Center (44 miles)
- Elgin (45 miles)
- Bartlett (45 miles)
- Mequon (45 miles)
- Avondale (45 miles)