Can't wait for the holiday joy in Wauwatosa? Dive into our guide for the best festive events! For Wauwatosa connoisseurs and newcomers, our guide is the recipe for holiday delight.
Popular events during the season include the Wauwatosa Holiday Market, where local artisans and vendors showcase unique gifts and treats that capture the spirit of the holidays. Featuring breathtaking music and stunning visuals, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra delivers a dynamic concert experience that is sure to resonate with audiences of all ages. And the beloved classic, The Nutcracker, is something you definitely don't want to miss as it brings the enchanting tale to life on stage. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
Join the Wauwatosa Discussion!
Top Holiday Events In and Around Wauwatosa
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Milwaukee)
- The Nutcracker (Milwaukee)
- Wauwatosa Holiday Market
- Home Alone Tour With Macauley Culkin (Milwaukee)
- A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee)
- Mannheim Steamroller (Milwaukee)
- Holiday Folk Fair International (West Allis)
- Wild Lights (Milwaukee)
- Holiday Sip & Stroll
- SnowGlobe Holiday Festival (Franklin)
See these and even more events listed below!
Wauwatosa Holiday Light Displays
Village Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Tree lighting ceremony with hot chocolate and mulled wine.
Description:
Join us at the Village Tree Lighting on December 4, 2024, as we officially usher in the holiday season with a tree lighting ceremony. Enjoy hot chocolate and mulled wine from Draft & Vessel while gathering around the tree. The event features a music performance by McKinley Elementary students and a visit from Santa. The ceremony concludes with a countdown to light the tree, followed by visits with Santa at Root Common Park.
Where: Wauwatosa | More Info: Village Tree Lighting
Wild Lights
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, featuring themed areas, live entertainment, and festive food options.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Wild Lights
SnowGlobe Holiday Festival
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday-themed activities in a beautifully contained light maze.
Description:
The SnowGlobe Holiday Festival at Milwaukee's Ballpark Commons offers a captivating holiday experience with a SnowGlobe-inspired light maze, Christmas cocktails and pop-up bars, a Christmas village, VIP and private event experiences, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, an ice-skating trail, live entertainment, and a build-your-own-buddy activity.
Where: Franklin | More Info: SnowGlobe Holiday Festival
Wauwatosa Holiday Markets and Shopping
Wauwatosa Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Traditional European food and live music in a festive village setting.
Description:
The Wauwatosa Holiday Market offers authentic European food, unique shopping, family-friendly events, and live entertainment. Enjoy hot pretzels, grilled sausages, ice cold beer, hot mulled wine, and hot chocolate. Live music by bands like Copper Box and The Polkaholics adds to the festive atmosphere.
Where: Wauwatosa | More Info: Wauwatosa Holiday Market
Holiday Sip & Stroll
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with sips, treats, and in-store specials in a charming village setting.
Description:
Stroll through the historic Village of Wauwatosa, sampling beverages and treats while enjoying in-store specials and discounts at local shops and restaurants.
Where: Wauwatosa | More Info: Holiday Sip & Stroll
Small Business Saturday
What to Expect:
Promoting local commerce through exclusive deals and specials.
Description:
Support local businesses by shopping in the Village of Wauwatosa on Small Business Saturday. Enjoy exclusive deals and specials at independently owned shops and restaurants.
Where: Wauwatosa | More Info: Small Business Saturday
West Allis Christkindlmarkt
What to Expect:
Traditional European-style Christmas market with local food and craft vendors.
Description:
The West Allis Christkindlmarkt is a traditional European-style Christmas market featuring over 60 vendors, including Wisconsin specialty food retailers and artisan craft vendors. The event includes live music and a variety of local food trucks and beer from local breweries.
Where: West Allis | More Info: West Allis Christkindlmarkt
Hover Craft
What to Expect:
Unique handmade gifts from local creatives.
Description:
Hover Craft is a premier handmade holiday shopping event featuring over 120 local artists, crafters, and makers selling unique, high-quality gifts. The event offers a variety of food and drink options, including Colectivo Coffee and a full bar, and is held at the Historic Pritzlaff Building in downtown Milwaukee.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Hover Craft
One Trick Pony Holiday Flea
What to Expect:
Quarterly flea market showcasing the best in vintage and handmade goods.
Description:
One Trick Pony Holiday Flea is a curated vintage market featuring over 40 vendors offering unique, handmade, and vintage items.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: One Trick Pony Holiday Flea
Re:Craft: Mini Market
What to Expect:
Exclusive showcase of local and regional handmade goods.
Description:
The Handmade Holiday Mini Market at the Brookfield Conference Center features 50 local and regional artists, makers, and creatives selling fine art, functional art, and handmade goods. The event offers a beautiful setting with a coffee and mimosa bar, making it an ideal place to shop and enjoy.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Re:Craft: Mini Market
Wauwatosa Holiday Shows and Entertainment
CP Holiday Train Stop
What to Expect:
Live music performances from a decorated train.
Description:
The CP Holiday Train Stop in Wauwatosa features a brightly decorated train with professional musicians performing free concerts to raise money and awareness for local food banks.
Where: Wauwatosa | More Info: CP Holiday Train Stop
Mannheim Steamroller
What to Expect:
Grammy Award-winning holiday concert with multimedia effects.
Description:
Mannheim Steamroller presents a holiday tradition featuring Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound, with dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Mannheim Steamroller
A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Period costumes and special effects bring Dickens' timeless tale to life.
Description:
A classic adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" featuring Matt Daniels as Ebenezer Scrooge, with enchanting music, dance, costumes, scenery, and special effects. The story follows Scrooge as he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, leading him to a transformative change in his life.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: A Christmas Carol
The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
The Nutcracker is a timeless holiday classic featuring Tchaikovsky's beloved score performed live by the Milwaukee Ballet, with elaborate sets and costumes, and a cast of over 200 dancers and students.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: The Nutcracker
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
What to Expect:
Interactive rock opera with pyrotechnics and lasers.
Description:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents a spectacular holiday tour featuring a rock opera based on "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve," with a new and larger presentation of the beloved holiday tradition. The show includes a rocking, blazing, and laser-lit second set containing more of TSO's greatest hits and fan-favorites.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Home Alone Tour With Macauley Culkin
What to Expect:
Macaulay Culkin discusses his iconic role in Home Alone.
Description:
Join Macaulay Culkin for a nostalgic evening as he screens the original 1990 Home Alone film, followed by a moderated Q&A session where he shares his on-set experiences and favorite memories from filming.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Home Alone Tour With Macauley Culkin
Wauwatosa Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Folk Fair International
What to Expect:
Celebrating diverse cultures with traditional music, food, and dance.
Description:
The Holiday Folk Fair International is America’s premier multicultural festival, celebrating the cultural heritage of southeastern Wisconsin through music, food, dance, and art.
Where: West Allis | More Info: Holiday Folk Fair International
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- West Allis (2 miles)
- Brookfield (5 miles)
- Milwaukee (5 miles)
- Greenfield (6 miles)
- New Berlin (7 miles)
- Menomonee Falls (11 miles)
- Franklin (11 miles)
- Mequon (12 miles)
- Waukesha (12 miles)
- Muskego (12 miles)
- South Milwaukee (12 miles)
- Oak Creek (13 miles)
- Caledonia (17 miles)
- Mount Pleasant (26 miles)
- West Bend (27 miles)
- Kenosha (33 miles)
- Pleasant Prairie (35 miles)
- Watertown (38 miles)
- Zion (43 miles)