The holidays are in full swing in West Bend! Discover all the festive events with our guide. For lifelong locals and first-time visitors, our guide reveals the holiday magic of West Bend.
One enchanting highlight is the Garden of Lights at the Green Bay Botanical Garden, where stunning light displays create a picturesque winter wonderland. Experience the fascinating festive scenes at Enchant Christmas, featuring an immersive holiday light maze paired with delightful seasonal activities. And the Christmas Carnival of Lights is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a spectacular drive-through light display that brings joy to all ages. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around West Bend
- Christmas Carnival of Lights (Caledonia)
- Green Bay Botanical Garden’s Garden of Lights (Green Bay)
- Enchant Christmas (Franklin)
- Enchantment in the Park
- Christmas in the Ward (Milwaukee)
- A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee)
- Milwaukee’s Candy Cane Lane (Milwaukee)
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Milwaukee)
- Rivoli Holiday Film Festival (Cedarburg)
- Rotary Winter Wonderland (Marshfield)
See these and even more events listed below!
West Bend Holiday Light Displays
Enchant Christmas
What to Expect:
Story-driven light maze with interactive elements.
Description:
Enchant Christmas is an award-winning holiday light maze experience featuring stunning, custom-designed light sculptures and unique ice skating experiences. The event includes a story-driven light maze, seasonal food and drink, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a charming holiday marketplace.
Where: Franklin | More Info: Enchant Christmas
Christmas Carnival of Lights
What to Expect:
2 million dazzling lights synchronized to holiday music.
Description:
The Christmas Carnival of Lights at Jellystone Park in Caledonia, WI, features 2 million dazzling lights, Santa's GIANT Sleigh, and a Golf Cart Holiday Train. Enjoy specialty items, hot cocoa, and soft serve ice cream while taking in the holiday magic.
Where: Caledonia | More Info: Christmas Carnival of Lights
Green Bay Botanical Garden’s Garden of Lights
What to Expect:
Nature-inspired light displays with over 350,000 lights.
Description:
The Green Bay Botanical Garden's Garden of Lights features over 350,000 twinkling lights in 40 nature-themed displays, including the Caterpillar, Butterflies in Motion, and Lake of Lights. This event creates special holiday memories with family and friends.
Where: Green Bay | More Info: Green Bay Botanical Garden’s Garden of Lights
Enchantment in the Park
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light display with community service focus.
Description:
Enchantment in the Park is an interactive holiday light display featuring over 1 million LED lights, with drive-thru and walk-thru options, horse-drawn carriage rides, fire pits, and concessions. The event supports local food pantries and community organizations.
Where: West Bend | More Info: Enchantment in the Park
Milwaukee’s Candy Cane Lane
What to Expect:
Decorated homes and trees supporting childhood cancer research.
Description:
Milwaukee’s Candy Cane Lane is a neighborhood in West Allis, Wisconsin, featuring over 300 homes and trees decorated with colorful lights and candy cane wraps. This annual event supports the MACC Fund, raising funds for childhood cancer research and treatment.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Milwaukee’s Candy Cane Lane
Rotary Winter Wonderland
What to Expect:
Holiday light display with walking and driving routes.
Description:
Rotary Winter Wonderland at Wildwood Zoo in Marshfield, Wisconsin, features over two million LED lights, walking and driving routes, animated displays, and holiday music. It supports local food pantries by collecting donations.
Where: Marshfield | More Info: Rotary Winter Wonderland
Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show
What to Expect:
Dazzling after-dark walk with over 1.5 million lights.
Description:
The Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show features over 1.5 million twinkling lights, themed light displays, and animations in a family-friendly outdoor setting. The event takes place at the gardens, with doors opening at 4:30 PM and last admission at 8:30 PM, with lights going dark at 9 PM.
Where: Janesville | More Info: Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show
Celebration of Lights
What to Expect:
One million twinkling lights and community support.
Description:
The Oshkosh Celebration of Lights features over one million twinkling holiday lights, a 100-foot tree, sculptured scenes, animated light displays, visits with Santa, and horse-pulled wagon rides. This event supports local charities and offers free admission on community nights.
Where: Oshkosh | More Info: Celebration of Lights
West Bend Holiday Shows and Entertainment
A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Ebenezer Scrooge's transformative journey through the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
Description:
A classic adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" featuring Matt Daniels as Ebenezer Scrooge, with enchanting music, dance, costumes, and special effects. The production, directed by Mark Clements, brings the timeless tale of love, hope, and redemption to life at the Pabst Theater.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: A Christmas Carol
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
What to Expect:
Rowdy siblings disrupt a traditional Christmas pageant.
Description:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a heartwarming musical comedy where the worst kids in the world, the Herdmans, crash the church's annual Christmas pageant, leading to a hilarious and touching journey of discovery about the true meaning of Christmas.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Rivoli Holiday Film Festival
What to Expect:
Classic holiday movies screened at a beautifully restored Art Deco theater.
Description:
The Rivoli Holiday Film Festival in Cedarburg features a lineup of beloved holiday classics and new favorites, showcasing timeless stories on the big screen from December 1st to 23rd.
Where: Cedarburg | More Info: Rivoli Holiday Film Festival
Christmas in the Ward
What to Expect:
Live reindeer and Santa visits at Jolly's Gingerbread House.
Description:
Christmas in the Ward is a holiday celebration featuring live music, a tree lighting ceremony, Santa visits, and a fireworks display over the Milwaukee River.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Christmas in the Ward
Santa’s Christmas Cavalcade
What to Expect:
Santa and Mrs. Claus on a vintage fire truck with live holiday music.
Description:
Santa and Mrs. Claus ride atop a vintage fire truck through downtown Milwaukee, accompanied by local singer Sarah Fierek singing jazzy holiday tunes.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Santa’s Christmas Cavalcade
Holidays On The Hop
What to Expect:
Live holiday music and free cookies on the Milwaukee streetcar.
Description:
The Holidays on The Hop event in Milwaukee features live holiday-themed music performances on the streetcar, accompanied by free holiday cookies and festive decorations at all 20 streetcar shelters.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Holidays On The Hop
West Bend Other Holiday Activities
West Allis Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Night-time parade with live performers and vintage vehicles.
Description:
The West Allis Christmas Parade is an annual holiday tradition and the premier night-time Christmas parade in southeastern Wisconsin. Enjoy marching bands, live performers, creative floats, and vintage vehicles. Meet elves and cartoon characters, and wave to Santa Claus at the end of the parade.
Where: West Allis | More Info: West Allis Christmas Parade
Home For The Holiday’s at Old World Wisconsin
What to Expect:
Immersive historical holiday celebration with hands-on activities.
Description:
Home for the Holidays at Old World Wisconsin features a charming 19th-century village with historic shops and homes adorned in festive greenery. Enjoy holiday crafts, traditional Scandinavian celebrations, and meet Victorian Santa in his workshop. Savor seasonal treats and craft beers in the Winter Cheer Garden, and participate in hands-on activities like making ornaments and writing letters to Santa.
Where: Eagle | More Info: Home For The Holiday’s at Old World Wisconsin
Santa’s Dash Away 5K
What to Expect:
Holiday-themed 5K run/walk with festive race packet.
Description:
Join Santa's Dash Away 5K in Cedarburg, WI, for a holiday-themed 5K run/walk benefiting Santa's Workshop. Participants receive a free long sleeve t-shirt, festive elf hat, and other holiday treats.
Where: Cedarburg | More Info: Santa’s Dash Away 5K
Bloomin' Holidays
What to Expect:
Floral installations by local florists in an art museum setting.
Description:
The 12th annual BLOOM weekend at the Museum of Wisconsin Art brings together flowers and art, featuring floral arrangements by twenty area florists that transform the museum into an enchanted garden. The event also includes an expanded MOWA Shop where you can support Wisconsin artists while getting a head start on your holiday shopping.
Where: West Bend | More Info: Bloomin' Holidays
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Mequon (16 miles)
- Menomonee Falls (17 miles)
- Brookfield (25 miles)
- Fond du Lac (27 miles)
- Wauwatosa (27 miles)
- Waukesha (29 miles)
- West Allis (30 miles)
- Milwaukee (30 miles)
- New Berlin (31 miles)
- Watertown (32 miles)
- Sheboygan (33 miles)
- Greenfield (33 miles)
- Muskego (36 miles)
- Franklin (38 miles)
- South Milwaukee (39 miles)
- Oak Creek (41 miles)
- Caledonia (45 miles)