Christmas 2017: Holiday tree lightings and displays in the Milwaukee area

Celebrate the holiday season with a visit to these area tree-lighting ceremonies and displays.

The Abbey Resort: Old St. Nick arrives at 6 p.m. Nov. 25 to flip the switch on the 9th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:45 p.m. Enjoy Christmas music, refreshments and photos with Santa. 269 Fontana Boulevard, Fontana. www.theabbeyresort.com.

Bayshore Town Center: Holiday Tree Lighting by Santa with music by the Dominican High School Choir, 6 p.m. Nov. 18. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, or take a carriage ride from 5 to 9 p.m. from the Rotunda, 5800 N. Bayshore Drive, Glendale. (414) 963-8780.

Bay View Tree Lighting: Holiday music by the St. Thomas More High School Choir begins at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4, followed by a singalong for children and families, and the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Claus at 7 p.m. to light the tree. Gather in the west parking lot of Church of the Immaculate Conception, S. Kinnickinnic Ave. and E. Herman St. (414) 481-2842.

BMO Harris Bank: “A Holiday in King Arthur’s Court — The Magic of Camelot” annual Holiday Display opens to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 27, (through Jan. 2). Lifesize Steiff animals are clothed as kings, queens and knights in the downtown bank lobby, and displayed on thrones and in medieval towers. 770 N. Water St.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train: The lighted train makes a stop in downtown Milwaukee to benefit local food banks, 6:50 p.m. Dec. 2, Milwaukee Intermodal Station, 433 W. St. Paul Ave., cpr.ca/holiday-train/united-states.

Candy Cane Lane: Opening Night for this neighborhood holiday light display is 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 24, and continues from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday (through Dec. 26). All donations benefit 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.

Christmas at Kemper: Tour the Durkee Mansion decorated in “Woodland Birds & Berries” for the holiday season, 1:30-5 p.m. Nov. 26, (through Jan. 14). 6501 3rd Ave., Kenosha. (262) 925-8040; www.kempercenter.com.

Christmas in the Ward: Tree lighting ceremony, fireworks, Mrs. Claus and her reindeer, horse-drawn carriage rides and musical entertainment, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 1, Catalano Square, Menomonee and Broadway, (414) 273-1173; historicthirdward.org/events/christmas.php.

City of Glendale: Community Menorah Lighting Ceremony to celebrate Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, 5 p.m. Dec. 13. The annual celebration for Jewish families and friends will include snacks, music and the lighting of the menorah. This year’s menorah will be surrounded by gifts and donations that will benefit children affected by this year’s hurricanes. Bayshore Town Center, inside mall rotunda, 5800 N. Bayshore Drive, Glendale.

City of Waukesha: Christmas Tree Lighting on The Rotunda from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17. Enjoy Christmas carols and hot cocoa from the Salvation Army, and your donation to the red kettle campaign is greatly appreciated. 235 W. Broadway, Waukesha.

Country Springs Hotel: “Country Christmas” drive-through holiday lights event, features the Country Christmas Trail, the Christmas Village, and Streets of Bethlehem, 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 24-25; 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 26; 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 1, (through Dec. 31). $15 per car or minivan on Sunday through Thursday; $20 on Friday, Saturday and Holidays. 2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee, (262) 547-0201; thecountrychristmas.com.

Dousman Stagecoach Inn: The Elmbrook Historical Society presents “A Little House Christmas at the Inn,” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2; 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3. Tour the historic Stagecoach Inn decorated for a Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas, with holiday music, crafts and a scavenger hunt. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for children ages 3 to 12. Cash or check only. Free parking on site. 1075 Pilgrim Parkway, Brookfield. elmbrookhistoricalsociety.org.

Grand Geneva Resort: Gather outside by the Christmas tree at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 for the “Illumination Ceremony” and fireworks. Enjoy holiday cookies and hot apple cider, and all guests are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the United Way of Walworth County. 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, (800) 558-3417.

Hilton Milwaukee City Center: Tree lighting with caroling by Winter Wonderland, hot chocolate and cookies, family activities and pictures with Santa, noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 18, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Jellystone Park Camp Resort: The Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights opens 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 25. Drive through the campground in the comfort of your car and view a mile of lights and holiday displays featuring elves, reindeer, and Santa. Hours are Friday and Saturday 5 to 10 p.m., and Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. (through Dec. 31). Closed Christmas Day. Admission is $20, for up to 8 people in the car. 8425 Highway 38, Caledonia, wichristmascarnival.com.

Kooky Cooky House: Milwaukee’s own gingerbread-making display from the 1960s has been recreated and is on display through Jan. 1 as part of the holiday floral show at The Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd.

Lannon Village Hall: Community Tree Lighting, 6 p.m. Dec. 1. Please consider donating a non-perishable food item. 20399 W. Main St., Lannon.

Miller Valley Holiday Lites Show: The indoor/outdoor walking tour of the Miller Caves and lighting display begins Dec. 1 with tours every 20 minutes from 4:40 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (through Dec. 23). Consider bringing a new, unwrapped gift for Toy-for-Tots, or a non-perishable food item for Hunger Task Force. Children of all ages are welcome, however strollers are not permitted on the tour. Miller Brewing Co., 4251 W. State St., (414) 931-3552.

Milwaukee City Hall: Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony begins with music by local choirs at 5 p.m. Nov. 16, and a countdown to the tree lighting at 5:29 p.m. at the corner of Wells St. and Water St.

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival: Kick-Off Extravaganza begins with musical performances and holiday treats at 5:30 p.m., followed by fireworks and the lighting of the downtown holiday displays at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16 in Pere Marquette Park, 900 N. Plankinton Ave. Decorated trees with handmade ornaments adorn Cathedral Square Park at 520 E. Wells St., and don’t miss “Santa’s Polar Palace” at Pere Marquette Park, 900 N. Plankinton Ave.

Milwaukee Public Museum: “Deck the Street” holiday kick-off celebration transforms the Streets of Old Milwaukee with seasonal and Victorian-era adornments, and costumed docents, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 18, 800 W. Wells St., (414) 278-2728.

Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory: Visit with the elves of the North Pole at the “Naughty or Nice” Holiday Floral Show opening 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18. The 25-foot holiday tree will be draped with paper garland, ornaments and lights. Show runs through Jan. 7, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 2017 admission is $7 adults; $5 seniors, students and youths. 524 S. Layton Blvd., (414) 257-5600.

Oakwood Church: Bethlehem LIVE!, noon-5 p.m. Dec. 9. Free, family-focused, interactive Christmas experience takes visitors to the streets of Bethlehem as they were 2,000 years ago. Reservations recommended; walk-in visitors welcome. 3041 Oakwood Road, Hartland. (262) 367-1212; oakwoodnow.org/

Pewaukee: Christmas Tree Lighting Event, 2-5 p.m. Dec. 2. Free, family activities with cookies and hot chocolate provided by the Pewaukee Kiwanis Club. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at 2:15 p.m., with caroling by the Civic Broadway Singers at 4 p.m., followed by the tree lighting at 5 p.m. Non-perishable food donation requested for the food pantry. Clark House Museum, 206 E. Wisconsin Ave., Pewaukee. (262) 691-0233; www.pewaukeehistory.org.

Pfister Hotel: Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 24. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Hunger Task Force and help those in need. 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., thepfisterhotel.com/pfister-holidays/milwaukee-christmas.

Rotary Botanical Gardens: Holiday Light Show, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 24-25; Dec. 8-10; Dec. 14-23; Dec. 26-31. $5. 1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville. Information: (608) 752-3885; www.rotarybotanicalgardens.org.

Sussex Civic Center: Holiday Tree Lighting, 6 p.m. Dec. 1. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies at this free holiday event featuring musical entertainment by local children’s groups, and a visit from Santa. Please consider bringing a non-perishable food item for the Sussex Food Pantry. N64-W23760 Main St., Sussex.

Village of Hales Corners: Tree Lighting Ceremony with music by the Whitnall Middle School Band, 6 p.m. Dec. 2 in the library’s lower level parking lot. Enjoy holiday stories and a visit with Santa in the Hunt Room at 6:30 p.m. Hales Corners Library, 5885 S. 116th St., Hales Corners. www.halescornerslibrary.org.

Village of Wauwatosa: Tree Lighting Ceremony will feature musical performances and Santa arriving on a fire truck, 5:45 p.m. Dec. 1. A free trolley will begin service at 5 p.m. and continue after the ceremony to take visitors to featured stops with hot cocoa, kids crafts and activities. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will stop at the Harwood Ave. railroad crossing at 4:15 p.m. Dec. 3.

West Bend Enchantment in the Park: Enjoy this interactive light show by foot or motor vehicle from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 24-26; Nov. 30-Dec. 3; Dec. 7-10; Dec. 14-24; Dec. 26-31. The show benefits local nonprofits and hungry families. A bag of non-perishable food items or suggested $10 cash donation per car. Regner Park, Main St., West Bend, enchantmentpark.org.

West Allis Centennial Plaza: “Christmas on the Avenue” features free events for the entire family, hayrides, crafts and music, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Dec. 2, followed by a Community Sing and Tree Lighting from 4 to 4:30 p.m., 76th St. and Greenfield Ave., West Allis, WestAllisDowntown.com.