Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District #21, will ready the city for the holiday season with the 15th annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival beginning on Thursday, Nov. 21.
The festival’s opening will feature a switch-flipping ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in Pere Marquette Park, 900 N. Plankinton Ave., to activate downtown displays of holiday lights. Preceded by an official countdown, the light ceremony will be led by Mayor Tom Barrett, County Executive Chris Abele and Milwaukee aldermen and will illuminate holiday décor in Pere Marquette Park, Cathedral Square Park, Zeidler Union Square and downtown.
Opening night, which has historically drawn more than 5,000 people, will also include music, dancing, an appearance by Santa Claus and a fireworks show set to holiday jingles.
The evening’s lineup of entertainment, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., will feature Spider George & The Web, an ice-sculpting performance group known as Ice Beat Factory, Danceworks Youth Performance Company, and performers from The Rep and First Stage.
Free Jingle Bus rides will also be part of the festivities, giving attendees an opportunity to be among the first to see the holiday scenes.
Jingle Bus rides will continue on Thursdays through Sundays through the end of the holiday lights festival on Sunday, Dec. 29. The 40-minute rides cost $1 and depart from The Shops of Grand Avenue Center Court, located at 275 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee.
For more information about the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival, visit www.milwaukeeholidaylights.com.
