Parades, Tree Lightings And More: Milwaukee Area Holiday Events 2022

WISCONSIN — There is no shortage of things to do across the greater Milwaukee area to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

One thing to not miss is the Canadian Pacific Holiday train as it passes through Wisconsin. Here's where you can find the train's stops.

Here are some holiday lighting events taking place in the coming weeks:

• Greendale Tree Lighting Ceremony, Greendale Village Hall on Nov. 25 starting 6 p.m.
• Milwaukee's Third Ward Tree Lighting at Catalano Square, Dec. 2, 5:30 p.m.
• Wauwatosa Tree Lighting after CP Holiday Train stop, Root Common Park, Dec. 9 at 5:15 p.m.
• Oak Creek Light The Square at Drexel Town Square, Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m.
• Greenfield Holiday Tree Lightingat Konkel Park on Dec. 3 starting at 2 p.m.
• Brookfield Village Tree Lighting, 2927 North Brookfield Road, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.
• Holiday Town Tree Lighting at Brookfield Square, Dec. 3 beginning 5 p.m.
• Waukesha Night of Lights with tree-lighting and candle stroll on Dec. 2 starting at 5:30 p.m. at 235 W. Broadway.

Here are some holiday markets in the greater Milwaukee area:

• Brookfield German Holiday Market, 2000 North Calhoun Road, Dec. 3 beginning 11 a.m.

Here are some holiday parades coming up:

• A Franklin Christmas on Dec. 3 featuring a parade at 3 p.m.
• The 2022 Waukesha Christmas Parade is on Dec. 4 starting at 4 p.m.

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Here are some in Wisconsin to catch:

• Candy Cane Lane in West Allis, opens Nov. 25.
• Country Christmas at the Ingleside Hotel. Drive-thru nights begin Nov. 25.

Did we forget anything? Let other readers know about other events below in the comments!

Editors note: A previous version of this article referred to the Holidazzle event in Minneapolis as a parade. The event is still running, but no longer with a parade.