Few places shine brighter than Milwaukee during the holidays. Whether you want to spend time outside in the cold or would prefer to stay toasty warm indoors, there are plenty of ways to experience the sights and sounds of the season.
So download the Umo app, get ready to board, then buy a 24-hour fare, and head out on a self-guided bus tour of some of the most festive holiday displays and activities in Milwaukee County!
1. Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo
Take a short walk from the CONNECT 1 to spend some quality time this holiday season at the Milwaukee County Zoo! Stroll across the festive grounds to celebrate the season and view the illuminating lights alongside the 2,200 animals and 330 species that call the zoo home.
They're promising even more twinkling lights than last year!
Where: 10001 W. Bluemound Road
When: Dec. 1-31; except closed Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 24, and 25
More Info: Milwaukee County Zoo
2. Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival is back! Check out the festive displays at Cathedral Square, Pere Marquette Park & Zeidler Union Square. And don’t miss the beautiful chandeliers hanging along Wisconsin Avenue!
Ride Routes 14 & 30 to Cathedral Square, Route 19 to Pere Marquette Park and Route 57 to Zeidler Union Square. Routes 30 & CONNECT 1 run along Wisconsin Avenue.
Where: Cathedral Square, Pere Marquette Park, Zeidler Union Square & Wisconsin Avenue
When: Through January 1
More Info: Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21
3. Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will once again be rolling through southeast Wisconsin ahead of the holidays. It is scheduled to stop at the Harwood Avenue crossing in Wauwatosa on December 4.
It’s free to see the 14-car train decorated with thousands of lights, but Canadian Pacific is asking visitors to bring nonperishable food items to donate to local food banks.
Ride Routes 31 or 33 to get there!
Where: 7720 Harwood Avenue
When: December 4
More Info: Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
4. Holiday Garden Show
Enjoy the warmth of the domes amid a snowy field of hundreds of poinsettias. Bring your loved ones into a polar paradise of playful animals preparing for the holidays. On special occasions, visit with Santa or experience the rare treat of our “northern lights” on Late Nights at the conservatory. This is truly a gift for everyone.
Ride the PurpleLine to get to the Domes to see the festive show for yourself.
Where: 524 S. Layton Boulevard
When: Through January 7
More Info: Mitchell Park Domes
5. Slice of Ice
Grab your ice skates and head to Red Arrow Park for some outdoor fun this winter. Downtown Milwaukee's ice rink is free to use when you bring your own skates. Skate rentals are also available.
Routes 15, 18, 57 & GreenLine all make stops near Red Arrow Park, which is decorated for the season!
Where: 920 N. Water Street
When: Opening Mid-December Depending on Weather
More Info: Milwaukee County Parks
6. Pabst Mansion
A holiday tradition the whole family can enjoy! Delight in the wonderment of Christmas at the Pabst Mansion where no two Christmases are the same. From glitz and glam to train tracks and teddy bears around the tree, each room each room is decked from tip to mistletoe.
Just hop off Route 30 or CONNECT 1 to visit the historic landmark.
Where: 2000 W. Wisconsin Avenue
When: Holiday decor up until January 7
More Info: Pabst Mansion
7. Candy Cane Lane
One of southeast Wisconsin’s most popular holiday traditions, Candy Cane Lane is a fundraiser for the MACC Fund. Every year, dozens of decorated homes in a West Allis neighborhood draw long lines of cars and pedestrians excited to check out the sights and sounds.
Ride Routes 51 or 92 to get to the festive neighborhood!
Where: The official participating area is from Montana Avenue on the north to Oklahoma Avenue on the south; 96th Street on the West to 92nd Street on the east.
When: Evenings through Dec. 25
More Info: Candy Cane Lane
8. Milwaukee Public Museum
Celebrate the season at the Milwaukee Public Museum. The Streets of Old Milwaukee and the European Village exhibits are both transformed into a holiday wonderland where you can discover traditions of the past and make new holiday memories with your family!
Routes 12, 19, 31, 34, 80 and BlueLine all have stops near the museum.
Where: 800 W Wells St.
When: through January 21
More Info: Milwaukee Public Museum
9. A Christmas Carol
The Milwaukee Rep’s hit adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol” runs through December 24th at the historic Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee.
The production has a dazzling blend of music, lively dancing, stunning sets and eye-popping special effects.
Ride Routes 15, 18, 57 & GreenLine to get to the theater.
Where: 144 E. Wells Street
When: Through December 24
More Info: Milwaukee Rep
10. Winter Wonderland in the Garden District
It’s Winter Wonderland at the Garden District Community Garden at 6th and Howard in Milwaukee! There is no fee, and you can grab the bus and walk through at any time through January 7.
Ride Route 80 to view the lights!
Where: 6th & Howard in Milwaukee
When: Through January 7
More Info: Milwaukee Garden District Facebook Page
11. Black Nativity
Black Nativity by Langston Hughes returns for its 8th Annual Holiday Musical Production, December 7-10 at the Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall, Marcus Center. Hughes’ joyous holiday musical is a testament to his timeless work, telling the story of the Nativity through a combination of scripture, poetry, dance and song from the African-American perspective.
Ride Routes 15, 18, 19, 57 or GreenLine to get there!
Where: Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall, Marcus Center
When: December 7-10
More Info: MarcusCenter.org
12. Milwaukee Hmong New Year Celebration
Every year around the second weekend in December, the Milwaukee Hmong community and the Hmong Consortium host a New Year celebration to carry on their thousands-year-old tradition. Each year, this culturally significant event draws 20,000 plus Hmong and non-Hmong, young and mature participants from across Wisconsin and the U.S.
Ride Route 18 to be part of the celebration!
Where: Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center, 8200 W Greenfield
When: December 9-10
More Info: WiStateFair.com
It's easy to plan your bus rides across Milwaukee County this Fall using RideMCTS.com or the Umo app. Use the Trip Planner feature to enter your starting point and destination. Then use our Real-Time Bus Tracker to find out when your bus will arrive!