Milwaukee–Waukesha · WI
Things to do with kids in Milwaukee — December 2026
53 family events in December 2026. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page. Dates are in Central Time.
What’s on now in Milwaukee →Events
- Community
Through Jan 3
Deck the Streets and Village
Milwaukee Public Museum
With admissionAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Through Jan 3
Holiday Show at the Mitchell Park Domes
Mitchell Park Domes
PaidAll ages
- Light displays
Through Jan 1
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
Cathedral Square Park (Community Spirit Park) and other downtown parks
FreeAll ages
- STEM & discovery
Through Jan 3
Planetarium Palooza
Milwaukee Public Museum
From $6All ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Through Dec 24
A Christmas Carol — Milwaukee Rep
Pabst Theater
PaidAges 6+
- STEM & discovery
Thu, Nov 5 · 10:00 AM
Kohl's Thank You Thursday Free Days at MPM
Milwaukee Public Museum
FreeAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Thu, Dec 3 · 1:00 PM
Natural Wreath Making — Kettle Moraine South
DJ Mackie picnic area, Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit
From $20
- Light displays
Fri, Nov 20 · 5:30 PM
Wild Lights at the Milwaukee County Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
From $15
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Nov 21
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at First Stage
Todd Wehr Theater at the Marcus Performing Arts Center
PaidAges 5+
- Arts & crafts
Fri, Dec 4
Everybody — First Stage Young Company
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (Goodman Mainstage Hall)
PaidAges 13+
- Light displays
Fri, Nov 6 · 7:00 PM
Northern Lights — Friday Night Planetarium Show
UWM Manfred Olson Planetarium
From $7
- Light displays
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:30 PM
Waukesha Night of Lights: Tree Lighting, Lantern Stroll and Walk of Lights
The Rotunda (start) to Riverfront Plaza
- Sports & play
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
Admirals Hot Wheels Game Day
UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
Paid
- Tree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 3:00 PM
Allis in Winterland and Christmas Tree Lighting — West Allis City Hall
West Allis City Hall (Art Gallery and Centennial Plaza)
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Ash Wood Ornament Art
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
From $26Ages 3+
- Outdoors
Sat, Dec 5 · 9:30 AM
Family Free Day at the Milwaukee County Zoo (December)
Milwaukee County Zoo
FreeAll ages
- STEM & discovery
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
Family Mystery at MPM
Milwaukee Public Museum
From $20All ages
- Community
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Home for the Holidays at Old World Wisconsin
Old World Wisconsin
Paid
- Outdoors
Sat, Dec 5 · 2:30 PM
Owl Prowl for Families at Wehr
Wehr Nature Center
From $12Ages 6+
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5
The Nutcracker: Drosselmeyer's Imaginarium — Milwaukee Ballet
Marcus Performing Arts Center
Paid
- Parades
Sat, Dec 5 · 4:45 PM
West Allis Christmas Parade
Downtown West Allis — Greenfield Avenue
FreeAll ages
- STEM & discovery
Sun, Dec 6 · 10:00 AM
Code & Create Day
Discovery World
With admission
- Hanukkah
Sun, Dec 6 · 1:00 PM
Community Wide Hanukkah at the JCC
Daniel M. Soref Community Hall at the JCC
All ages
- Outdoors
Sun, Dec 6 · 1:00 PM
Nature Wizard Club for Families: Counting on Birds
Wehr Nature Center
From $7Ages 6–11
- Light displays
Sun, Nov 22 · 5:00 PM
Wild Lights Drive Thru
Milwaukee County Zoo
From $40All ages
- Outdoors
Thu, Dec 10 · 5:00 PM
Winter Wonder Woods at Hawthorn Glen
Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center
Free
- Outdoors
Fri, Dec 11 · 4:30 PM
Illuminated Hike at Schlitz Audubon
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
From $18All ages
- Outdoors
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:30 PM
Lynden by Night — Night Walk at the Sculpture Garden
Lynden Sculpture Garden
From $10
- Crafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
¡Construye una Casa de Jengibre! (Build a Gingerbread House)
Waukesha Public Library — Program Room A/B
- Community
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM
Cocoa with the Clauses
Cathedral Square Park
Free
- Community
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM
European Village Alive!
Milwaukee Public Museum
With admissionAll ages
- Santa visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 9:30 AM
Jingle Bell 5K Hustle & free 1K Jingle Dash with Santa
Greenfield Park Pavilion
PaidAges 2–10
- Outdoors
Sat, Oct 24 · 3:00 PM
Operation Recon Nature – Veterans and Families
Wehr Nature Center
Free
- Outdoors
Sat, Dec 12 · 9:30 AM
Winter Birding Basics
Urban Ecology Center – Washington Park
From $7
- Outdoors
Sun, Dec 13 · 2:00 PM
I Spy: Winter Survival
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
From $26Ages 3–6
- Nutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 17
The Nutcracker Sensory-Friendly Performance — Milwaukee Ballet
Marcus Performing Arts Center
Paid
- Outdoors
Sat, Dec 19 · 8:00 AM
Christmas Bird Count Hike at Schlitz Audubon
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Free
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Dec 19 · 10:00 AM
Winter Break Fun! at the Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee Art Museum
With admissionAll ages
- Outdoors
Sat, Dec 19 · 1:00 PM
Winter Solstice Celebration at Riveredge
Riveredge Nature Center
FreeAll ages
- Outdoors
Sun, Dec 20 · 9:00 AM
Christmas Bird Count at Wehr Nature Center
Wehr Nature Center
FreeAll ages
- STEM & discovery
Sun, Dec 20 · 11:00 AM
Mermaid Echo at Discovery World (December)
Discovery World
With admission
- Santa visits
Sat, Nov 28 · 11:00 AM
Storytime with Santa at Discovery World
Discovery World
With admission
- Outdoors
Mon, Dec 21 · 9:00 AM
Riveredge Winter Camp
Riveredge Nature Center
PaidAges 6–12
- Outdoors
Mon, Dec 21 · 9:00 AM
Winter Break Adventure Days at the Urban Ecology Center
Urban Ecology Center – Riverside Park
From $60
- Outdoors
Sat, Dec 26 · 9:30 AM
Frosty Free Week at the Milwaukee County Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
FreeAll ages
- Sports & play
Mon, Dec 28 · 6:30 PM
Admirals Teddy Bear Toss and Post-Game Skate
UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
Paid
- Arts & crafts
Mon, Dec 28 · 10:00 AM
Art in Nature with Riveredge — West Bend
West Bend Community Memorial Library
FreeAges 5–10
- STEM & discovery
Mon, Dec 28
The Greatest Hits of Greatest Hits
Milwaukee Public Museum
With admissionAll ages
- Outdoors
Tue, Dec 29 · 1:00 PM
Audubon Kids: Winter Adventure Camp
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
From $20Ages 7+
- STEM & discovery
Tue, Dec 29 · 9:00 AM
Winter in the Tropics: A Family Fun Fest
Mitchell Park Domes
From $5All ages
- Sports & play
Wed, Dec 30 · 6:30 PM
Admirals Princess Night
UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
Paid
- Light displays
Thu, Dec 31 · 5:30 PM
Wild Lights Zoo Year's Eve
Milwaukee County Zoo
Paid
- Outdoors
Thu, Dec 31 · 12:30 PM
Winter Walk at Wehr
Wehr Nature Center
From $12Ages 8+