The Milwaukee Area this Fall and Winter - Interesting and Fun!

The Milwaukee Area this Fall and Winter - Interesting and Fun!

You might be surprised to find out how much is going on in and around Milwaukee this fall and winter. Apart from fun events coming up, this area has much more than you might think in terms of history, culture and natural beauty. This combination of interesting and fun makes it a great destination for all kinds of people, from families and couples to individuals or groups of friends, no matter what age you may be or what interests you may have.

For the nature-oriented there's the beautiful Oak Leaf Trail, a hundred miles of paved paths, parkways and connecting streets to explore.

There's also the famous Lake Geneva resort, nestled on the northeastern shores of Geneva Lake in southeast Wisconsin. This has been a resort community since just after the Civil War, when wealthy Chicago families discovered the site and began building summer homes there. Today, Lake Geneva is one of the Midwest's top getaway spots. The beautiful natural surroundings, laid-back attitude, lively downtown and understated opulence is just the beginning - it's the wide variety of events, expansive nature preserves, outstanding dining and lodging options, scenic walking and biking trails and top rated golf courses that attract countless guests. If you head further east you will find the Lake Michigan shoreline with several beach towns where you can enjoy great sand dunes, lighthouses, and a variety of water sports.

In and around Milwaukee you'll find music, museums, great dining, and festivals.

This November for example, there's the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival at Pere Marquette Park – a ceremonial switch-on with live music, holiday entertainment, a visit from Santa and a dynamic fireworks show.

In December at the Wisconsin State Fair Park there is the ice fishing and winter sports show, where you can shop row upon row of exhibits with products and services dedicated to the ice fishing and winter sports enthusiast. Also at the State Fair Park in December you can visit Wisconsin's largest boating exposition with over 300 boats from over 75 manufacturers on display.

For a great family day out in late February the Tripoli Shrine Circus returns to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena with the best circus performers in the world today. With amazing lighting and sound, human and animal performers bring you into the magical world of circus.

Going into 2016, there is the beautiful Winterfest at Boerner Botanical Gardens. You can take a guided walk through Boerner's forest with Mike Kreuser, Green Team sustainable landscape expert. Enjoy the learning experience further with winter-themed crafts and then warm up with hot dogs, chili, chips, and hot drinks.

If you like theatre, the professional Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson has a surefire formula, offering Broadway musicals and heartwarming Christmas shows. For visitors who enjoy a dip into the past, with occasional breaks for cappuccino and crepes, Cedarburg, just 20 miles north of Milwaukee, is practically perfect. There's an 1864 woolen mill at one end of the main street, now housing a winery and two dozen shops.

This gives you a snapshot of some of the things to be discovered. Rest assured that if you are in and around Milwaukee this fall and winter you will certainly find something to do, no matter what your interests!

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival 2015

Don't Miss the 2015 Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival and Kick-Off Extravaganza

Returning for its 17th year in 2015, the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival will once again illuminate downtown Milwaukee with thousands of decorative lights and animated displays. In all, the popular attraction is expected to light up the city with over 500,000 lights, including displays in Cathedral Square Park (520 E. Wells Street), Pere Marquette Park (900 N. Plankinton Avenue), and Zeidler Union Square (301 W. Michigan Street). The light show kicks off Thursday, November 19th and runs through Sunday, December 27th.

The free Kick-Off Extravaganza on November 19th will begin at 6 p.m. at Pere Marquette Park with live music and other holiday festivities, including the lighting of the town Christmas tree, a 6:30 p.m. fireworks show, and a visit from Santa. Guests can also enjoy free hot cocoa, coffee, and cookies, plus a free ride on the Jingle Bus to take in the area's sights.

The Jingle Bus, which for the remainder of the festival costs just $1 per rider, hosts a 40-minute narrated tour of the city's most spectacular displays. Tours run Thursday through Sunday for the duration of the festival, departing from the Warming House at The Shops of Grand Avenue (275 W. Wisconsin Avenue) between 6:00 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. Please note that the Jingle Bus will not be offering tours on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day.

For those of you who'd like a unique keepsake of the festival, be sure to pick up a Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival ornament. Each year a new ornament is released celebrating one of Milwaukee's iconic downtown landmarks. Ornaments from this and previous festivals can be ordered online at www.milwaukeedowntown.com/store or in select area shops while supplies last.

For more information about this year's Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival and its Kick-Off Extravaganza, please visit Milwaukee Downtown's website at http://www.milwaukeedowntown.com/about-us/special-events/milwaukee-holiday-lights-festival.