Waukesha County will be bustling with an assortment of activities this holiday season from authentic ethnic markets, parades, cookie exchanges, and light ceremonies and displays to a brightly lit train rolling through several locations. Don’t forget breakfast with Santa!  

November 15 – 16: HAWS Holiday Bazaar & Bake Sale

The Friends of HAWS Holiday Bazaar & Bake Sale is a purrfect place to pick up hand-crafted holiday gifts for pets and their people and home-baked treats. Don’t forget to check out pets looking for a loving home while you’re there. Join them at HAWS of Waukesha located at 701 Northview Road.

• Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Cost: Free. 

November 15 – January 1: Country Christmas

The Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee continues its beloved lake country tradition, Country Christmas. Over a million-holiday lights delight children of all ages along the mile-long trail Country Christmas Trail. Enjoy hot cocoas, treats, and a working model train at The Christmas Village. Take a stroll and photos in front of a 42-foot Christmas tree at the Village Park. Country Christmas can be enjoyed on foot, on your bicycle, in your car, or on a wagon ride. Dates, times, and prices vary for each experience, so follow the link above for details.

• Hours: Varies, but generally 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Cost: Varies by type of experience starting at $8 per person. 

November 27, November 29 – December 1: German Christmas Market

The German Christmas Market of Oconomowoc will celebrate its 13^th anniversary this year. The market offers authentic European food and drink, live polka music in a heated Wintergarten party tent, and a Christmas Village bursting with unique gifts you won’t find at the mall. This year, a free hourly shuttle service will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday of the market. The shuttle will pick up visitors at Nature Hill Intermediate School, 850 Lake Drive, Oconomowoc, and drop off in front of Etcetera, 118 E Wisconsin Ave. 

• Hours: November 27^th, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., November 29^th – 30^th 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., December 1^st, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Cost: A $3 donation is appreciated for entrance to the Wintergarten to defer entertainment and heating costs.

November 30: New Berlin Christmas Parade

The New Berlin Christmas Parade will feature Santa and his sleigh pulled by live reindeer. The annual tree lighting, visits with Santa, and stockings filled with candy by New Berlin Lions Club members will follow the parade. The Milwaukee Showcase Chorus will sing Christmas carols in the firehouse. 

• Hours: 3 p.m.
• Cost: Free. 

December 1: Menomonee Falls Christmas Parade

The Optimist Club of Menomonee Falls’ annual Christmas parade including floats, clowns, and Santa will be held the Sunday after Thanksgiving in downtown Menomonee Falls. 

• Hours: 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
• Cost: Free. 

December 1 – 22: Breakfast with Santa

Santa will be busy enjoying breakfast or brunch across Waukesha County. Bring your wish list and appetite! Check out a few options by clicking on the links below for further details.

December 1: Brookfield – The Embassy Suites Hotel

December 8: Oconomowoc – The Club at Lac LaBelle

December 14: Elm Grove – Elm Grove Junior Guild

December 15: Hartland – Rustic Manor 1848

December 22: Okauchee – Weissgerber’s Golden Mast

• Hours: Varies by location.
• Cost: Varies by location.

December 6: Mistletoe Market Craft & Art Fair + Tree Lightings

The Mistletoe Market Craft & Art Fair at the Waukesha County Exposition Center will feature high-quality, unique, and quirky handcrafted holiday arts and crafts created by over 100 juried Midwest vendors. If you’re looking for holiday décor, signs, rugs, candles, cards, baskets, jewelry, rugs, or scrumptious chocolates, dips, sauces, and cheeses, this is the place to go!  

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Adults $3, children 15 and under are free.

If you’re looking for a good old-fashioned tree-lighting ceremony, you’re in luck. The Lannon Community Tree Lightingand the Village of Sussex Tree Lighting also will be held on December 6^th. In Lannon, go to the Village Hall for the tree lighting and stay for caroling, selfies with Santa, chili, and mac ‘n cheese from local businesses and organizations. In Sussex, join the holiday tree lighting festivities at the Civic Center. You’ll find live music by local schoolchildren, hot cocoa, cookies, and a visit from Santa. 

Hours: 6 p.m. at both locations. 

Cost: Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate at either location.

December 7: Christmas Cookie Exchange

If you have a sweet tooth, Big Bend’s Christmas Cookie Exchange for Change fundraiser is for you! Come together at the Floyd E. Swayze Memorial Center to make a meaningful impact on the community. All ticket proceeds will be donated to Life’s Connection and the Angel Fund at Mukwonago Area School District. There will also be a raffle of fantastic baskets. 

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost: Select 18 of your favorite cookies for $25.

December 7 – 8, 14 – 15: Home for the Holidays

Leave the hustle and bustle behind and enjoy nostalgic activities and traditions at Old World Wisconsin’s Home for the Holidays in Eagle. Take a holiday wagon ride, relax during story time, meet Jultomte who is celebrated as Sweden’s Father Christmas, make a Victorian paper ornament in the holiday craft tent, write a letter to Santa and deliver it to his workshop, or experience the art of old world blacksmithing.  Take photos in front of Julbock, a larger-than-life straw goat, a tradition from Scandinavian and Northern European cultures. And there’s much more for the entire family!

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: $18 to $24, children under five are free. Advance reservations are required.

December 8: Waukesha Christmas Parade & Annual Holiday Train

The historic streets of downtown Waukesha will be filled with spectators for the 61^st annual Waukesha Christmas Parade. The parade will feature brightly lighted floats, marching bands, candy canes and treats tossed to spectators by parade participants and Santa himself! The parade is a much-loved tradition bringing the local community together to celebrate the holiday season.

• Hours: 4 p.m.
• Cost: Free. 

The Canadian Pacific (CPKC) Railroad Holiday Train will return to Hartland and Oconomowoc during their 26^th season of collecting food and contributions for food banks in local communities. Professional musicians will play from the brightly lit train’s stage. CPKC will donate to a local food pantry at each stop.

• Hours: Hartland arrival at 5:45 p.m. at the railway crossing at Cottonwood Avenue. Oconomowoc arrival at 6:45 p.m. at the railway crossing at South Silver Lake Street.
• Cost: CPKC encourages attendees to donate food items or cash for local food banks. 

December 11: Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Christmas

For those who love good books, head to the Muskego Public Library for Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Christmas Memoriespresented by Laura Keyes. Laura will share childhood Christmas memories and the promise of new memories with her husband Almonzo and her daughter, Rose. 

• Hours: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Cost: Free. 

December 22: Reindeer Visit & Photos

Santa is sending some of his reindeer to The Corners of Brookfield to practice before their big night. 

Live reindeer will be in Market Square for a visit and photos. Stay to enjoy live music and a holiday dance party by Kid Boogie Down. Tickets for one printed and one digital photo, a goody bag, and hot cocoa will go on sale November 18^that 10 a.m. 

• Hours: Noon to 3 p.m. 
• Cost: $25.

Check Out Our Events Page!

Visit our Events page for the latest happenings throughout Waukesha County. If we’ve missed an event that you would like us to share, please tell us about it on our Contribute News page.