Super Bowl Packers and lots of Santas
Santas, Santas everywhere
Sleigh bells ring, pretty much everywhere these days. Here are some of the holiday doings worth putting on your radar this weekend.
❚ Christmas in the Ward: The Third Ward’s annual tree-lighting ceremony, complete with fireworks, an outdoor gingerbread house, music, refreshments, Mrs. Claus and her reindeer, and more, runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday in Catalano Square, at E. Menomonee Street and Broadway. Info: historicthirdward.org.
❚ Santa Cycle Rampage: You will believe that Santa can ride — and you can, too. The popular annual bike ride, wherein riders, many of whom are dressed as St. Nick, pedal from Cranky Al’s, 6901 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, to Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St. Check-in and sameday registration are from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday at BelAir Cantina Tosa, 6817 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa. With the ride starting at 9:30 a.m. Info: The 2018 Santa Cycle Rampage Facebook page.
❚ Miller Valley Holiday Lites: The State Street corridor through Miller Valley lights up starting Friday night. Indoor/outdoor walking tours of the Miller Caves at Miller Brewery, 4251 W. State St., are on tap every 20 minutes from 4:40 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 22. Info: millercoors.com.
❚ Christmas on the Avenue in West Allis: West Allis does its Christmas kickoff big with hayrides, crafts, music and family doings Saturday starting at 2 p.m. in Centennial Plaza at South 76th Street and West Greenfield Avenue. Then, there’s Christmas caroling and the city tree-lighting at
4 p.m. And then there’s the annual Christmas parade, which starts at 4:45 p.m. at the 81st Street (Gate 2) entrance to State Fair Park on Greenfield Avenue, heading east to 70th Street and then south to Orchard Avenue. Info: downtownwestallis.org.
❚ Christmas on KK: From 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, holiday cheer reigns along Bay View’s main street, with participating businesses on Kinnickinnic Avenue taking part in holiday doings and a raffle benefiting the Bay View Community Center. The tree lighting and opening ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Zillman Park, 2168 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Info: christmasonkk.com.
❚ Christkindlmarkt West Allis: The downtown German Christmas market may be new, but the West Allis Christkindlmarkt is in its second year. It’s open this Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at West Allis Farmers Market, 6501 W. National Ave. Info: eatwestallis.com.
Marking Hmong New Year
One of the biggest celebrations in Milwaukee’s Hmong community,
Milwaukee Hmong New Year, will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis. Hmong traditions, from music and dance to food, are part of the experience. Admission is $4, $12 for the night party. Info:mkehmoobnewyear.com.
Your Super Bowl Packers (no, really)
OK, so Green Bay isn’t exactly having a Super Bowl season. So why not go back to when they did? Ball Four Sports is holding a Green Bay Packer Super Bowl 31 Autograph Show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion at State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th St., West Allis. More than 30 members of that team, including Brett Favre and General Manager Ron Wolf, are expected to be on hand. Tickets are $7 (individual autographs start at $30; see the website for a roster). Info:superbowl31show.com
The music of the Blacklist
The Hollywood blacklist is best known for its impact on people in movies and television, but the accusations of communist sympathies spread to other forms of entertainment, too. As part of its exhibit “Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare,” Jewish Museum Milwaukee hosts
“Blacklist: A Concert” Saturday at 7 p.m. at the museum, 1360 N. Prospect Ave. Performers take on music written or made famous by blacklisted artists, from Pete Seeger and Paul Robeson to Lena Horne. Admission is $35, $25 for museum members. Info: jewishmuseummilwaukee.org
Free day at the zoo
The Milwaukee County Zoo’s Family
Free Day is Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., which also happens to be the opening day for “Fantastic Forest: Animals From Around the World,” a display of more than five dozen trees decorated with animalthemed ornaments at the zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road. The exhibit runs through Dec. 28. (Reminder: Although admission is free at the zoo Saturday, parking is $12.)
Info: milwaukeezoo.org New on stage
❚ “A Christmas Carol”: The Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s holiday tradition returns, with the spirited take on Dickens’ classic tale opening Friday at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St. Scrooge and company will be at
the Pabst through Dec. 24. Info: milwaukeerep.com.
❚ “Merry Chris-Mess”: In Tandem Theatre’s Christmas offering this year is a collection comedy songs and sketches, along with a one-act parody of “It’s A Wonderful Life” called “It’s a Life,” from Anthony Wood, author of “A Cudahy Caroler Christmas.” It starts Friday at Tenth Street Theatre, 628 N. 10th St., running through Jan. 6. Info: intandem theatre.org.
❚ “It’s a Wonderful Life”: One of America’s most beloved Christmasseason stories takes the stage courtesy Morning Star Productions at Eastbrook Church Theater, 5345 N. Green Bay Ave., starting Saturday and running through Dec. 9. Info: morningstarproductions.org.
❚ “Celsius 232”: Quasimondo Physical Theatre and Cooperative Performance team up for this production, inspired by Ray Bradbury’s cautionary tale “Fahrenheit 451.” It starts Friday and runs through Dec. 15 at North Milwaukee Arthaus, 5151 N. 35th St. Info: quasimondo.org.
Last call
It’s your last chance to see this show.
❚ “Sanders Family Christmas”: The Sanders family’s 1941 Christmas show wraps up its run Sunday, courtesy Acacia Theatre, at Concordia University’s Todd Wehr Auditorium,12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon. Info: acaciatheatre.com.
❚ “‘Twas the Month Before Christmas”: Milwaukee actor-playwright Doug Jarecki’s humorous take on the story of that night in Bethlehem wraps up its short run Sunday at the Marcus Center’s Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall, 929 N. Water St. Info: marcuscenter.org.