# Christmas break with kids in Milwaukee, 2026

> What to do with kids in Milwaukee over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus four dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-21
- 4 places’ holiday hours; 0 winter break camps; 8 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Betty Brinn Children’s Museum**: Christmas Eve closed; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day closed. Their page says: “The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, September 8-11, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.” Source: https://bbcmkids.org/plan-your-visit (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Schlitz Audubon Nature Center**: Christmas Eve closed; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day closed. Their page says: “(Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.)” Source: https://www.schlitzaudubon.org/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Milwaukee Public Museum**: Christmas Eve Open until 3 p.m.; Christmas Day not posted; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “Christmas Eve (Open until 3 p.m.)” Source: https://www.mpm.edu/hours (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Milwaukee Art Museum**: Christmas Eve Open until 3 p.m.; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day closed. Their page says: “The Museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, and open Christmas Eve until 3 p.m.” Source: https://mam.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-21)

## Christmas Eve

- **Santa Photos at Mayfair Mall** at Mayfair Mall, 2500 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226. When: Nov 21–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: See photo packages on the booking page. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 8 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8…). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/1084 (checked 2026-11-03)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Wild Lights** at Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226. When: Nov 20–22, 27–28; Dec 3–6, 9–13, 16–23, 26–31, 2026. Time: 5:30–9 p.m. (gates close 8:15). Price: Early-bird online through Nov 8: adult $15, child 3–12 $15, 2 and under free; parking included; Zoo Pass 20% off. Walk the forest paths lit with hundreds of thousands of lights. Official page: https://milwaukeezoo.org/visit/upcoming-events/wild-lights/ (checked 2026-11-03)
- **Winter Glow Experience** at Brown Deer Park, Brown Deer Park, Milwaukee, WI. When: Nov 20 – Jan 4 (2026–27 season). Time: 30–45 minute drive. Price: Car tickets via Fever (prices on site). Mile-long route; all ages. Official page: https://winterglowexperience.com/milwaukee/ (checked 2026-11-03)
- **Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival** at Downtown Milwaukee parks and streets, Downtown Milwaukee, WI. When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Time: Nightly. Price: Free. 500,000+ bulbs; Santa’s Celebration Square at Zeidler Union Square; Jingle Bus. Official page: https://www.milwaukeedowntown.com/signature-events/milwaukee-holiday-lights-festival/ (checked 2026-11-03)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Noon Year's Eve Run** at Meadow View area, Oconomowoc, Oconomowoc (about 35 minutes west). When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: Kiddos 1K at 11:15 a.m. Price: Kiddos 1K free (ages 12 and under). A family fun run before noon. Official page: https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Oconomowoc/NoonYearsEve (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Noon Year's Eve at the WAWM Recreation Center** at West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation Center, West Allis. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10am–noon. Price: Registration fee; see the event page. A special event from West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation & Community Services for ages 4 and up. Official page: https://www.wawmrec.com/apps/events/2026/12/?id=2 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Winter Glow Experience** at Brown Deer Park, Brown Deer Park, Milwaukee, WI. When: Nov 20 – Jan 4 (2026–27 season). Time: 30–45 minute drive. Price: Car tickets via Fever (prices on site). Mile-long route; all ages. Official page: https://winterglowexperience.com/milwaukee/ (checked 2026-11-03)
- **Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival** at Downtown Milwaukee parks and streets, Downtown Milwaukee, WI. When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Time: Nightly. Price: Free. 500,000+ bulbs; Santa’s Celebration Square at Zeidler Union Square; Jingle Bus. Official page: https://www.milwaukeedowntown.com/signature-events/milwaukee-holiday-lights-festival/ (checked 2026-11-03)

## More holiday outings in Milwaukee

- [The Nutcracker with kids in Milwaukee](https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/nutcracker/index.md): 3 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in Milwaukee](https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/christmas-markets/index.md): 3 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6. Lists refresh Monday and Thursday. The email goes out Thursday evening.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Milwaukee with kids?
Of the four places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center and Milwaukee Art Museum are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Milwaukee?
Open with posted hours: Milwaukee Public Museum (Open until 3 p.m.), Milwaukee Art Museum (Open until 3 p.m.). On the calendar: Santa Photos at Mayfair Mall.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Milwaukee?
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Milwaukee?
On the calendar for Jan 1: Winter Glow Experience and Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### Where can kids go sledding or snow tubing near Milwaukee?
Brown Deer Park, Currie Park and Greene Park and nine more. All of them need snow, so check the park’s status page first. The full list, with height rules, is on [sledding hills and snow tubing near Milwaukee](https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/sledding/).

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Milwaukee?
Wild Lights, Winter Glow Experience and Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### Where are the rest of the December plans in Milwaukee?
The month’s dated listings are on the [December page](https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/december/), and rink dates and skate aids are on the [ice skating page](https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/ice-skating/).

### Where can we cut a Christmas tree near Milwaukee?
Choose-and-cut farms within about 40 miles, with wagon rides, Santa, cocoa and kid notes, are on the [Christmas tree farms page](https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/christmas-tree-farms/).

### When is the tree lighting in Milwaukee?
Dates, times and what each organizer posts for kids are on the [tree lighting page](https://littlesweekly.com/milwaukee/christmas-tree-lighting/).

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).