Here are 17 Fun Things to Do in Waukesha County this December to get you out of the house and into the Christmas spirit!
- Parades
- Holiday Train Stops
- Concerts & Musicals
- Light Displays
- Meals & Photos with Santa
- Live Nativity Scenes
- and more!
PARADE EVENTS
Menomonee Falls Christmas Parade
(Technically at the end of November this year) Enjoy the Optimist Club Christmas Parade in Menomonee Falls, WI!
DATE: Sunday, November 30, 2025
TIME: 4:30 PM
LOCATION: Downtown Menomonee Falls
COST: Free
For more information about this parade, click here!
Oconomowoc Christmas Parade “150 Years of Christmas”
Relish in the holiday cheer and abundant Christmas lights during the “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” parade presented by Oconomowoc Kiwanis!
DATE: Saturday, December 6, 2025
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Downtown Oconomowoc
COST: Free
For more information about this parade, click here!
Mukwonago’s Midnight Magic Parade & More
Spend the whole day shopping, enjoy great food & beverages, and making memories with a Christmas parade, live nativity scene, pictures with Santa & reindeer, Alaskan dog sled pull, fireworks, horse-drawn carriage rides, gingerbread house contest, and more at Midnight Magic in Mukwonago!
DATE: Saturday, December 7, 2024
TIME: Parade starts at 3:00 PM, other events 9 AM – Midnight
LOCATION: Downtown Mukwonago
COST: Free
For more information about this event, click here!
Waukesha Christmas Parade “Jingle | Bell | Rock“
For 60+ years, the Waukesha Christmas Parade has brought together local civic groups, businesses, schools, public services, and entertainers each year to kick off the Christmas season with upwards of 10,000 people!
DATE: Sunday, December 7, 2025
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Downtown Waukesha
COST: Free
For more information about this parade, click here! (or click here for the Facebook event)
MUSICAL & THEATRICAL EVENTS
Oconomowoc’s CPKC Holiday Train Stop
Everyone’s favorite holiday train is stopping in Oconomowoc! Talented musicians play free concerts from the holiday train’s stage during its tour of Canada and the United States, to spread holiday cheer while collecting donations for those in need.
DATE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
TIME: 6:40 PM Train Arrival; Show 6:45 – 7:15 PM
LOCATION: Silver Lake Steet Crossing, Oconomowoc, WI
COST: Donation requested of cash or non-perishable food items for the Oconomowoc Food Pantry
To learn more about this event, click here!
The Nutcracker in Oconomowoc
See MainStage Academy of Dance perform Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, at the Oconomowoc Arts Center!
DATE: December 7-9, 2025
TIME: Friday – 7:00 PM; Saturday – 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM; Sunday – 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Oconomowoc Arts Center, Oconomowoc, WI
COST: $30 for Adults, $26 for Youth (5 to 19), $16 Child (4 and younger)
To learn more about this event, click here!
LIGHT DISPLAYS
Waukesha’s Country Christmas
Enjoy the magic of over one million lights at Wisconsin’s longest-standing drive-through Christmas light display from your vehicle! You can also visit the Streets of Bethlehem and view a neat train display inside Christmas Village.
DATE: November 28 – December 2, 2025Â and December 4, 2025Â –Â January 3, 2026
TIME: Sunday-Thursday 5:00 – 9:00 PM || Friday & Saturday 5:00 – 10:00 PM
LOCATION: The Ingleside Hotel – 2810 Golf Rd, Pewaukee, WI
COST: $30+ per Carload depending on Size and Day of Week
To learn more about this event, click here!
EAT WITH SANTA & HIS REINDEER
Delafield Breakfast with Reindeer
Bring your camera to snap a photo with Santa, his reindeer, and maybe even an elf! Decorate cookies and enjoy breakfast-to-go at this year’s Breakfast with Reindeer, which is put on by the Delafield Chamber of Commerce.
DATE: Saturday, December 7, 2024
TIME: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
LOCATION: Delafield Fish Hatchery – 417 Main St, Delafield, WI
COST: $80 for a Limited Fast Pass Ticket good for a Family of up to 5 people. It also enters you into the $10,000 drawing!
To learn more about this event, click here!
Waukesha’s Brunch with Santa
Enjoy a delicious buffet of pancakes, omelets, chicken parmesan, and desserts. Following your meal, take pictures with Santa, do some arts and crafts, decorate cookies, and more!
DATE: Sunday, December 21, 2025
TIME: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Ingleside Hotel – 2810 Golf Rd, Pewaukee, WI
COST: $24 for Children; $43 for Adults
To learn more about this event, click here!
MORE FUN EVENTS
Santa & His Reindeer Arrival Celebration in Hartland
Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, and reindeer will be at LC Pets’ 5th annual Santa and His Reindeer Arrival Celebration. In addition to family photo opportunities, there will be free face painting, hot cocoa, balloon creations, hot mini donuts, and more!
DATE: Friday, December 5, 2025
TIME: 5:30 – 8:00 PM
LOCATION: LC Pets, LLC – 540 Hartbrook Dr. Hartland, WI
COST: Free (collecting non-perishable food items and there are optional paid activities/items)
To learn more about this event, click here!
Holiday Greet at the Wildlife in Need Center in Oconomowoc
Bring your animal lovers to the Wildlife in Need Center to meet some of the Educational Ambassadors. You can meet them, hear how they became ambassadors, and learn more about their species. In addition to getting up close with the animals, you can shop for unique Christmas gifts and pick up some yummy goodies at the bake sale!
DATE: Saturday, December 6, 2025
TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
LOCATION: Wildlife in Need Center – W349S1480 Waterville Rd. Oconomowoc, WI
COST: Suggested $2/person donation
To learn more about this event, click here!
Waukesha’s Miniature Motors Toy Show
Mike Dunn’s Legendary Milwaukee Miniature Motors Toy Show will have over 150 tables of cool classic collectible toys: Die Cast Cars, Racing Collectibles, Plastic Model Kits, New & Vintage Hot Wheels, Slot Cars, Promo Cars, Match Box, Corgi, Tonka, Smith-Miller, and many unusual and interesting items!
DATE: Sunday, December 7, 2025
TIME: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Waukesha County Expo Center – Waukesha, WI
COST: $10 / Kids under 12 Free with Adult
To learn more about this event, click here!
Pewaukee’s Luminary Hike & Live Nativity
Immerse yourself on your “Journey to Find Baby Jesus” along a one-mile woodchip-covered trail lit by 2,500 luminaries. Interact with shepherds, angels, wise men, animals, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus on your jaunt to experience the story of Christmas like never before!
DATES: December 13, 14, 20 & 21, 2025
TIME: 5:00 – 7:00 PM (choose a ticket for your specific arrival time)
LOCATION: DaySpring Church – Pewaukee, WI
COST: $10/person, FREE for kids 10 & under
To learn more about this event, click here!
Christmas Caroling Parade on Horseback in Eagle
Ride a horse or join in by walking to spread some Christmas cheer in the village of Eagle, WI!
DATES: Sunday, December 14, 2025
TIME: Gather at 11:00 AM and hit the road by 12:00 PM
LOCATION: Eagle Village Park – Eagle, WI
COST: Free
To learn more about this event, click here!
Waukesha’s Planetarium Shows
Enjoy a unique show in the Horwitz DeRemer Planetarium dome! Some of the upcoming shows are:
- George and Oatmeal Save Santa
- Season of Light
- Krumka’s Adventure in the Winter Forest
- Let it Snow
- Mystery of the Christmas Star
- Santa’s Secret Star
DATE: Many options Dec 3 – 30, 2025
TIME: Most shows are 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, or 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium in Retzer Nature Center – Waukesha, WI
COST: $5
To learn more about this event, click here!
More Christmas Season Fun in Wisconsin
Check out 15 Family-Friendly Things to Do in Jefferson County this December too!
Wisconsin Real Estate Tips
Save This List of Fun Waukesha County Events in December for Later
We hope you enjoyed this list of fun festive things to do around Waukesha County, WI in December!
Save this list and pass it on to a friend. The more the merrier!
Shine on!🎄✨
This blog was originally published in November 2023. It was updated and re-published November 2024 and 2025.