Get Out: It’s a ho- ho- ho- holiday weekend!
From ‘Moana’ to wreathed lions, there’s plenty to see and do
Published November 25
BY ELIZABETH SNYDER | [email protected]
Here we are again.
It’s Thanksgiving Weekend — and your house is full of visiting relatives of all ages. Or, you might be visiting from out of town, in which case we thank you for picking up this Get Out section.
What to do?
You could take everyone shopping with your no-limit American Express card, but that can get expensive — and exhausting — in a hurry.
There are plenty of activities (and fear not, many include shopping opportunities) offering opportunities for family togetherness and some holiday cheer over this long weekend:
For young children
* Choo-choo: Take the kiddies to see the holiday train at the Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 First Ave.
The train runs through a festive holiday scene in the museum’s lobby.
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free.
* All aboard: Kenosha’s streetcar rides are free today (Nov. 25) from 5 to 9 p.m. during downtown Kenosha’s annual “Lightin’ Up” Festival.
* Visiting with Santa Claus: The CEO of Christmas — and a world-famous reindeer wrangler — will be at the city of Kenosha’s tree-lighting today (Nov. 25) outside the Kenosha Public Museum, starting at 4 p.m., and later this evening will visit with people from 5 to 8 p.m. at Santa’s Wonderland inside the Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 56th St.
* In Racine, Santa Claus has arrived for the season at Regency Mall and is available for visits and photographs with children through 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Santa’s visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. He is also there from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Sundays.
You can find Santa outside Boston Store at the mall, 5538 Durand Ave. (Highway 11). There is no charge to visit with Santa, though there is a fee for photos. For prices, go to www.ShopRegency-Mall.com. Pet photos with Santa Claus are 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 and 14.
* How’d they do that?: This new event aims to answer kids (and adults) who wonder how cool stuff is made.
The Mini Maker Faire is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 26) at the RecPlex in Pleasant Prairie. Organizers hope this event will “inspire everyone to become a maker and connect people with projects in their local community.”
Hands-on youth workshops and activities take place all day and will include: pottery workshops, making pressmen hats with the Kenosha News, virtual welding, meeting an amateur telescope maker and learning how to use a spinning wheel. We’re just excited for the chance to meet a replica of the “Lost in Space” robot. Danger, Will Robinson!
Admission is free; some of the activities have fees. For more details, log on at makerfairepleasantprairie.com.
* Lights, lights, lights: Jellystone Park’s Christmas Carnival of Lights is back in Racine County this year, with the lights shining from Nov. 26 through Dec. 31.
Families drive through the campground, which feature more than 1.5 million lights. New this year is “Evy the Talking Christmas Tree,” who will talk and sing to visitors. “Evy” will be located inside Santa’s Workshop, where guests can enjoy hot beverages and visit with Santa Claus or write him a letter. Also new this year is the option to view the lights while riding on Santa’s giant sleigh.
Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Christmas Day. The cost is $20 per carload for up to eight people. www.wichristmascarnival.com.
* “Elf The Musical”: Buddy and his pals from the hit movie are now on stage at Milwaukee’s Marcus Center.
The stage show, based on the holiday film about a human who grew up believing he is one of Santa’s elves, plays through Nov. 27.
For more information, call 414-273-7206 or log on at www.marcuscenter.org.
* “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical”: The show is on stage at the Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theater, performed by Milwaukee’s First Stage Children’s Theater.
Through Dec. 31. 414-267-2961 or www.firststage.org.
* At the movies: Your best bet for young children? Two animated features — Disney’s “Moana,” an adventure tale about a young woman who sets sail to a mystical island, and the goofy comedy “Trolls,” featuring Justin Timberlake’s music and his voice (as one of the lead trolls).
For teens
If you’ve got teenagers to entertain over this long holiday weekend, you have our sympathy! They’ll probably be happiest shopping, snapping selfies and playing video games. But there are ways to force them to get out of the house (at least for a few hours).
* At the movies: How many times can they see “Doctor Strange”? We have no idea, but they’ll probably dig the special effects in that adventure. Ditto for “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” a new film related to the world of “Harry Potter.”
Older teens may fall in love with “The Edge of Seventeen,” about a misfit teen (Hailee Steinfeld) who is searching for her place in the world. (Note: The film is Rated R for sexual content, language and drinking, all done by teens.) Ho, ho, ho!
Teens looking for rude, raunchy laughs — and plenty of F-bombs — will check out “Bad Santa 2,” with Billy Bob Thornton back in the red suit as a thieving mall Santa Claus. (Rate R for crude lanuage and lots of other stuff you may not want your kids seeing!)
* Classic rock: If you want to convince your teen that music existed long before the stuff they listen to now, take him or her to see the Beatles tribute band American English, performing Saturday night (Nov. 26) at Reuther Central High School. Even if they hate it (which they won’t) you’ll be too busy enjoying “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to notice.
Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $9-$29. Go to www.hap2it.com.
Good to see you, Aunt Kathy!
You’re trying to come up with activities for older relatives? How about visiting places that are decked out for the holidays?
* Kenosha’s Christmas at Kemper, 6501 Third Ave., starts Sunday, featuring the Durkee Mansion decked out for the holidays and the Gallery of Trees at the Anderson Arts Center.
The event runs through Dec. 4 — open 1 to 5 p.m. on weekends and 1 to 7 p.m. weekdays. Admission is free. 262-657-6005. Note: The Opening Night Gala for the Gallery of Tree is 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 26). Admission to the gala is $25 and includes refreshments.
* If you like lots of lights — like, say, two million lights — then head out to the Grand Geneva Resort, on highways 50 and 12 in Lake Geneva, for its annual Christmas in the Country outdoor lighting display. There are plenty of indoor decorations, too, plus a gingerbread house contest and holiday shows.
www.grandgeneva.com.
* Milwaukee’s Pabst Mansion is decorated for the holidays, circa 1890s. The theme is “A Grand Avenue Christmas.” Visitors are encouraged to bring a camera and take holiday photos in the mansion’s Musicians’ Nook.
Through Jan. 8. www.pabstmansion.com.
* Enjoy Christmas with the animals: Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo presents its annual Zoolights Festival. There will be lots of lights, of course, along with holiday activities. Admission is free.
Check www.lpzoo.org for a schedule.
* Milwaukee has turned on its holiday lights in Pere Marquette Park and other downtown spots.
www.milwaukeeholidaylights.com.
* The Fireside Theatre in Fort Atkinson is performing a musical revue for its holiday show, served up as dinner theater.
Through Dec. 23. www.firesidetheatre.com.
Big city holiday fun for all ages
* Holiday roar: Here’s a fun way to usher in the holiday season: Watch the traditional wreathing of the lions outside the Art Institute of Chicago?
(10 a.m. today, Nov. 25).
If you’ve never been to the art museum at 111 S. Michigan Ave., this is a great time to go. And even if you don’t step foot inside to check out the collection of Impressionists or one of the temporary exhibits, at least see those magnificent lions get dressed for the holidays and then stroll on down Michigan Avenue soaking in the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas in the City.
Special holiday exhibits inside the museum include an 18th century Neapolitan Crèche.
www.artinstituteofchicago.org.
“Hamilton” bonus: The Chicago cast of the hit musical “Hamilton” are hosting today’s wrathing of the lions. The free event starts on the historic Michigan Avenue steps. “Hamilton” cast members will lead visitors through the ceremony, ending with free hot chocolate.
Double bonus: If you’re in Chicago visiting the Art Institute, make sure to snap some fun holiday photos in front of the gleaming “bean” in nearby Millennium Park. The skating rink is also open in Millennium Park. Skating is free; skate rental is $12. The city of Chicago’s official holiday tree can be found here, too.
Every Friday, different groups will be caroling in front of the “bean” from 6 to 7 p.m.
Triple bonus: Chicago’s German open-air holiday market, Christkindlmarket, is up and running in Daley Plaza. You’ll find food, drinks, entertainment and several styles of wooden nutcrackers, along with other crafts.
The market opens at 11 a.m. daily through Dec. 24. www.christkindlmarket.com.
Also in Chicago: The Museum of Science and Industry has opened its annual “Christmas Around the World” exhibit featuring trees decorated to represent different cultures. The 45-foot Grand Tree takes center stage in the Rotunda, surrounded by more than 50 smaller trees decorated by volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities.
The holiday exhibit is included in museum admission. www.msichicago.org.
* The Milwaukee Public Museum has a most unusual holiday tradition — the “Lighting of the Whale.” At 11:30 this morning (Nov. 25), the massive humpback whale skeleton that hangs over the Grand Staircase will be lit up with holiday lights. ’Cause nothing say “Christmas” like an illuminated whale carcass.
Also at the museum, the European Village and the Streets of Old Milwaukee are fully decked-out for the holidays. www.mpm.edu
See more here.
