MILWAUKEE – Downtown Milwaukee will glow again this holiday season with the 27th annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival, kicking off on Thursday, Nov. 20.

What we know:

The six-week event, presented by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 and Johnson Financial Group, begins at 6:30 p.m. at Pere Marquette Park with live performances, treats and a firework show. The festival runs through Jan. 1, 2026.

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The main program includes DJ Mr. NY, characters from Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s “A Christmas Carol,” Anita’s Dance Center, The Squeezettes, select cast members from Cirque du Soleil’s “‘Twas the Night Before…,” Marquette University’s Gold ’n Blues, Christopher Gilbert, Willow Newell – Miss Wisconsin and Jenny Thiel.

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival

Santa and Mrs. Claus are also scheduled to appear.

Fireworks are planned for shortly before 7 p.m., followed by free cocoa, cookies and complimentary Jingle Bus rides operated by KB Excursions.

After the kickoff, residents and visitors can view light displays coordinated by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 through Jan. 1. Four downtown parks will feature themed installations: “Community Spirit Park” at Cathedral Square Park, “Santa’s Celebration Square powered by We Energies” at Zeidler Union Square, “¡Felices Fiestas!” at Pere Marquette Park and “Slice of Ice Lights” at Red Arrow Park.

Dig deeper:

Street decorations will line several downtown corridors, including an 18-block stretch of silver and gold chandeliers over Wisconsin Avenue.

The Jingle Bus, a 40-minute narrated tour of downtown holiday sights, will operate Fridays through Sundays from Dec. 5 to 28. Tours depart from the festival’s new Warming House at Red Arrow Park, 920 N. Water St. Tickets are $8 per person, with advance purchases encouraged.

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The Ornament Trail will also return this year, with 20 ornaments hand-painted by locally or nationally renowned artists with Milwaukee ties. The Ornament Trail will run from Thursday through Jan. 18.

More information about the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival and Jingle Bus tickets is available on the festival website.

MILWAUKEE — Neighbors of Dyer Playfield on Milwaukee’s west side and Milwaukee Public Schools voiced strong opposition to a potential lease agreement between the city and nearby Pius XI Catholic High School for enhanced athletic facilities at a Tuesday MPS committee meeting on Accountability, Finance, and Personnel.

“I’m firmly opposed to this partnership and lease agreement,” Warren said during public comment.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Community members shape conversation on Pius XI’s interest in Dyer Playfield in MKE

The concept would allow Pius XI to work with the City of Milwaukee and the MPS Recreation Department to provide upgraded facilities at the park. The Catholic high school already uses the fields for some of its athletics programs.

Pius XI President Jack Herbert spoke Tuesday and stressed a long history of collaboration with MPS and the city, and assured the board that community access would remain a priority under any agreement.

Watch: Milwaukee neighbors oppose Pius XI’s interest in long-term lease for Dyer Playfield

Proposed leased agreement meets opposition

“Any path forward will prioritize an upgraded welcoming recreation space that our neighbors, our students, and the broader community can continue to enjoy for generations to come,” Herbert said.

However, several community members expressed concerns about privatizing public space. Those who spoke also noted that Dyer is already well-utilized, going against claims that it’s underutilized.

Magnus, a neighborhood resident, argued against a long-term lease agreement.

“I don’t believe the land should be used for private use. The neighborhood does use it,” Magnus said.

The park is owned by the City of Milwaukee and operated by Milwaukee Recreation, a department within Milwaukee Public Schools. Sue, a frequent user of Dyer Playfield and a Pius XI graduate, believes the community should have input on any future changes.

“It makes most sense to let the rec department maintain control of Dyer field in a fair and collaborative process to reimagine it, to carry that out,” Sue said.

MPS Recreation has a proven model for revitalizing playfields through extensive community engagement – usually a 3-year process from planning to completion.

Several board members expressed opposition to a 100-year lease or any private control that undermines equitable public access.

MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius told board members that MPS would not consider a new lease agreement for Pius XI, emphasizing the district’s Long Range Facilities Master Plan must guide future land-use decisions.

She said no specific lease terms have been shared with the district at this time.

Alderwoman Sharlen Moore is revisiting the concept to have Pius XI take a more active role in the park and plans to bring the conversation to the Milwaukee Common Council.

Residents emphasized that a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders would best serve the community’s interests.

“Pius could certainly be part of that process, along with the neighbors and visitors and frequent users of Dyer,” Sue said.

Moore stressed that discussions are in early stages and that the community will be included in any future conversations about the playfield’s development.

This story was reported on-air by Mike Beiermeister and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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MILWAUKEE — Sometimes the most influential people in our lives are the ones we don’t expect to meet. In Milwaukee, a simple social media post led to a story about mentorship, inclusion and the power of creating safe spaces in the arts community.

Watch: Milwaukee community hero recognized

From survivor advocacy to tattoo artistry: Community hero recognized in Milwaukee

A few months ago, TMJ4 reporter Meryl Hubbard posted a TikTok asking people to name their community hero. Miranda Davila commented:

“Mai Kue a tattoo artist and owner of Starseed Studio. She’s done a lot to uplift, specifically Hmong artists and voices, but also was extremely kind when I was initially asking for help with my portfolio, and was looking for an apprenticeship. She doesn’t gatekeep, and she wants more women, specifically women of color in the tattoo world.”

Davila, an artist herself, says Mai Kue Vang gave her genuine feedback on her work and helped her get started with finding apprenticeships and a studio.

“I had been looking for, like, literally anybody to look at my portfolio for tattooing. She was the main one who really kept up with me,” Davila said.

When Vang learned she had been nominated as someone’s community hero, her reaction was one of humble surprise.

“I’m like, what?! Somebody like somebody shared me, and I’m just like, what really? So I’m always like, humbled. I’m always surprised. My Achilles heel is like, I never give myself time to, like, give myself credit,” Vang said.

After a career committed to non-profit work of helping survivors of gender-based violence, Vang started Starseed Studio in 2018. She has been tattooing out of her current location since 2022.

Today, Vang is still helping survivors and inspires Hmong, queer and women of color communities to explore tattoo artistry. Her main drive is creating a safe space and motivating others to pursue their dreams.

“I always encourage people of like, if you don’t see a space for you, like, create it,” Vang said.

For Davila, Vang’s intentional approach to art makes all the difference.

“She’s so intentional with the way that she creates art, and I think that’s so special, especially when it’s something you’re going to be putting on someone forever. It’s just an amazing feeling to have someone in the community here who, like truly cares about their artwork and how they give it to other people,” Davila said.

Vang was one of the only people who took time to help Davila with her artistic aspirations, something that meant everything to an artist trying to find her place in the community.

“There’s so many artists and you don’t feel like you’re necessarily part of the community sometimes. I felt, yeah, very seen by her. I felt a connection there,” Davila said.

The feeling of being seen goes both ways.

“I’m just like, Oh, my God, I’m a hero? Like, okay, like, Thank you. You know. I’m in gratitude that someone sees me as their hero,” Vang said.

If you have a community hero you’d like to share, you can email meryl.hubbard@tmj4.com.

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