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Santa Rampaging through December 🎅🚲
Inside: Cold moon hike, holiday market, Winterfest, Santa cycle rampage
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Welcome to December! It’s already a PACKED month, with holiday lighting, full moon hikes, holiday markets, winterfests and much more. Read on for this week’s top picks!
Know the North Shore: Lake Drive Reopens
Lake Drive is officially OPEN again! The Wisconsin DOT has completed the reconstruction, with a new concrete roadway, upgraded underground utilities, ADA-compliant curb ramps, dedicated bike lanes, improved lighting and safer crossings with flashing pedestrian signs at Menlo and Jarvis. Crews will still be on site over the next few weeks to finish landscaping, signal work and final pavement markings, so please drive carefully through the area.
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Cold Moon Hike at Schlitz Audubon Center
Join Schlitz Audubon for an enchanting evening hike on Thursday, Dec. 4 to explore the Cold Moon, the last full moon of the year. This guided hike, led by Environmental Educator Jim Thielke, offers a unique opportunity to witness the first signs of winter and observe Wisconsin’s native wildlife as they prepare for the colder months. The hike will conclude with a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan from the top of the observation tower, illuminated by the moonlight. $17 for members and $23 for non-members.
JCC Holiday Maker’s Market
Join the Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 10 am to 3 pm for the Holiday Makers Mart. Find unique gifts crafted by over 40 local artists and craftspeople. Enjoy the festive atmosphere with live music, savor delicious offerings from local food vendors, and support local talent.
Shorewood Winterfest
Bundle up and mark your calendars for Shorewood’s Winterfest on Saturday, Dec. 6th. Families are invited to join a free celebration full of holiday cheer, community fun, and dazzling lights from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, capped by the Tree & Menorah Lighting at 5:45pm.
Santa Cycle Rampage
The ICONIC Santa Cycle Rampage takes place on Saturday, Dec. 6th at 9:30 am. This festive 13-mile bike ride is a slow-rolling holiday party on wheels, featuring over 2,000 participants dressed in holiday-themed costumes. Registration and merchandise purchases support youth bicycle education in Milwaukee, which reached over 2,000 young people in 2024 with hands-on safety education. If the full rampage isn't for you, consider the Elf Cycle Frenzy, a 3.5-mile ride perfect for families and kids. This ride loops through the Bay View neighborhood and Humboldt Park, ending at Cafe Centraal with hot cocoa, snacks, and festive activities for the kids. The Elf Cycle Frenzy starts right after the main ride departs from Wheel and Sprocket in Bay View.
Nicolet Rec Classes
The Nicolet Recreation Department offers 171 Winter/Spring programs and activities at 24 different locations across the community for toddlers, youth, teens, adults, and senior adults! This edition includes 30 new programs including Youth Nature Classes and Yoga Fitness Classes. Browse the bulletin online. Online registration for 2026 Winter/Spring programs begins Monday, Dec. 8th. You can also fax, mail, walk-in, or use our drop box to register beginning Dec. 22nd.
North Shore History: Mee-Kwon Park
Bundled-up boys ride their tubes down an icy slope in Mee-Kwon Park, 1988. Photo via Wisconsin Historical Society. |
See you out there,
North Shore Family Adventures
P.S. Forward this guide to anyone still asking, “What should we do this November???”
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