Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival sets 2023 dates and adds something new

This year's Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival will light up downtown starting Nov. 16. But something new has been added to the seasonal tradition.

The 25th annual Holiday Lights Festival brightens three downtown parks — Cathedral Square Park, Pere Marquette Park and Zeidler Union Square — as well as three downtown streets. New this year: In addition to the lights above Wisconsin Avenue, the east-west thoroughfare will host for the first time an Ornament Trail, a new installment with 15 larger-than-life ornaments, each designed by a different artist.

The festival will kick off with a switch-flipping ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16 in Pere Marquette Park, with pre-show entertainment from live music to fireworks starting at 5:30 p.m.

The downtown Holiday Lights Festival will be up through Jan. 1. For info on the festival, go to milwaukeeholidaylights.com.

RELATED:Outdoor music, arts and more things to do in the Milwaukee area in fall 2023