Tree Lightings & Holiday Happenings in Oz, 2020

By Mary Boyle

I've written at least 4 of these Holiday Happenings features over the course of my work on Ozaukee Living Local.  Each year, I simply edit the event dates and, perhaps, minor details from the previous year, but this year is different: this year, we have a pandemic overlapping our traditional holiday in Oz.  Some events that are part of our family traditions, such as Christmas on the Corner in Port Washington or the Christmas Parade in Grafton, will not be happening.  Change is always difficult, but changes to our holiday traditions are some of the most difficult changes to process.  This is going to be hard, people, but it's why I jumped back on this site, after an almost one year hiatus: to tell you that it's going to be okay.

In The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, the Grinch makes a stunning realization after he attempts to stop Christmas from coming to Whoville by taking away all of the decorations, presents and food for the feast: the Whos come out and begin to sing anyway, because Christmas isn't about those things.  The holiday spirit in Oz comes from us and, now more than ever, we're going to need it.  Shopping locally has never been more important (see our Holidays in Oz Shopping Guide).  Give, if you have a little extra to share, not just on Giving Tuesday to our local nonprofits but to the Food Pantry, if you can.  Perhaps even more importantly, bring some good cheer wherever you go, because kindness is free and contagious, and that's the sort of thing we want to spread.

Not all events are cancelled this holiday season, and many can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home.  Be sure to contact us if you see an event that's missing!

Cedarburg's Tree Lighting, Friday, November 27th at 4:30 on the CCC Facebook Page or on Youtube.
Kapco's Kid2Kids Christmas Wonderland, November 27-December 31 in Grafton.
Christkindlmarket at Inventors Brewpub, Saturday, November 28th from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Fredonia Tree Lighting, Saturday November 28th at 6:30 p.m. at Freedom Park.
Cinema Under The Stars Holiday Edition: Home Alone, Sunday, November 29th at 2 p.m. in the LaRosa Landscape Co. parking lot. *Advanced ticket purchase required.
An Enchanted Christmas at the Cedarburg Art Museum during Festive Fridays through December 18th in downtown Cedarburg
Rivoli Theater's Holiday Film Series, Dec. 4-23 in downtown Cedarburg.
Illuminate Ozaukee - A Holiday Light Show, Fridays & Saturdays, Dec. 4-26, 6-9 p.m. at Herman A Zuenert Park in Cedarburg.
Free Admission and Make & Take Craft at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. December 5.
Belgium Boy Scouts Wreath Sale from 1-3 p.m. at Community Park.
Barbara Joosse reads "Everybody's Tree" for the holidays, online at 2 p.m. December 5th.
Port Washington's Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. on the corner of Jackson and Franklin Streets.
European Christmas Parade in Belgium, December 6 at 4:30 p.m.
Meet Santa in a Snow Globe, December 5, 12 & 19 4:30-6:30 at Upper Lake Park. *Preregistration required. 
Winter Wreath Class, December 10th at 6 p.m. at Shully's in Thiensville
Holiday Bough Trimming at Riveredge, Friday, December 11 from 4-6 p.m.
​Santa's Dash Away 5K, December 12 in downtown Cedarburg

Holiday Theatre Opportunities
Another Night Before Christmas with Memories Dinner Theater in Port, Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13.
A Christmas Carol or Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol with The Milwaukee Rep.  Register to watch a free 2016 recording of A Christmas Carol online December 1-24 or purchase tickets to watch the brand new Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol December 10-24.
Holiday Pajama Jamboree with the Festival City Symphony, either virtually or in person at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center in Brookfield, December 2, 7-8 p.m.
Skylight Sings: A Holiday Special, streaming from December 11-January 10.
Milwaukee Ballet's The Nutcracker: Short & Sweet, streaming from December 12th.
Christmastown Comes to First Stage streaming Dec.13- Jan 2. 
Eight Tiny Reindeer: A Holiday Whodunit online on Saturday, Dec. 19th at 7:30 p.m.