New Year’s Eve is an all-day celebration in Milwaukee. Activities can range from nature walks to costume parties to fireworks. Many restaurants will offer fine dining and night clubs will offer special cocktails and live music. Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, here are 10 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Milwaukee.
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
Gather the whole family for a New Year’s Eve at Noon event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the children’s museum, 929 E. Wisconsin Ave. Enjoy a live DJ and dance party with Kid Boogie Down, face painting, festive programming (confetti poppers, wishing wand noisemakers, party hats) and an exciting countdown to the beach ball drop at noon. Admission is $20 for nonmembers and $10 for members. Advance online purchase recommended. See bbcmkids.org/programs-events.
Noon Year’s Eve at The New Fashioned
Join the midday family-friendly fun from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a countdown to noon and a sparkling grape juice or sparkling wine toast. The experience at The New Fashioned, 1122 N. Phillips Ave., includes a bubble dance party, HyperBowling, deck curling, New Year’s Eve hat and crown-making stations, face painting, and trivia sessions. Free parking is available in the Highland Avenue parking garage for three hours if entering the garage before noon. Admission is $10 per person. See barsandrecreation.com.
WhirlyBall Noon Year’s Eve Bash
The daytime promotion gives guests two hours of play from either noon to 2 p.m. or 3 to 5 p.m. at WhirlyBall, 185 S. Moorland Road, Brookfield. Event ticket includes WhirlyBall, bowling, laser tag, pop-up games, and a Pivot Room lunch buffet. The menu includes cheese, sausage, and pepperoni pizza; house salad; mini quesadillas; mac and cheese bites; and cookies. Fountain drinks included. Cash bar available for alcoholic beverages. Tickets are $40 per adult and $30 per child. Purchase online at eventbrite.com/d/wi–milwaukee/whirlyball.
Swedish New Year at Lakefront Brewery
Celebrate like a Swede from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Lakefront Brewery Beer Hall, 1872 N. Commerce St. Enjoy both contemporary and traditional Swedish music and dancing, and watch Sweden ring in the New Year at 5 p.m. with a live Swedish television feed of the countdown. Enjoy passed appetizers, a charcuterie display, desserts and a full buffet. The buffet menu includes dinner rolls with herb butters, cold uncured ham, chicken strips, parsley boiled potatoes, root vegetable mash, red cabbage, and roasted kale. Tickets are $50 and include food, a champagne toast at 5 p.m., and your first drink. A $20 ticket is available for those age 12 and under; it includes soda and root beer. See lakefrontbrewery.com/events.
Wild Lights Zoo Year’s Eve
Stroll the zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, after sunset from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Wild Lights is a 1-mile path glowing with animal-themed light displays and thousands of lights. Featured admission packages include a Family 4 Pack for $60, or a Date Night package of two tickets for $30. Admission gates close at 8:15 p.m. All tickets include parking. Purchase online at milwaukeezoo.org/visit/upcoming-events/wild-lights-zye.
‘Stranger Things 5: The Finale’ at Marcus Theatres
The final episode of the “Stranger Things” Netflix series will play at Marcus Majestic Cinema of Brookfield and Marcus South Shore Cinema in Oak Creek with screenings at 7 p.m. Dec. 31. The finale, titled “The Rightside Up,” concludes the series where the heroes confront Vecna and the Upside Down in Hawkins. Reserve your seat for the promotional fan screening of “Stranger Things 5: The Finale” with the purchase of a $20 food and beverage voucher. Digital gift cards will be emailed to moviegoers the day before the screening. See marcustheatres.com.
Champagne Supernova at The Outsider
The party starts at 8 p.m. for a New Year’s Eve celebration at The Outsider rooftop bar at the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel, 310 E. Chicago St. The evening features Milwaukee’s skyline view, curated small bites, and complimentary bubbles all night. Enjoy live DJs, champagne towers, aerial bartenders, ice sculptures, a themed photo-op and a fortune teller. Dress code is formal wear, with white, glitter, and gold accents encouraged. General admission, VIP tables and packages are available, with Early Bird prices starting at $115. Reservations are encouraged. See outsiderrooftop.com.
SafeHouse Masquerade Bond Ball
Enter the world of Bond at a masquerade ball starting at 10 p.m. at the SafeHouse, 779 N. Front St. Black tie is optional but the recommended dress code is a mask as your disguise for the night. Entry is $100 and includes all-you-can-drink house wines, draft beers, call cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The evening includes a DJ, dancing, photo booth, magicians and New Year’s Eve party favors. VIP tables and booths are available. Book online at safe-house.com/milwaukee-events.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks downtown
View the City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree and more than 30 trees lit up around Fiserv Forum, then ring in the New Year with a fireworks display at 10 p.m. in the “Cheer District,” 1134 N. Phillips Ave. The event is free to attend and will follow the Milwaukee Bucks game. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. See deerdistrict.com/cheerdistrict2025.
Light the Hoan Countdown
Bundle up to view the lighted Hoan Bridge for three different countdowns. Each light display will feature a 10-second countdown and celebratory lighting sequence on the bridge. The early countdown at 7 p.m. is inspired by Sydney, Australia, and is perfect for families and younger kids. The 11 p.m. countdown is synced with Times Square in New York City, and the midnight countdown will coincide with Milwaukee’s official New Year’s Eve countdown. Popular viewing spots include the Light the Hoan office at 531 S. Water St. or the Erie Street Plaza at 665 E. Erie St. See lightthehoan.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 10 special New Year’s Eve events in Milwaukee for 2025
Reporting by Elaine Rewolinski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
