Making Mistletoe Memories a Priority for Downtown Waukesha Businesses

Waukesha is rolling out the red and green carpet in preparation for the Christmas holiday.

A flurry of events and activities await downtown shoppers and visitors over the next month.

Named after the well-loved song made popular by crooner Bing Crosby, the Silver Bells campaign organized by the Waukesha Downtown Business Association seeks to draw visitors to the area and remind people of the value of having a vibrant downtown, especially during the holidays.

In the historic backdrop of the downtown area and adding to the nostalgic atmosphere will be carriage rides, strolling carolers and a gingerbread competitions. Santa will also be in town to help celebrate.

The horse-drawn carriage rides will be on Fridays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased from participating downtown businesses for $5 each for adults, $2 for children or $15 for a family.

“I’m looking forward to hearing that sound in downtown Waukesha,” said Silver Bells organizer Shay Johnson, of Leather Restoration, referencing the distinctive clop-clop of hoof beats.

Throughout December, is hosting breakfast with Santa on Saturday mornings with reservations required. In addition to breakfast, there will be crafts and cookie decorations for children to enjoy. The cost is $16.

The Saturday morning events at the book and gift store strive to re-create the old-fashioned department store breakfast with Santa. According to Norm Bruce, co-owner, one year, a little girl, Hannah, didn’t want anything to do with Santa and refused to sit on his lap.

When Santa got up to leave and headed toward the door, Hannah finally found her courage, got up, ran over to him and pulled on his coat and said quickly, “I want a doll.” And then ran back away.

Another little girl, seated at a table on the very end, was the first to spot Santa as he come into the store. She yelled at the top of her lungs, “Here comes Santa!” and she kept yelling it until finally he was close enough and she was overcome by awe and became speechless, looking up open-mouthed and wide-eyed.

Those kind of special moments are the reason the businesses are going all out for Christmas, according to Bruce.

“Our job is to help create memories and we like that people do it here,” Bruce said.

The store is also offering pictures with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Athletic fun can be found at the Santa Run, Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m. The fun run will benefit the Salvation Army. Participants are encouraged to dress-up as something relating to Christmas. Last year’s race was run by about 200 Santas, elves, reindeer and wise men and other Christmas characters. Pre-register is available online.

Christmas and Holiday Events

More information will be posted about the events on the Waukesha Business Improvement District Website but for now you can mark your calendar for these activities.

• Breakfast with Santa is being offered at the Masonic Lodge, 317 South St., Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to noon for $5 per adult and $3 per child and is open to the public.
• is hosting breakfast with Santa on Saturday mornings. Reservations required. Photos with Santa run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• will also offer a brunch with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 10.
• Horse-drawn carriage rides on Fridays, 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets available at downtown businesses.
• Appealing to all ages is the “Art Angel” Art Crawl Saturday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 10 p.m. With Waukesha’s downtown attracting many artists, the downtown art crawl may offer a good opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done early.
• The Santa Run will be Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to benefit the Salvation Army. Pre-register is available online.  
• Groups of carolers will add to the holiday ambience of the downtown area. The caroling will raise money for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Groups interested in caroling are encouraged to contact Kerry Mackay at for more information and available dates.
• The Waukesha Civic Theater offers the show, Candy Cane Tales and Holiday Carols, to help raise holiday spirit.  
• Men's Shopping Day will be held Thursday, Dec. 22, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with special offerings from downtown businesses for men. During Diva Day, some Waukesha women filled out a downtown Waukesha wish card for "Santa" to use when looking for the perfect gift.
• During Friday Night Fever, many bands will be playing Christmas music.

The Silver Bells campaign is fun for visitors but also important to the downtown businesses and the Waukesha community as a whole.

“It’s good for businesses but it’s also good for community. It builds a sense of community, rubbing shoulders at the different activities and seeing and meeting people,” said Roger Igielski, owner of . “Plus, it’s just fun.”

For Igielski, the most memorable part of the holiday season is the comments from people who visit the area, notably the senior shoppers who say things like, “This is what I remember it was like when I was a kid.”

“When I hear comments like that from people who grew up in Waukesha, that means a lot,” he said.

It’s also a sign of the resurgence in vitality of the downtown, Igielski said.

“There’s a real desire to come downtown now,” he said.

Other places are trying to recreate a Main Street vibe, notably Bay Shore mall with its recent remodeling, but Waukesha has the “real deal,” he said.

Silver bells. Silver Bells. It’s Christmas time in the city.