The Kick-off Extravaganza last night

I rushed home from work last night, put on some warmer clothes and then picked up Christi and we headed downtown for the Holiday Lights Kick-off Extravaganza. I knew we'd miss the tree lighting at 5:40 at Red Arrow Park, but I was hoping to see the entire performance at Pere Marquette Park, which began at 6:00. Unfortunately, it took about 15 minutes to find parking, when we finally just decided to pay $6 like eight blocks away.

We hightailed it toward the River, walking arm in arm (and singing the theme from Laverne and Shirley) to stay warm, and as we got closer to the park, we began to hear Trans-Siberian Orchestra music blasting from the speakers. We joined the crowd of several hundred people and watched while two men with chain saws carved a huge Christmas tree out of a block of ice in time to the music - it was awesome. I wish we hadn't missed so much of it!



We walked through the crowd a bit and took in the scene around us: families and couples, all dressed in plenty of layers, eating cookies and drinking coffee and hot chocolate while watching the performances, which took place on a small stage that bordered the Milwaukee River. The sky was clear and the moon was full, and the buildings surrounding us were illuminated by red and green lights, and various holiday messages blazed across their windows. Trees and Christmas figures stood darkened on the grass, to be switched on a bit later.



We got to see the Milwaukee Bucks dancers, Radio Disney dancers, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra chorus perform, and they all looked and sounded wonderful, and had big smiles on their faces despite the bitter cold temperatures. After each performance, the applause wasn't very strong because everyone was wearing mittens or gloves, and I felt kind of bad for the performers not getting that roar of applause that they should have. I did what I could with my cheers. 

Christi and I were given jingle bells to wear around our necks by a girl walking through the crowd, and after awhile, we decided to get some hot chocolate to warm up.

Now this hot chocolate we were given deserves some recognition. It was the best hot chocolate I've ever tasted, and I don't think it was just because I was so cold. It was as if someone had melted a piece of chocolate into my cup. And you know why it was so tasty? Because I'm pretty sure it was Starbucks hot chocolate. And I say "pretty sure" because when we walked up to the park, there was a Starbucks banner that said "Hot beverages this way" - but when we were handed said beverages, they did not come from an urn that said Starbucks, and they were in plain white cups, not Starbucks cups. I find that pretty cool. But anyway - man, it was delicious.

When it was time for the finale, Sandy Maxx from 99 WMYX led the crowd in a countdown from 10, and when we got to 1, all of the trees and Christmas figures lit up in unison and - corny as it may sound - it was magical. There's something about the holidays that can make any person, no matter what age, feel like a delighted little kid again. As soon as the park lit up, the music and the fireworks began. I had no idea that fireworks were in the plan, and it was a happy surprise. It was odd to see fireworks in the freezing cold with buildings as their background, but it was really neat. I expected them to stop after a minute or so, but they just kept on going! They were some of the best fireworks I've ever seen - I was amazed!



The best part was that they were set to go off in tune with the music, so they slowed down and quickened up as necessary, and each time a new song came on, different fireworks would explode above. When Elvis' Blue Christmas came on, a bunch of kids dressed all in blue with their faces painted blue came out and danced. When Feliz Navidad came on, the whole crowd began dancing, as that's a song that you can't help but move to. People were mesmerized, and by the time the finale came, I was giddy. I had tried to take some pictures, but of course pictures don't do fireworks justice, so I put the camera away and just enjoyed it. (though the picture from the Journal Sentinel in the post below this one shows them pretty well!)

The evening was a three-parter, and once the fireworks were over, the crowd was heading to the Wyndham Hotel for a tree lighting ceremony, but we were frozen to the bone and decided to head back to the car. We had a really great night, even if it was a quick one. I'm really glad I got to experience it - it was a perfect kick-off to the season.

If you live in the Milwaukee area, it's definitely worth coming out for next year! We're lucky our city puts on such an elaborate - and free! - show for us!

And don't forget, tomorrow is the Milwaukee Holiday Parade. It starts at 9:30 a.m. at Kilbourne and Prospect and ends at the Grand Avenue Mall. I'll be down there, and I'll try to get some good pictures!