FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Madeline Anderson
414-278-2784
andersonm@mpm.edu
Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village Exhibit Celebration Closes Out Milwaukee Public Museum’s “Greatest Hits” Year-Long Farewell Tour
October 1, 2026-January 3, 2027
MILWAUKEE —Granny and her neighbors will be part of a multi-holiday tribute to two of Milwaukee Public Museum’s (MPM) most popular exhibits, the Streets of Old Milwaukee and the European Village, as MPM closes out its 2026 lineup of five “Greatest Hits” exhibit celebrations. The two beloved walkthrough streetscape dioramas will be decked out for Halloween and Christmas, creating the perfect backdrop for a season filled with special events, festive activities, and memorable experiences.
“From the streetcar to the Haymarket Candy Shop in the Streets of Old Milwaukee, and the hand-painted Swiss clock tower to the storyteller statue in the European Village, these beloved exhibits have unlocked the sights, sounds and stories of early 1900s Milwaukee and European heritage for generations of visitors,” said MPM President & CEO Dr. Ellen Cenksy. “One of the most popular Museum traditions in recent years has been the decorated Streets and Village during the fall and winter holidays, where visitors can enjoy and learn about authentic decorations or replica items from that era. This Greatest Hits sendoff is our opportunity to honor those cherished moments and the exhibits’ legacy by creating one last season of magic, nostalgia and discovery.”
SCHEDULE
Halloween in the Streets
October 1-November 1, 2026
Enjoy old time frights and festive fall sights in the Streets of Old Milwaukee, where replica turn-of-the-century Halloween decorations, vintage Museum collections items and seasonal props have been added to several of the businesses and homes.
Streets Alive!
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Back by popular demand, this fan-favorite event returns one FINAL time! History will come to life in Streets of Old Milwaukee as Museum docents dressed in period attire share stories about the Milwaukee of the past. Visitors can chat with a maid from the Pfister Hotel, a tavern owner, a pharmacist and others from the early 1900s who will inhabit the exhibit, answer questions, and share fascinating insights about life and work more than a century ago.
Deck the Streets and Village
November 20, 2026-January 3, 2027
In Streets of Old Milwaukee, visitors will find Victorian-era garland, wreaths, bells, and ribbons adorning streetlamps, businesses and homes as classic carols play in the background. In the European Village, nine of the 33 units, each of which depict the home of a different European heritage set in the early 1900s, are decorated with culturally specific holiday items.
Kohl's Thank You Thursday: Holiday Edition
Thursday, December 3, 2026, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
All visitors receive FREE admission during the Museum's FINAL Kohl's Thank You Thursday, thanks to Kohl's Cares! Enjoy holiday decor and education stations that explore Milwaukee history.
Streets Alive! at NIGHT: Holiday Edition
Thursday, December 10, and Thursday, December 17, 2026, 6-8 p.m.
Experience a nostalgic adults-only social hour in Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village, full of holiday magic! Event highlights include:
- Both exhibits transformed into winter wonderlands of the past with traditional holiday decorations adorning businesses and homes
- Museum docents dressed in period attire sharing stories about European holiday traditions
- Victorian-era parlor games
- Live music by the Checkmate Barbershop Quartet
- Commemorative photo in a vintage-style holiday card
- Cash bar
Tickets go on sale November 7.
This is a 21+ event.
European Village Alive!
Saturday, December 12, 2026
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Visitors will be immersed in the wonder of the season as they learn about the history of Christmas and Hannukah throughout the delightfully decorated European Village. Museum docents dressed in period attire will share details about the European traditions that have shaped our modern-day American holiday season, including greeting cards, Christmas trees, menorahs, gingerbread, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and stockings.
Weekday Education Stations
October 21-December 17, 2026
Times and dates will vary based on daily availability (MPM closed Tuesdays).
During the week, Museum experts will be stationed in Streets at hands-on learning stations that explore several topics, including objects and toys from the early 1900s, one of Milwaukee’s first prominent middle class Black families, the Watsons, and a timeline of the city’s early growth.
More details are available at https://www.mpm.edu/greatest-hits/streets.
MERCHANDISE
This is the final year to shop official Milwaukee Public Museum merchandise. MPM fans can commemorate their favorite exhibits with the limited-edition Greatest Hits apparel, accessories and collectibles. All Greatest Hits-themed items are available for purchase at the MPM Marketplace.
In 2027, MPM will move into a new, world-class building in downtown Milwaukee and change its name to the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin. An official opening date for the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin is still being determined. Updates on this monumental project can be found at mpm.edu/future.
About the Milwaukee Public Museum
The Milwaukee Public Museum is Wisconsin’s natural history museum, welcoming over half a million visitors annually. Located in downtown Milwaukee, the Museum was chartered in 1882, opened to the public in 1884, and currently houses more than 4 million objects in its collections. MPM has three floors of exhibits that encompass life-size dioramas, walk-through villages, world cultures, dinosaurs, a rainforest, and a live butterfly garden, as well as the Daniel M. Soref Dome Theater and Planetarium. MPM is operated by Milwaukee Public Museum, Inc., a private, non-profit company, and its facilities and collections are held in trust and supported by Milwaukee County for the benefit of the public.
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