For the past nine winters, Milwaukee has gotten wild, weird, and naughty with Milwaukee Krampusnacht. The annual blowout celebrates the half-goat/half-demon Krampus—a.k.a. a figure from Alpine folklore who punishes naughty children and acts as a foil to the do-gooding Saint Nicholas. The fest features costumes, music, food and drink, local vendors, a big ol’ parade, and much more. The brains behind the whole operation? Milwaukee author Tea Krulos, who knows a thing or two about the wild and weird.
And yep, Milwaukee Krampusnacht is set to return to various locations in the Brewery District for the fifth time this winter, on December 5 and 6. Tickets are available HERE.
New this year will be an adults-only pre-party on Saturday, December 5, at 7 p.m. The so-called “Naughty List” party will take place at the Best Place Great Hall. There’ll be music from the fantastic Red Quean, burlesque from Les Femmes de Flamme, and additional tunes from the ever-busy Goth Barge DJs. Oh, and “photo ops, doors prizes, and a special (almost sold out!) seance to try to communicate with the spirit of Captain Frederic Pabst.” Incredible.
Milwaukee Krampusnacht proper will follow on Sunday, December 6, from 2-9 p.m. A new addition to the festivities will be “Grýla’s South Pole Sideshow.” The pop-up outside Best Place will allow folks to “come face-to-face with Grýla, the Icelandic troll, see the frozen corpse of the Midwest Snow-Beast, hear the tragic tale of the English Mistletoe Bride, and much more.” There’ll also be a live circus performance complete with “sword swallowing, juggling, whip cracking, and more.” Again, incredible.
“Krampusnacht is all about having fun, but I’m also so glad that we can provide an opportunity for people to check out some really fantastic local vendors, artists, musicians, and costumed performers,” Krulos says in a press release. “There are hundreds of creative people involved in the event and we always get a good mix of old favorites and brand new stuff, too.”
Again, get those tickets HERE. And check out the full list of Sunday events below, organized by location.
Sunday, December 6, 2-9 p.m.
Best Place Great Hall (923 W. Juneau Ave.)
12-3 p.m. DJ Shotski’s Packer Polka Party
3 p.m. The Squeezettes
4 p.m. Wild Earp
5 p.m. Gryla’s South Pole Stage Show
6 p.m. Xposed 4heads
7:30 p.m. TBA
Best Place Blue Ribbon Hall (907 W. Juneau Ave.)
3-5 p.m. Kid’s Krampus Hour
5 p.m. Author Chad Lewis, “Winter Folklore” presentation (free with general admission, seating is first come, first serve)
6 p.m. Brew City Shanty Sing (sing along, ya swabs!)
7:30 p.m. (after parade) AFTERGLOW: An Electric Violin Holiday Fantasy with Wendy Lynn Markus
King’s Courtyard (next to Great Hall)
4 p.m. Heavy Metal Krampus (hairy metal)
5 p.m. Mari Lwyd Rap Battle 3 (MCs return to battle the mythical monster!)
6 p.m. TBA
6:30 p.m. SNAKES (synth punk)
St. Nick’s Speakeasy (beneath Great Hall)
2-9 p.m. Tarot readers
Witch’s Square (Juneau and 10th, next to Great Hall)
2-9 p.m. Gryla’s South Pole Sideshow, stage performances outside tent at 4 and 6 p.m.
4-9 p.m. Goth Barge (w/ burn ceremony after parade)
Plus tarot, Bop-A-Krampus game, and Krampus Court: Street Justice (on 10th St.)
On Tap (1203 N. 10th St.)
2-9 p.m. 10th Street Outdoor Market
Barley Room (1125 N. 9th St.)
2-9 p.m. American Science & Surplus Market
Pilot Project (1128 N. 9th St.)
2-9 p.m. Pilot Project Krampusnacht Dopplebock Market
2-4 p.m. DJ Kittens
4-6:30 p.m. DJ Kingpin
4 p.m. Johnny’s Hot Sauce “Greetings from Krampus” Challenge (patio)
Plus: La Befana’s Exquisite Corpse
Amped (910 W. Juneau Ave.)
2-8 p.m. The Krampus Creepytime Village diorama contest returns! More details soon!
3 p.m. Holiday Horror Movie Trivia w/ Monsters at Midnight podcast
4 p.m. The Full Frontal Püppetry X-Mas Show
5 p.m. Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance
6 p.m. Milwaukee Alpenblӓser (traditional German)
Plus karaoke, food, and drink!
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