Milwaukee is chock full of things to do, but only a handful of Milwaukee events are worthy of the lofty honor of “Record Recommended” (patent pending). Here are our recommendations for December 22-28, 2025.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22
The Sleighriders + Hot & Dirty Brass Band @ Shank Hall
“Forty of the best, most experienced, most professional musicians of the Milwaukee music scene join together again for the annual Sleighriders show and charity auction! These musicians join forces in one gigantic rockin’ band. It’s a very special holiday event that you don’t want to miss and a true Milwaukee tradition. For over 30 years now the band has donated their time and talents for charity. This year is no exception as we sponsor Variety of Wisconsin helping disabled children.”
A Christmas Carol @ The Pabst Theater (through December 24)
“A Christmas Carol is one of the best-known and well-loved stories in the English language. During the course of one memorable Christmas Eve, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future help Ebenezer Scrooge discover that it is never too late to change his miserly ways. Milwaukee Rep favorite Matt Daniels returns to play Scrooge, as enchanting music, dance, costumes, scenery and special effects will once again fill the theater to tell this timeless tale of love, hope and redemption.”
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23
The Commercialists Play The Music Of A Charlie Brown Christmas @ Turner Hall Ballroom (2 shows)
“Your favorite holiday tradition is back! The Pabst Theater Group and The Jazz Estate Present The Commercialists play the music of the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas this December to kick off your holiday festivities!”
Die Hard Interactive Screening @ Lakefront Brewery
“Join us for a FREE screening of Die Hard like you’ve never experienced it before. See the smoke (fog) from every explosion, experience the lighting effects in the room as they happen on screen, feel like you’re alongside John McClane every step of the way. Heck, we encourage everyone to dress the part too!”
Festivus @ Great Lakes Distillery
“Stop Crying and Attend Festivus! Have any grievances? Now is your chance to air them, as we’ll be reading them off periodically throughout the night. Thirsty? Specialty event drinks will be seasonal & tasty as f*ck. Hungry? Fox Den will be opening to fix your cravings. Back again for the second time, we’ll be running Seinfeld Trivia throughout the night, kicking off at 5:30 p.m. Come out to celebrate this non-commercial holiday with us!!”
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24
Merry Christmas Eve!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25
Merry Christmas!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26
Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts + Ian Olvera @ Shank Hall
“Led by free-wheeling front man Miles Nielsen, The Rusted Hearts have been wowing audiences for years with the diversity of their sound, the tightness of their four-part harmonies, and the quality of their songcraft. Equally comfortable in a compact three-minute pop song and an epic ten-minute jam, the band has toured incessantly since their inception in 2011, amassing an army of hardcore followers that have dubbed themselves the Rusted Herd.”
Sexual Purity + Iron Years, Memory Spector @ X-Ray Arcade
“Sexual Purity is a Ukrainian-born electronic duo formed by Anastasiia Zeitmann and Oleksii Donets, based in Chicago. Their music is dark and intense, yet hypnotic and incredibly danceable. It pulls the listener into an unknown space—a place you want to stay in, to be immersed in the darkness, driven by unstoppable groove and raw energy.”
Late Night At The Domes @ Mitchell Park Domes
“Experience the conservatory’s nighttime magic during Late Nights at the Domes featuring: open hours extended to 8 p.m. on select evenings; light shows at 5 p.m,, 6 p.m., and 7 p.m.; live music performances.”
Harlem Globetrotters @ Fiserv Forum (2 shows)
Friday Night Retro Mixtape @ Mad Planet
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27
Milwaukee Record Halftime Show: Combustor + DJ Brett @ Cactus Club
The Pack is back! And so is the Milwaukee Record Halftime Show concert series at Cactus Club! We’ve assembled a stacked roster that will provide FREE all-ages entertainment at Cactus Club during halftime of Green Bay’s games. Our pals at Hamm’s are sponsoring the series, meaning fans can enjoy specials on cans and buckets of the beer “from the Land of Sky Blue Waters” and Miller High Life all game long. WYNK has also come on as a sponsor and its THC seltzer is available at a discount during all games. Last and certainly not least, Transfer Pizzeria Cafe is once again coming by most games to drop off some complementary pizza. Games are shown in the bar as usual, and also shown on a projector screen in Cactus Club’s back room.
Body Futures + Devils Teeth, Full Nude, Red Quean @ X-Ray Arcade
“We’re definitely a little more bummed out than we were the last time.” That’s Dixie Jacobs, keyboardist/autoharpist/singer for Body Futures. Past Body Futures records have found the group delivering squirrel-y and shout-y noise/power-pop that suggests a more irritable New Pornographers. But with 2024’s Do Not Befriend The Reaper, tempos have slowed (somewhat) and moods have soured (considerably). Opener “Private Enemy” is an alternately towering and glowering stomper that adds just a dash of psych-rock to the Body Futures mix. Ditto “Robin Guthrie’s Rock And Roll Circus,” which features Jacobs and drummer/singer DJ Hostettler trading off vocal duties while guitarist Christopher Maury and bassist Evan Gritzon thrash along in the hazy din.”
Boy Dirt Car + Drekka, Illusion Of Safety, Vocokesh, Sean Hendley @ MKE Ultra
“On Saturday December 27, 2025, Boy Dirt Car will host a tribute to Steve Wahlen at MKE Ultra in Milwaukee. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m. This all-ages event boasts an experimental lineup, including Vocokesh, Illusion Of Safety, Boy Dirt Car, Drekka, and Sean Hendley, showcasing a range of modern electric sounds. Admission is $10 at the door.”
Spann + Estremera Quartet @ The Estate (early and late shows)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve @ Fiserv Forum (2 shows)
The New New: A New Popular Music Dance Party @ Mad Planet
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28
The Eradicator + Miller Lowlifes, Mulva, Budget Cuts @ X-Ray Arcade
“The Eradicator is a musical artist & band based on the protagonist of the Kids In The Hall sketch of the same name. Blurring the line between fanfiction and adaptive reality, The Eradicator has molded punk and hardcore influences into an expansive catalog of tracks that expound on the psychological makeup of an aggressive ski mask-wearing squash player in a restless environment, confronting internal demons while combating external challengers as part of his quest to maintain dominance atop his local D Squash ladder.”
Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off @ Fiserv Forum (also December 29)
“The fifth annual Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off will begin with the semifinal round on Sunday, December 28 when #2 Wisconsin takes on Lake Superior State at 4 p.m. CT, and defending National Champion #7 Western Michigan squares off against #13 Boston College at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Semifinal winners will meet for the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off title game on Monday, December 29, along with the third place game. Wisconsin will play in the second game, no matter the results on December 28.”
Hyperbolic + Lagoon @ Cactus Club
xor + Wandering Nerve, dylanwesch @ Jazz Gallery Center For The Arts
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