As winter approaches us, here are some recommendations for events to look forward to in the Milwaukee area (and Wisconsin as a whole) during winter 2012-3:

1. Urban Ecology Center: my favorite pick for the MKE area. They have a whole host of programs, on a regular basis, to get people learning about, and enjoying, the outdoors. Skis and snowshoes can be borrowed by members. Go to http://urbanecologycenter.org/programs-events-main.html to see their events calendar. They also sponsor two wonderful chances to celebrate the winter weather with others:

a. The Winter Solstice Candlelight Walk at Riverside Park: December 15, 2012. A candlelight walk! How often do you get to do that? It’s a nice distinctive activity, a chance to step into winter as a means of feeling togetherness with other people, outdoors in winter, sharing readings. And then, warm up inside with hot cider, live music, and camaraderie. Don’t feel isolated during winter – let us find ways to share winter with each other!

b. Winterfest in Washington Park. Recap from past: nowhere else in Milwaukee have I seen so many people out together enjoying winter! Many people packing the pond… a busy sledding hill… small groups skiing throughout the park… people gathered in the building to warm up, or near the building to talk and to see sled dogs. See https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.150379078350743.36441.136469736408344&type=3 for my photos from Winterfest 2011.

2. Downtown Holiday Lights Festival

For December, this provides a great survey of a whole lot of events going on:

http://www.milwaukeedowntown.com/about-us/special-events/milwaukee-holiday-lights-festival

3. Your Local Park or Nature Center

Basically, I expect that they have a series of events occurring to get people outdoors all winter long! Look up which parks are near you, and check out the events listing on their websites:

Milwaukee County Parks: http://county.milwaukee.gov/ParksCalendar

State Parks: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/

Nature Centers in Wisconsin: look up via http://www.wisconline.com/attractions/naturecenters.html or http://www.naturenet.com/directory.asp

4. Winterfest, Wehr Nature Center January 27, 2013

With a variety of activities from snowshoeing to creative activities for children, it was a great way to get out into a group, and provide youngsters with a chance to enjoy the weather. And, of course, there’s a great sled hill just across the pond…

see https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.288574494531200.71878.136469736408344&type=3

for my photos from Winterfests at Washington Park, and the Wehr Nature Center, from 2012.

5. Winter Carnival at Lynden Sculpture Garden Feb 9, 2013.

The Garden provides a chance to see sculptures not in the museum, but in a carefully landscaped garden designed to frame them. (Leaves me feeling like I am leading the charmed life of a person who gets to wander around such sculptures…) Last year’s events were indoors and outdoors, and included a Capture the Flag game designed and played in part by artists, a guided tour of trees in the winter landscape, and soups and bread designed for Milwaukee and the occasion.

For my photos of the 2012 event, see:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/milwaukeesnow/sets/72157629303901673/

Here’s a photo of me at the event which appeared in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel online:

http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/photos/139161039.html#id_64827189

For a reflective overview of some outdoor events from 2011-2012 (most of which will be held again this year), see https://milwaukeesnow.com/2012/02/14/winter-activities-in-milwaukee-reflections-and-recapping/

There are other fun events to enjoy – winter festivals in many cities and towns, ice and snow sculpting competitions. So let us take the time we need to plan what we can enjoy during winter, and help make this season special!