The Waukesha Christmas Parade might be over, but the holiday season in Waukesha is just beginning.
Whether you want to enjoy the holiday season outside or warm up indoors, there's plenty of events taking place over the next few weeks.
Below are five events scheduled in the city throughout December, many of which take place this weekend.
Running with Santa
Santa helpers of all sizes, shapes and genders will ditch the sleighs for their running shoes as the seventh annual 5K Santa Run/Walk is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 6, in downtown Waukesha.
The run/walk is three miles. Runners are encouraged to dress in their favorite festive attire. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female runners and also to the top three best costumes. Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided at the finish line.
Kids are also invited to participate in a shorter free Elf Run at 10 a.m. prior to the Santa Run.
Same-day registration is from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Taylors People's Park parking lot, 337 W. Main St. The Santa Run/Walk is at 10:30 a.m.
The race costs between $20 and $35. To register online see bit.ly/Santarunsignup. If you don't want to run, organizers are also looking for volunteers, who will help with registration, cookie/hot chocolate distribution. If interested, email HeatherS@InterfaithWaukesha.org. Interfaith Senior Programs sponsors the event.
Ongoing downtown events
Take a break from all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and just sit back and enjoy an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of downtown.
Tickets can be purchased from participating downtown businesses (Allô! Chocolat, The Steaming Cup, Martha Merrell's Books & Toys, and Crush Wine Bar & Shop).
To see a map of the carriage ride, go online at bit.ly/downtowncarriagerides.
Carriage rides began last weekend and go through Saturday, Dec. 26. Rides are available from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The ride costs $5 per person or $12 for a family of three or more.
Kids can also enjoy a hot breakfast and see Santa at the annual Santa's Breakfast Workshop from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12, and 19, at Martha Merrell's, 231 W. Main St.
Juice and cookies will be available. There will also be coloring and arts and crafts with Santa. Call (262) 547-1060 for advanced reservations.
While there, kids can drop off a letter to Santa in the red mailbox on the corner of Main Street and Gaspar (in front of the book store). Letters must be dropped off by Dec. 18.
Lighting up the city
West Allis has Candy Cane Lane. Waukesha has Country Christmas.
Country Christmas was started by the late Dick Richards, a former owner of the hotel. For the last 20 years from the Friday after Thanksgiving through New Year's, Country Springs Hotel, 2801 Golf Road, is transformed into a Christmas extravaganza.
A ticket to the venue includes the Country Christmas Trail, the state's largest drive-through lights display, as well as entrance to two buildings at the end of the trail, Christmas Village and The Streets of Bethlehem.
The Country Christmas Trail features more than a million holiday lights on a mile-long trail. At the end of the drive-through trail, guests can get out of their vehicle and walk through The Streets of Bethlehem, a building that includes a collection of nearly life-size Fontanini nativity characters. Also at the end of the trail is Christmas Village, a building that houses a model train display.
The cost to enter Country Christmas is $15 per carload (including minivans) and $25 per limo, minibus or large passenger van.
Country Christmas is open 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and holidays.
Songs of the season
Get into the holiday spirit with a holiday concert. Carroll University will hold its annual Christmas at Carroll concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Shattuck Music Center, 100 N. East Ave.
Music will be presented by the Carroll University wind symphony, chamber choir, women's ensemble, handbell choir and chamber ensembles. There will also be audience participation.
You can also watch the concert at home by streaming it on a computer starting at 7 p.m. at bit.ly/concertstream.
Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.carrollu.edu or in person at the Carroll University Box Office inside the campus center on the corner of East and College avenues. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for seniors ages 60 and older and for students.
Holiday brawl
If you're looking for some high-flying, hard-hitting action this holiday season, the 11th annual Blizzard Brawl has you in mind.
The event, put on by Great Lakes Championship Wrestling, takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Waukesha County Expo Center. It features many former and current professional wrestlers in various companies.
In addition to many matches in the ring at the expo center, 1000 Northview Road, five-time World Championship Wrestling champion and current World Wrestling Entertainment announcer Booker T is scheduled to receive a Lifetime Achievement award, and former WWE women's wrestler Chyna will hold a special meet-and-greet.
Other notable wrestlers planning to attend include former Extreme Championship Wrestling star Tommy Dreamer, GLCW champion and former WWE wrestler Al Snow, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling star Abyss and former WWE superstars Scotty 2 Hotty and Curt Hawkins.
Tickets start at $10 and are available at blizzardbrawl.com.