By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Dec 06, 2023 at 2:01 PM Photography: Courtney Bondar

Snuggle up with some holiday cheer as OnMilwaukee shares stories of everything merry and bright in the spirit of the season.

The OnMilwaukee Ho Ho Holiday Guide is brought to you by Educators Credit Union, Harley-Davidson Museum and MolsonCoors

This content created in partnership with Harley-Davidson Museum.

Go hog wild with rip roarin' holiday fun this month at the Harley-Davidson Museum at 6th and Canal in the Menomonee Valley.

In December the entire campus will have events, food and drink specials and shopping, too!

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As always, one of the city’s most roarin’ museums is right there for you to visit, and the entire campus will be twinkling with lights and sparkling bikes.

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Here’s what's on:

Breakfast with Santa
Dec. 10 & 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Bring the kids down to the Harley-Davidson Museum for a special MOTOR breakfast with Santa! In this annual tradition, parents and children get the opportunity of a lifetime as they saddle up next to Santa on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Full brunch menu will be available. Space for the event is limited and reservations are required. Call (414) 287-2778 to make a reservation. Brunch guests will receive a ticket voucher for free museum general admission for children (ages 0-17) following your meal with Santa. (One adult ticket purchase required.)

Harley-Davidson Museum Blood Drive
Dec. 12, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

During this season of giving, donate one of the greatest gifts of all. Just one blood donation can save up to three lives. As a thank you, all attempting donors will receive a ticket for free admission to the Harley-Davidson Museum, 10 percent off in the H-D Shop, a coupon for a free ice cream sundae at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant plus a Versiti 2024 calendar (while supplies last).

“The Marquette Basketball Hour” with Shaka Smart
Select Thursdays, 6-7 p.m., through March 7

On select Thursdays at 6 p.m. Marquette men’s basketballs Head Coach Shaka Smart, Jen Lada and players will break down all the Marquette action.

Milwaukee County Resident FREE Day
Dec. 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

All Milwaukee County residents will receive free admission to the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum on New Year’s Eve. At the Harley-Davidson Shop your purchase of $25 or more includes a free hat (while supplies last) and at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant county residents can score free Clock Shadow Creamery Cheese Curds with the purchase of a beverage (one per table). Receive one (1) Harley-Davidson Museum general admission adult ticket by showing your valid ID and proof of Milwaukee County residence. Not valid for online purchases. Non-transferable.

New Year’s Eve at MOTOR
Dec. 31

To turn the heat up this holiday season, MOTOR Bar & Restaurant has transformed into a Hawaiian style pop-up. DJ Grace Jenn will be spinning all your favorites to dance the night away. The $75 ticket includes free leis, Champagne toast, appetizer buffet, rail cocktails, house wines, draft beers and soda. Additional beverage options available for purchase. Ticket required to enter. Any attire welcome, summer / Hawaiian encouraged.

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Here’s what’s on tap at MOTOR

It’s a Hawaiian winter wonderland in MOTOR for the month of December. The space has been transformed into a Hawaiian holiday pop-up so come cozy up by the tiki bar and enjoy drink specials and a variety of local flavors from Chef Doug!

Cocktail specials

  • Mele Kalikimaka Margarita:  Tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave syrup, cranberry juice
  • Merry Maui Mule: Vodka, lime juice, pineapple juice, and splash of ginger beer
  • Rum Rum Rudolph: Malibu Rum, blue Caraçao, and pineapple juice

Entree specials

  • Holiday Huli-huli Ahi Tuna Mini “Tacos”: Huli-huli marinated cubed tuna, green onion, sesame, avocado, creamy lava sauce, wakame (seaweed) salad, served on a crispy wonton shell.
  • Pineapple-Cranberry Ho-Ho-Ho Hot Wings: One-pound seasoned jumbo chicken wings tossed in a house pineapple cranberry hot sauce.
  • Lomi-lomi Salmon Santa Salad: House-smoked cured salmon, red onion, cherry tomato, scallion, avocado, Manoa lettuce, sesame seed, and sesame- caramelized pineapple vinaigrette.
  • Big Island Blitzen Burger: 8-ounce Angus burger, teriyaki caramelized onions, grilled pineapple, thinly sliced spam, creamy lava sauce on the side, toasted brioche bun. Served with French fries.

Dessert special

  • Lilikoi Hawaiian Butter Merry Mochi Cake: Passionfruit flavored butter rice flour cake, whipped guava served with a coconut cream and caramelized miso-white chocolate.

Find more information on the Harley-Davidson Museum, Shop and Factory Shop at h-dmuseum.com.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He can be heard weekly on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories.