Searching for Santa? Find Him Here!

NORAD is once again tracking the jolly old elf and his sleigh. Find out where he is in delivering toys!

How Do You Celebrate the True Meaning of Christmas?

For Christians, giving gifts is a reminder of the gift of the birth of a savior. Here's how some Patch readers reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.

With the flurry of presents, cookie baking, parties and time spent with the relatives, it’s easy to forget why we celebrate Christmas. Traditions passed down over the years can sometimes make us forget why Dec. 25 is a special day on the calendar. Christmas used to be a pagan holiday, but Christians turned it into a holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ. The season of giving, for the Christian faith, is a reminder of the ultimate gift – the birth of a savior who would die for our sins. We give gifts to show our love for our friends and relatives, just as God showed his love through the birth of his son. While not everyone holds to the Christian faith, the holidays have become a time of giving back to others and to reflect on what’s …

• Photos (1)

Send Them Packing for Christmas

As 'family gifts' often provide a great way to cover everyone and stretch your gift-giving budget, why not consider travel?

Blogger and local travel agent Karen Kumm shared these great ideas for Christmas gift giving. For people really stuck on what to get the family, cover everyone in one fell swoop, and Kumm delivered some great theme ideas.   Make your own trip, as well, based on your interests, said Kumm. Travel agents can help plan and coordinate your trip, and can help you brainstorm to create the best Christmas 'package.'

• Photos (1)

Weekend Preview: Jams, Java, Jingle Bells and the Jolly Man Comes Back for Breakfast

The Muskego Lion's Club celebrates the 39th Annual Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, but there's a lot to do before you'll get there.

Friday, Dec. 7 Young Professionals - Business Journal Smart Reader Seminar, 9:00 am Waukesha State Bank (Muskego Branch) FREE First Friday Coffee, 9:30 am - 11 am Muskego Public Library, FREE Regency Muskego's Holiday Fair, 10:00 am - 1pm, W181s8540 Lodge Blvd FREE Bushy's Christmas Party, 6:30 pm, FREE Bingo, 7:00 pm, St. Joe's Big Bend, S89w22650 Milwaukee Ave. FREE   Saturday, Dec. 8 Muskego Democrats Breakfast, 9:00 am, El Vallarta/Muskego's High Tide, FREE Christmas Express Train, 11:45 am, 1:15 pm, 2:45, Elegant Farmer, 1545 Main Street Mukwonago; The ride is a ten-mile round trip; the actual running time is about 45 minutes. Heated bathrooms and hot chocolate available in our East Troy Depot. Story reading and special guests are …

• Photos (1)

Charity Begins at Home

There are so many places to share the blessings of the season, and the best part is that most of those are right in your own back yard. Here's a guide that no doubt will grow - feel free to add your own!

  Jerome Drugs - in their entry space is a giving tree for 'Home Instead' seniors. This one's a bit urgent, as the final donations are due Dec. 5 for distribution on Dec. 12 and 13. Muskego Moose Lodge - also has a 'senior' Santa tree, but other opportunities are available to help bring a Merry Christmas to local families. Deadline for the senior tree is the same as Jerome Drugs, but other opportunities give you a little more time. Stop in for more information. Muskego Regency - holding a toy drive this month as well on behalf of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, in its 65th year through Dec. 7. For more information, call 262-679-0888. Edward Jones/Katie Orvis - Donations of food, cash and gift items are being accepted during regular …

• Photos (6)

Ho-Ho-Holy Cow What a Weekend!

The weather's gonna be warm, so no excuses not to get out and enjoy local events.

Hold onto your Santa hats, here's a big weekend of events: All weekend: Muskego Lakes Country Club is taking advantage of the warm weather, and is offering golf and cart for $30, and walking for only $20. T Friday, Nov. 30 A Dickens of a Christmas, Downtown Greendale, 4-9pm Frenz Designing Hair & Nails Holiday Open House, 6-9pm St. Paul's Lutheran Living Nativity, 6-9pm, St. Paul Lutheran Church The Murder Mystery Company Presents: "Of Sound Mind and Dead Body", 7:00 pm, 5101 W Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee, WI $60.00    The First Noel: Born is the King, 7:00 pm, Hales Corners Lutheran,12300 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners  Saturday, Dec. 1 Muskego Warriors Youth Basketball Tournament, 8:00 am, Muskego High School Regency Christmas Craft Fair, …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Enter Patch's “Deck the House” Contest For a Chance to Win $100,000

Are you decorating your house for the holidays this year? Enter our "Deck the House" contest and you could win $100,000 for your local school district and $500 to pay your electric bills!

We’re launching our annual Deck the House Contest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in America—the best “decked” house in the country—the one home so spectacularly decorated that everyone in town jokes your holiday decorations could rival Rockefeller Center’s. If this sounds like your house, upload a photo or video of your home to our contest page from Nov. 26 to Dec. 16 to deckthehouse.patch.com/contest/Muskego  Only residents of Patch towns are eligible to enter (sorry New Berlin, Big Bend and Franklin readers). We’ll select 24 regional finalists, and from them, pick one grand prize winner. Patch will pay up to $500 of the utility bill for each finalist, while our national winner will have $100,000 donated to his or her …

• Videos (1)

It's Still Fall - Head Outside for Family Fun

There is plenty to see and do outdoors yet, before the snow flies.

Thanksgiving: What's Open, What's Not

Special hours for Thanksgiving day for groceries, gifts and more.

If you're a purist, Thanksgiving Day means you're going to dinner, and little else. However, if you have to pick up that menu item you forgot, need medical assistance, or are dying to get a jump on Black Friday, here's a survey* of what's going to be open on Turkey Day, as well as some other notes on special hours around town: Grocery Stores Pick n Save - 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Piggly Wiggly - 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aldi - Closed Walmart - open 24 hours Restaurants Domino's Pizza - 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. McDonald's - open 24 hours San Laurio Coffee House - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Retail Stores Kohl's - opening at midnight Friday Walmart - open 24 hours; Black Friday starts at 8 p.m.  Pubs Bushy's - opening at 5 p.m.; no kitchen fare Alpine Lanes/Avalanche Grill…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

PHOTOS: Holidays Welcomed Under Sunny Skies

The return of Muskego's Country Christmas was indeed a Storybook experience, with sunny and warm temperatures and a visit from Ol' St. Nick.

The theme of the Christmas parade that came down a newly-constructed Pioneer Drive was 'A Storybook Christmas,' which proved to be a good omen of the weather, crowds and community spirit on hand at Muskego's Country Christmas. Sponsored by the Muskego Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, the annual fest was held at the Old Settlement Centre, inside and out. Krisann Durnford, chairman of the event, said that they continue to break attendance records, and estimated the crowd at 3,000 at the height of the event. For much of the event, sunny skies brought 50 degree temperatures and when it turned colder and darker, a hearty bonfire was enough to keep the crowd warm. The city Christmas tree was lit at 4:45 p.m., signaling the official arrival …

• Photos (57)
• Videos (2)