Live reindeer will be in attendance at the 24th annual “Christmas in the Ward” this weekend.

Yeah, yeah, Santa will be there, and they’ll have hot chocolate, food vendors, carriage rides and cast members from “The Sound of Music.” But they’ll be surrounded by live reindeer – the kind that Santa uses on Christmas Eve.

Events begin at 5 p.m. Friday in the Historic Third Ward. The Milwaukee Police Band will perform, and there will be a cookie sale and cocoa cocktails for adults. The official tree-lighting ceremony begins at 5:35 p.m. Santa will take visitors starting at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks over the river at 6:15 p.m. and the Bel Canto Chorus at 7 p.m.

The celebration continues at 9 a.m. Saturday when Breakfast with Santa is served at KASANA, 241 N. Broadway: $12.50 for adults, $8 ages 3 to 12; reservations at (414) 224-6158.

Santa is open for visitors again from noon until 2 p.m. and again from 4 to 6 p.m., and the live reindeer will receive guests from noon to 2 p.m. Events take place at Catalano Square at the corner of Broadway and E. Menomonee St.

- Kathy Flanigan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel