WAUKESHA – The University of Wisconsin-Waukesha invites the community to warm up with hot chocolate, cider and coffee after the Waukesha Christmas Parade, Sunday, November 19, and to stay for family activities, a holiday market, and finally fireworks at 7 p.m.

During this free party from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the public can view more than 20 trees and wreaths decorated for the holiday season, visit Santa, and shop a Holiday Market presented by several student and non-profit groups from the community.

All present can enter a free drawing for a beautifully decorated holiday tree. The tree will be on display in Downtown Waukesha in the window of Shear Class Hair Design, 463 W. Main St. from November 1-16.

The “Bargain Basement Santas,” a campus musical jazz group led by music professor Craig Hurst and featured on the UW-Waukesha float in the Waukesha Parade, will entertain at the party.

The Bartolotta Fireworks Company will present a display of fireworks at 7 p.m. on the UW- Waukesha campus at 1500 N. University Drive.

Non-profit groups interested in selling items in the Holiday Market can contact Katie Miller at 262-446-3328 before November 10.

Seven UW-Waukesha student organizations will participate in the market. Circle K and Student Government will serve the hot drinks. The Activities Coordination Team,

the Literary Club and the Education Club will provide children’s activities. OLLA (Organization of Latin American Leaders) will sell bakery. Anime, a group of art students, will sell handmade holiday crafts.

Items from non-profit community groups will include: pecans from Altrusa International of Waukesha County, Christmas wreaths from one Boy Scout troop and birdhouses built by another troop, bookmarks from the Linden Grove Foundation, and mixed nuts and candy from the Waukesha Noon Kiwanis.

The party is part of the Festival of Trees weekend celebration being organized by the UW-Waukesha’s Foundation to raise funds for scholarships and is sponsored by Waukesha State Bank and M&I Bank.  Trees have been donated and decorated by local businesses and individuals.