University School of Milwaukee is celebrating 50 years of its Holiday Shops fundraiser this week, transforming its campus into what organizers describe as a festive pop-up boutique packed with more than 50 vendors from around the country. The milestone event runs Nov. 5 through 7, and admission is a cashless $10.
According to TMJ4 News, shoppers browsing the event can expect clothing, jewelry, accessories, home décor, art, gourmet treats and other unique gifts spread across the school grounds. A Sendik's pop-up café will also be on site offering lunch options for purchase, giving visitors a reason to linger between vendor stops.
University School of Milwaukee says Holiday Shops has transformed its campus into what it calls a winter wonderland of holiday shopping every year since 1976, according to the school's own event page. The fundraiser is organized by the school's Parents' Association, which the page notes raises money through the event to help maintain what it describes as an optimal educational environment for USM students.
Dozens of Volunteers Keep the Tradition Running
Pulling off a weekend-long retail takeover of a school campus takes manpower, and USM's event page notes that over 100 parents, guardians, alumni and friends of the school volunteer their time to make Holiday Shops happen each year. That volunteer base has helped the event grow into a fixture on Milwaukee's holiday calendar, with the Parents' Association describing proceeds from every sale as directly benefiting USM students in a prior year's recap posted by the school.
The event's longevity shows in its track record. USM's recap of its 2023 edition stated that Holiday Shops raised an estimated $170,000 that year through vendor sales, auction items, donations, a raffle, a wine pull and photo sales, and that more than 2,000 people visited over the three-day run. That same 2023 post counted 57 vendors from around the country, while the school separately described Holiday Shops as one of its largest fundraisers and a beloved annual tradition.
Scheduling Details Vary Slightly Between Sources
TMJ4 reports the public can attend Nov. 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $10 and cashless, according to TMJ4.
The anniversary also highlights the event's long-running place in the school's calendar.
