For the young people and families who attend, Milwaukee Recreation’s Twilight & Treat is one of the most cherished events of the season. With hundreds of participants in attendance each year, many community members have turned to Twilight & Treat for a change of pace from the typical Halloween weekend festivities.
This fall, Milwaukee Recreation is hosting its annual Halloween celebration at Andrew Douglas Middle School Twilight Center (Oct. 25) and Bay View High School Twilight Center (Oct. 26). This free drop-in-event features an exciting lineup of family-friendly activities such as carnival games, trick-or-treating, Halloween themed arts and crafts, and a variety of enrichment activities suitable for all ages. Age appropriate carnival games featured at this year’s event include ring toss, tic-tac-toe, hole in one, and much more!
To all participants, Twilight & Treat is more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to learn more about the safe and accessible programming offered at Twilight Centers across the city. “Our mission has always been to provide a fun and safe place for young people to go in the evenings,” Anthony Hagge, a supervisor for Milwaukee Recreation’s Twilight Centers, said. “This event is our way to further engage the community of Bay View as a whole and allows us to show that we’re here for them.”
Milwaukee Recreation’s Twilight Centers have always striven to create a space where youth can feel safe, empowered, and included across various program areas. Throughout the year, each Twilight Center hosts a variety of late night programs, activities, and workshops that match the needs of Milwaukee’s diverse student body. “With our enrichment programs, we’re working to allow these participants to try activities that they might never have access to such as photography, Virtual Reality (VR) simulators, and more,” Hagge said. “We’re also one of the latest drop-in centers for teens and youth in Milwaukee.”
Milwaukee Recreation’s Twilight Centers offer programming and extended hours at select school locations so young people throughout the city have a safe place to go during the evenings for free. While Twilight is known for their innovative enrichment programs, they also work directly with families, school faculty, and community members to determine what students in the broader area need out of their programming. From canvassing neighborhoods to tabled discussions at parent teacher conferences, Twilight works to ensure the community feels both heard and represented in every step of the process.
“We’re working to provide that safe place to allow young people to come to enjoy themselves, stay off the street, and just be kids,” Hagge said. “Without the community, participation from parents, and the young people that come to our site, there would be no Twilight.”
Beyond the Halloween festivities, Milwaukee Recreation’s Twilight Centers are offering several exciting events in the coming months. Skate Nights are set to return to Andrew Douglas MS Twilight Center on Nov. 8 and Bay View HS Twilight Center on Dec. 14. In the new year, participants can look forward to Twilight’s annual Egg-stravaganza event on April 11, 2025 at Andrew Douglas and April 12, 2025 at Bay View. While programs like Twilight & Treat are open to all ages, Twilight Centers are only open to youth ages 10-14 and 12-18. See below for site information.
Fall Twilight Hours & Locations*
Visit https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1v5UA98fcKtPFzYwWSma-UwsrlX4hGdn912iox6uwKaw/edit?gid=0#gid=0 to view the upcoming Twilight enrichment calendar and closures. This link will be continually updated throughout the season with new information.
Note: The Twilight Center at North Division High School is currently CLOSED due to construction.
Madison High School
Ages: 12-18
Where: 8135 W. Florist Ave.
Mondays & Wednesdays: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays: 6-10 p.m.
Obama SCTE
Ages: 12-18
Where: 5075 N. Sherman Blvd.
Mondays & Wednesdays: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays: 6-10 p.m.
Pulaski High School
Ages: 12-18
Where: 2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Mondays & Wednesdays: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays: 6-10 p.m.
South Division High School
Ages: 12-18
Where: 1515 W. Lapham Blvd.
Mondays & Wednesdays: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays: 6-10 p.m.
Washington High School
Ages: 12-18
Where: 2525 N. Sherman Blvd.
Mondays & Wednesdays: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays: 6-10 p.m.
Andrew Douglas Middle School
Ages: 10-14*
Where: 3620 N. 18th St.
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays
Times: 6-9 p.m.
Bay View High School
Ages: 10-14*
Where: 2751 S. Lenox St.
Days: Fridays & Saturdays
Times: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
*middle school or elementary school students only.