About this Event
Friendsgiving is about celebrating the people you already know and making room for someone new. Join Play Date for two playgrounds, easy family introductions, a holiday recipe exchange, and hot chocolate at the finish.
AT A GLANCE
• Saturday, November 7, 2026
• 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
• Start: Atwater Park Playground, Upper Level, Shorewood
• Finish: Lake Park Playground, Milwaukee
• Free and open to the public
• Recommended for ages 2 to 10, with siblings welcome
• A parent or caregiver stays with every child
WHAT TO EXPECT
• A visible Play Date welcome and easy check-in
• Small Friend Circle introductions with families of similar ages
• Playground time at Atwater Park and Lake Park
• Optional Recipe for Friendship missions for kids and grown-ups
• An optional family holiday recipe exchange
• Hot chocolate and a simple closing cocoa cheer
• A natural opportunity to exchange contact information if both families want to reconnect
SCHEDULE
• 9:45 AM: Check-in opens at the Play Date banner near Atwater Park Playground
• 10:00 AM: First Hello and small Friend Circle introductions
• 10:10 AM: Atwater playground play and friendship missions
• 10:45 AM: Transition instructions, then drive or bike to Lake Park
• 11:00 AM: Meet at Lake Park Playground, 3233 E Kenwood Boulevard, Milwaukee
• 11:10 AM: Second playground and partner challenge
• 11:40 AM: Holiday recipe gathering and Friendsgiving moment
• 11:50 AM: Hot chocolate and cocoa cheers
• 12:05 PM: Next Hello and optional contact exchange
• 12:15 PM: Structured program ends
• 12:15 to 12:30 PM: Optional casual play and goodbyes
WHAT TO BRING
• Weather appropriate layers and water
• A favorite holiday recipe on paper, if you would like to share one
• A reusable cocoa mug, if convenient
• Helmets and safety gear if your family plans to bike
FRIENDSGIVING RECIPE EXCHANGE
Bring a meaningful family favorite, a holiday tradition, or simply something your children will actually eat. Please include the recipe name, ingredients, instructions, your family first or chosen name, and one sentence about why it matters to you. We will gather the recipes into a Play Date Friendsgiving Family Recipe Book and email it to participating families. Sharing is optional.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Families travel independently about two miles from Atwater Park to Lake Park
• Driving usually takes 5 to 8 minutes
• Biking typically takes 10 to 15 minutes
• We are not traveling as a caravan
• If you arrive late, join us at Atwater before 10:40 AM or Lake Park beginning at 11:00 AM
• Street or public parking is available near both parks
• Adults should collect hot chocolate for children
• A dairy-free cocoa option will be available
• Please review all ingredients and allergens for your family
• Registered families receive final arrival details and any weather update by 8:00 AM on event day
WHY PLAY DATE
Your host will welcome every family, explain each transition, and make introductions so no one has to walk into a crowd alone. Name tags, play, and simple prompts give children and grown-ups a natural place to begin.
Two playgrounds. New friends at every stop. Cocoa at the finish.
Event venue & nearby stays
Atwater Park Playground, Upper Level, 4060 North Lake Drive, Shorewood, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.