Milwaukee River past Grafton to downtown Milwaukee, where it empties into Lake Michigan. Cedar Creek, the Menomonee River and the Kinnickinnic River are the three main tributaries. The Milwaukee River watershed drains in southeastern Wisconsin, including parts of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha counties. The Milwaukee River watershed is part of the Lake Michigan subbasin; this subbasin is itself a part of the St. Lawrence River Watershed, which is fed by the Great Lakes. The Milwaukee River area was populated by Native Americans in the time before European settlement. Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet navigated from Lake
Milwaukee City Christmas Tree Special guests included characters from Milwaukee Ballet's Nutcracker and the Milwaukee Children's Choir. Refreshments for the celebration were provided by Starbucks. Like many other city–endorsed Christmas tree lightings, the tree lighting in Milwaukee was labeled "holiday" rather than "Christmas" in 1995 so as not to "offend non-Christians". In 2004 and 2005 many cities reversed their decision and re-labeled the tree as "Christmas" rather than the generic "holiday". Examples include the Capitol Christmas Tree and the California Capitol Christmas Tree. In October 2006, with a 9-5 vote, Milwaukee city council decided to rename the decade's old "Holiday tree" to a "Christmas