Here in Milwaukee, we like our traditions. We go to fish fries on Fridays, we like our mayors to be able to carry a tune (at least a little) and, as evidenced by our summer festival schedule, we welcome just about any reason to get together and celebrate.

Add one more tradition to the mix. This one is only in its fourth year, but it's so unusual you just know it's going to become a fixture in our city's holiday celebrations.

I'm talking about the "Lighting of the Whale," which takes place this year at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Two-thousand lights are strung up on the 40-foot humpback whale skeleton that hangs above the museum's grand staircase.

On Friday, museum President Dan Finley will flip the giant switch with the help of any children who want to take part -- and the whale will shine.

Finley said he came up with the idea for the whale lighting shortly after starting at the museum in 2005.

"The whale is the largest skeleton we have in the building, and it just seemed like the thing to do," Finley said with a laugh. "It's fun to do a celebration at the holidays, and this is something special."

Adding to the drama is a big switch that smokes and buzzes when it's flipped. That's a hit with the kids.

Finley said several hundred people come and check out the annual whale lighting, so even though it's kind of odd, it seems to have caught on. Now, he says, there's only one thing missing.

"We want a big, red nose to put on the whale, but we haven't been able to find one yet," he said.

The whale lighting is included in the price of a regular museum admission.