1. The Coast Starlight
ALL WEEKEND | MILWAUKEE REP
At the start of this show, a young man boards a train from Los Angeles to Seattle with a burning secret. With the help of his fellow passengers he’ll have to face himself on this 1,000-mile journey. Tickets can be purchased here.
2. Church Basement Ladies
ALL WEEKEND | FALLS PATIO PLAYERS, MENOMONEE FALLS
This musical comedy follows four women who “tend to their congregation from the church basement kitchen.” You can find tickets for the lighthearted show here.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Cubanitas 21st Anniversary
FRIDAY FROM 5 P.M.-1 A.M. | 728 N. MILWAUKEE ST.
If this Downtown bar and restaurant were a person, it would now officially be old enough to drink, and in celebration, Cubanitas is throwing itself a birthday party this weekend. There’ll be live music from 5-9 p.m., and dancing will rock the floor from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
4. Harvest Fest Block Party
FRIDAY FROM 6-10 P.M. | GREAT LAKES DISTILLERY
Great Lakes’ annual block party returns this weekend. There will be live music from Chicken Wire Empire, food from Fox Den, EZ Tiki and Lola’s Empanadas, and vendors, including 1550 Maple Goods and HoneyBee Sage & Wellness. Lakefront Brewery will be serving beer, too.
5. Waukesha Oktoberfest
FRIDAY FROM 5-10 P.M, SATURDAY FROM 12-10 P.M. | FRAME PARK, WAUKESHA
The season of lagers is upon us. Celebrate autumn and German culture this weekend at Waukesha’s Oktoberfest. It’s got all the Oktoberfest classics – pretzels, sausage, and of course, beer. And check out our guide to all the other Oktoberfest celebrations going on around Milwaukee here.
6. Apple Harvest Festival
SATURDAY FROM 9 A.M.-4 P.M. | RETZER NATURE CENTER
This family friendly event offers a whole host of sweet treats and activities at Retzer’s natural refuge. Arts and crafts, the Apple Market, and planetarium shows are just a sampling of all the events. Plus, there’ll be a beer garden on-site.
7. Fromm Petfest
SATURDAY FROM 9 A.M.-5 P.M. | HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK
Our furry friends deserve all the love at Fromm Petfest, Wisconsin’s largest pet festival. The event is free and open to all – and to their animal companions. All pets will have the chance to play in Milwaukee’s Summerfest Grounds. Food, drink and other activities will be available to us humans, too.
8. Bay View Bash
SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M.-10 P.M. | KINNICKINNIC AVENUE BETWEEN POTTER AND CLEMENT
This neighborhood block party is back again to celebrate one of Milwaukee’s many vibrant neighborhoods – and admission is free. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual celebration. Expect carnival games, live music, and food and drink, including a special release lager from Third Space Brewing, “Bash Beer.”
9. Project 22 MKE
SUNDAY FROM 9 A.M.-5 P.M. | HARLEY DAVIDSON MUSEUM
Project 22 is a walk, run and ride in honor of Wisconsin veterans. The motorcycle ride starts at Harley-Davidson in Oconomowoc at 8:30 a.m. At the Harley-Davidson Museum, a resource fair for veterans and their families starts at 9 a.m. And the walk/run kicks off at 10:30 a.m.
10. Sunday Family Fun Day
SUNDAY FROM 10 A.M.-7 P.M. | NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL COMMUNITY PARK, HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK
Catch the last free Sunday Family Fun Day of the season this weekend. The park at the Summerfest Grounds will host live performances, buskers, food and drink vendors, and exhibitors from performing arts organizations across the city.
11. EVOLVE: A Mindful Market
SUNDAY FROM 11 A.M.-2 P.M. | THE IVY HOUSE
The Mindful Market is a collective of vendors and practitioners offering a wide range of wellness services, from massages to sound baths and more.
12. Pride 365 Rooftop Party
SUNDAY FROM 2-6 P.M. | PILOT PROJECT BREWING
Celebrate pride at Pilot Project Brewing’s rooftop party, where you can enjoy drink specials, games and a live drag sing-off. The event is free to all attendees.
