1. Mexican Fiesta
ALL WEEKEND | HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK
This annual festival showcases Mexican heritage with delicious food, music and cultural activities on the lakefront. Highlights include a car and motorcycle show on Saturday and live mariachi bands. Through Mexican Fiesta, the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation has raised over $1.7 million in scholarships for Hispanic youth since 1987. Tickets are available online for $20.
2. Serbian Days
ALL WEEKEND | ST. SAVA SERBIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL
Immerse yourself in Serbian culture at this weekend-long festival. Dive in taste buds-first with a lamb shank dinner or uštipci, doughnut-like fried dough balls. Rock and country groups Mt. Olive, Road Crew and The First Wave will perform, along with a lineup of Serbian performers. Tours of St. Sava cathedral will be available each day. This is a free event.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Milwaukee Chamber Music Festival
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 7 P.M., SUNDAY AT 2:30 P.M. | CHARLES ALLIS ART MUSEUM
French-inspired tunes will fill the Charles Allis Art Museum’s French parlor on the opening night of this festival, featuring Concertmaster Ilana Setapen and pianist Yaniv Dinur. On Saturday, guests will hear pieces from Bach and Mozart, and the weekend will conclude on Sunday with a performance of Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time.” Three-day tickets are available online for $230, and single-day passes are also available (prices vary by day). Each ticket includes a glass of wine.
4. ‘Alluding to Realities’ Opening Reception
FRIDAY AT 5 P.M. | LATINO ARTS IN THE UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER
Guatemalan-born American painter Neto Atkinson uses art therapy to foster his patients’ personal growth. Key themes of Atkinson’s work are awe and wonder, reflected by the radiant colors and bold, electric lines spreading across his canvases. His exhibit, “Alluding to Realities,” or “Aludiendo Realidades” in Spanish, is on view from Aug. 23-Oct. 9. Its opening reception is free.
5. Juicy J
FRIDAY AT 8 P.M. | THE RAVE
Rapper, songwriter and producer Juicy J is coming to Milwaukee with DJ Paul, fellow founding member of southern hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia. The group is credited partly for the South’s rise to prominence in a West and East Coast-dominated rap industry. Tickets are available online.
6. Fresh Coast Jazz Festival
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. | THE PABST THEATER
Four-time Grammy-nominated saxophone player Boney James is headlining this two-day lineup of jazz musicians. On Saturday afternoon, guests can cruise on Milwaukee’s shoreline while listening to music by Dee Lucas before the evening’s performances. Proceeds from the event will support scholarships, school music programs and healthcare initiatives. Tickets to both the performances at the Pabst Theater and the cruise are available online.
7. Falls Festival of the Arts
SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M.-5 P.M. | MILL POND PARK AND PLAZA, MENOMONEE FALLS
Over 100 artist booths, street performers, live performers, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden will paint Downtown Menomonee Falls into a colorful canvas of entertainment on Saturday. This free festival began as an art walk in 2021 and has since evolved into an annual showcase of local and regional art. Parents can bring their young ones to the festival’s kids’ art zone.
8. IndiaFest Wisconsin
SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M.-8 P.M. | MENOMONEE FALLS DOWNTOWN VILLAGE PARK
Held the same month as Indian independence day, IndiaFest Wisconsin is a celebration of all things Indian culture, including food, music, henna and more. It’s hosted by Spindle India, a non-profit founded in 2013 with the goal of strengthening Indian-American relations. Tickets are available on IndiaFest’s website.
9. Backyard BBQ
SATURDAY 12-8 P.M. | HUMBOLDT PARK
Since 2010, WMSE radio has hosted this free music festival. This year, Guided by Voices headlines the lineup, and other acts include NEWSKI, Buffalo Nichols and Jinksie. Humboldt Park will have food trucks, craft beer and more entertainment on site.
10. ‘My Friend: Doris White’ Opening Reception
SATURDAY FROM 3-4 P.M. | CEDARBURG ART MUSEUM
The Cedarburg Art Museum opens its exhibition of Wisconsin artist Doris White’s work with a reception on Saturday. White was the first woman to receive the Grand Award and Gold Medal from the American Watercolor Society for her bold atmospheric paintings. The gallery will run until Nov. 10. Admission to the museum is free.
11. Wantable Fest
SATURDAY FROM 5-11 P.M. | WANTABLE CAFE
Entry is free to this inaugural festival on Walker Street. Live music from Night Moves, Old Pup, Tobacco City and other artists will compliment offerings from food trucks and local vendors. Wantable is a fashion styling company based in Milwaukee with employees across the country.
12. Shine Bright Through the Night Walk
SATURDAY FROM 5-8 P.M. | WEHR NATURE CENTER
Wehr Nature Center’s expansive 220 acres promise for an explorative evening. Surrounded by nature on all sides with the twinkling night sky overhead, guests will learn about the center’s nocturnal creatures and they take a guided tour. Tickets are available online.
13. Green Day
SATURDAY AT 5:30 P.M. | AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD
The Smashing Pumpkins will open punk rock legend Green Day’s show at the Brewers stadium on Saturday evening. For over two decades, Green Day has been performing beloved hits like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “American Idiot.” The band is returning to Milwaukee as part of their “Saviors Tour.” Tickets are available online.
14. Aura
SATURDAY AT 7:30 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 2 P.M. | LAKE COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE
Aura tells the story of a man named Mike with the eerie ability to read others’ color auras and predict their deaths. Mike’s uncanny knowledge will take onlookers on an emotional journey in this play. Tickets are available for $10 on Lake Country Playhouse’s website.
15. Cars & Coffee
SUNDAY | 273 E. ERIE ST.
This curated auto show will see over 50 cars taking over the block in front of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design academic building in the Third Ward. You’ll see six Excaliburs, a classic car manufactured in West Allis; along with the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.
16. Nature & Forestry Fest
SUNDAY FROM 10 A.M.-2 P.M. | GREENFIELD FARMERS MARKET
Outdoorsy folks will enjoy this free event, which includes a Q&A with local nature and conservation organizations, raffle prizes, an observation bee hive and face painting. Experts from the Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Plastic-Free Kids and more organizations will also be on site. Plus, there will plenty of kids activities celebrating nature.
