1. Downtown Tour
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 10 A.M. | HISTORIC MILWAUKEE
This tour covers Milwaukee’s remarkable Downtown architecture, from the historic Mackie Building to the Milwaukee Art Museum. Historic Milwaukee provides headsets to help visitors learn the history of the city.
2. Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association Show & Sale
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 10 A.M. | WAUKESHA COUNTY EXPO CENTER
Over 58 antique dealers from seven states will come together for an expo out of an antique collector’s dream. The Friday show will have a fish fry, and proceeds from the event will benefit grants for the Wisconsin Historical Society’s preservation efforts.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Milwaukee Oktoberfest
FRIDAY AT 4 P.M., SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT 11 A.M. | CATHEDRAL SQUARE PARK
Enjoy German beer, cornhole, music and other entertainment at this year’s Downtown Oktoberfest. Special events will include stein holding, a wiener dog pageant and more.
4. Milwaukee Korea Day Celebration and Symphony Orchestra Concert
FRIDAY AT 4:30 P.M. | ZELAZO CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
This free event will celebrate Korean heritage with Korean food, paper folding, games and performances from K-pop dance crews Komet and Girly Pop and the UWM Symphony Orchestra featuring guest violinist Julian Rhee.
5. Willy Porter Band
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 8 P.M. | SHANK HALL
The contemporary rocker from Mequon holds a storied musical career, from 11 albums and almost 30 years of touring to his long-established local collaborations with band members Carmen Nickerson, Dave Schoepke and Dave Adler. The show is 21+.
6. Sci-Fi Family Day
SATURDAY AT 9 A.M. | DISCOVERY WORLD
Sci-fi fans unite! Milwaukee’s science and technology museum will host a day of costumed characters, fantasy theater performances, educational demonstrations and imaginative displays.
7. 10th Annual Shorewood Fish and Feather Festival
SATURDAY AT 11 A.M. | HUBBARD PARK
This festival celebrates the salmon run and bird migrations of the Milwaukee River’s fall season. Visitors can wade into the water with the salmon, and children can take home DIY birdhouses, beehives and pumpkin crafts. Before the event, consider participating in the river cleanup at 9 a.m.
8. Game Day Tailgate
SATURDAY AT 11 A.M. | HOUSE OF HARLEY DAVIDSON
The local Harley-Davidson dealership is opening its lots for a tailgate with brats, beer and college football. The party begins at kickoff for the Badgers game against Rutgers.
9. Lost Arts Festival
SATURDAY AT 11 A.M. | GROHMANN MUSEUM
This festival takes you back in time, with hands-on demonstrations of long-neglected skills like Dutch wooden shoe carving, glass making and pre-Industrial Revolution textile spinning. See the experts ply these trades of yore – and try some out yourself.
10. Blocktoberfest 2023
SATURDAY AT NOON | WEST ALLIS CHEESE & SAUSAGE SHOPPE
Brats and beer will take over Becher Street for the third annual Blocktoberfest. The event will have firkin tapping, a kids play area, a bake sale, live music and, of course, seasonal brews and food from vendors such as Becher Meats, West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe and more.
11. Antetokounbros Store Launch
SATURDAY AT 1 P.M. | 434 W. JUNEAU AVE.
Giannis Antetokounpo and his brothers will open their brand’s flagship store in the Trade Hotel across from Fiserv Forum. The open-to-the-public launch party includes an autograph signing from the brothers and a giveaway of Giannis’ Zoom Freak 5 shoes.
12. Slovenian Film Festival
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT VARIOUS TIMES | MITCHELL HALL
A collaboration between UW-Milwaukee’s film department and the Slovenian Arts Program, this inaugural showcase will screen two feature films and two short films that won awards in Slovenian competitions. There’ll also be a cultural display in the theater lobby during intermissions.
13. Run with All Your Heart: 5K Run
SUNDAY AT 9 A.M. | VETERAN’S PARK
This lakefront race for all ages and skill levels is a chance to exercise in cool fall weather while helping a good cause. All proceeds from this event will go to cancer research at Children’s Wisconsin.
14. Milwaukee Diaper Mission’s 3rd Birthday
SUNDAY AT 11 A.M. | LAKEFRONT BREWERY
This nonprofit aims to make diaper and period supplies accessible to everyone who needs them throughout the Milwaukee area. It will celebrate its third year with kids’ crafts, Plinko, a raffle, live music, food and beer from Lakefront Brewery.
15. Empty Bowls Fundraiser for Friedens Food Pantries
SUNDAY AT NOON | KERN CENTER
Sample local soups and browse almost 1,800 handmade bowls crafted by Milwaukee artists at this fundraiser for one of the city’s largest food pantry networks.
16. Trek ’n Treat
SUNDAY AT 1 P.M. | GRANT PARK
This costume-encouraged tour teaches about the park’s forest and gives a few treats along the trail. The park also offers a wheelchair-accessible route.
17. Jonathan Richman
SUNDAY AT 7:30 P.M. | WILSON THEATER AT VOGEL HALL
This earnest, low-key singer-songwriter founded the notable proto-punk band the Modern Lovers and has toured as a famed solo guitarist since the mid ’70s.
18. Bill Burr
SUNDAY AT 8 P.M. | FISERV FORUM
Known for his sarcasm and gritty humor, Grammy-nominated comedian Bill Burr has starred in several comedy specials such as You People Are All The Same, Paper Tiger and more.
