1. ‘Celebrating Our Shared Roots’
THROUGH FEB. 23 | LATINO ARTS
Catch an exhibit spotlighting art-making traditions from Mexico and First Nations tribes. The show is produced with the Mexican Arts Collective and the Little Eagle Arts Foundation.
2. The Dark Side of the Moon
THROUGH MARCH 30 | SOREF PLANETARIUM
Pink Floyd’s iconic album turned 50 in 2023. Mark the rock anniversary with views of the solar system set to the album.
3. Cool Fool Kite Festival
JAN. 1 | VETERANS PARK
Show off your Midwestern hardiness at Gift of Wings’ Cool Fool Kite Festival along Milwaukee’s lakefront. You can get free kite-flying lessons on-site.
Experience an unforgettable evening celebrating great design!
4. MCHS Book Club
JAN. 4 | MILWAUKEE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Get in on the ground floor of the MCHS Book Club by attending its first meeting. The book is New York Times bestseller The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann.
5. Luca Stricagnoli
JAN. 5-6 | OCONOMOWOC ARTS CENTER
Italian acoustic guitarist Luca Stricagnoli is known for innovation that you can sample on his recent album What If? A ticket option includes dinner with the show.
6. DRUMLine Live
JAN. 6 | MARCUS CENTER
Kick off 2024 with this energetic show capturing the catchy grooves, bold beats and signature style of historically Black college and university (HBCU) marching bands.
7. Tracy Clark Author Talk
JAN. 10 | BOSWELL BOOK CO.
Wisconsin mystery author Patricia Skalka guides this talk with author Tracy Clark on Fall, the latest installment in Clark’s Detective Harriet Foster thriller series.
8. Guys on Ice
JAN. 12-MARCH 17 | MILWAUKEE REP
For the past 25 years, this show has been a tradition at the Rep’s Stackner Cabaret. Watch as best buds Marvin and Lloyd talk life, love and Lambeau from their perch in an Up North shanty, with songs like “Ode to a Snowmobile Suit” and “When On Thin Ice.”
9. Mystery at MPM
JAN. 13 | MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM
Bring the kids for this family-friendly after-hours event. Clues will lead you through the museum’s exhibit halls, as you and your team sleuth your way toward solving the titular mystery. Groups of two to 10 are suggested, for ages 6 and up.
10. Samson Stomp & Romp
JAN. 14 | MILWAUKEE PUBLIC ZOO
Honor the zoo’s late gorilla Samson and support all the zoo’s animals by participating in the 44th running of this race. If the competitive 5k is too intense, consider the 2-mile fun run/walk or the 1-mile “romp for children.”
11. Waukesha JanBoree
JAN. 19-28 | DOWNTOWN WAUKESHA
The festival will hold more than 30 events for all ages. Happenings include an outdoor survival skills camp, an ice bocce tournament, a live performance of Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals and a candlelight hike.
12. A Moon for the Misbegotten
JAN. 19-FEB. 4 | MILWAUKEE CHAMBER THEATRE
Catch the first local pro production in nearly 30 years of Eugene O’Neill’s last full-length play. The story sees a struggling father and daughter living on farmland rented from their failed-actor neighbor.
13. ‘Cory Bonnet: Patterns of Meaning’
JAN. 19-APRIL 28 | GROHMANN MUSEUM
In 2021, Pittsburgh artist Cory Bonnet got a hold of large, historic steel mill artifacts that he combines with paintings to create mixed-medium monuments to industry.
14. UWM Art Collection
THROUGH FEB. 8 | MATHIS ART GALLERY
Stop in and see what’s new at UW-Milwaukee’s art gallery. This exhibit features pieces by well-known artists such as Andy Warhol, as well as lesser-known folks.
Want more great Milwaukee events? Check out our calendar!
15. Napoleon Dynamite Cast Member Reunion
JAN. 20 | PABST THEATER
Celebrate the 2004 cult classic Napoleon Dynamite with this screening and cast reunion with Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico).
16. Beethoven x Coldplay
JAN. 20 | BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER
Absorb a blend of two musical powerhouses from very different eras. Three vocalists and conductor/composer Steve Hackman join the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for this combo of Beethoven’s Eroica and Coldplay hits like “Viva la Vida” and “Clocks.”
17. Adam Plantinga Author Talk
JAN. 26 | BOSWELL BOOK CO.
Former Milwaukee cop Adam Plantinga will be talking about The Ascent, his debut thriller about a police officer and the governor’s daughter attempting to flee a prison.
18. Xanadu
JAN. 26-FEB. 11 | SKYLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE
Hearken back to the ’80s flick starring Olivia Newton-John, with this live adaptation and its rockin’ original score.
19. CELLO CELLO
JAN. 31 | JAN SERR STUDIO
Two new works – one from cellist/composer Paul Wiancko and another from composer/Pamela Z – will have world premieres at this Present Music concert.
