ArtBlaze Will Bring Dance Parties and Giant Tentacles to the Beach

A new beach party series is coming to the lakefront. ArtBlaze on the Beach, hosted by Joy Engine, will have live music, DJ dance parties, yoga sessions, make-your-own s’mores stations and more hands-on fun. It kicks off on Wednesday, July 10 at Bradford Beach. 

The series will continue on at South Shore Beach on July 31 and Aug. 7, before going back to Bradford Beach on Aug. 21. All of the events will go from 3:30 to 10 p.m., beginning with family-friendly activities and progressing to a dance party as the night goes on. 

Joy Engine teamed up with the Fuzzpop Workshop – creators of Deep Lake Future – to construct interactive fluorescent cephalopod tentacles measuring 30 feet for the series too. These massive art pieces are available to see on all four days of the event, providing an artistic backdrop for the nighttime dance party. “We like to do wacky weird stuff,” says Steph Salvia, executive director of Joy Engine.

Joy Engine also invited internationally acclaimed sandcastle sculptor Ted Siebert, to construct a giant sea creature for the Aug. 21 event at Bradford Beach. Attendees can watch Siebert build the massive sculpture. 

Alongside multiple art pieces, multiple Milwaukee musicians and bands will perform at the event. Rapper Wave Chappelle will be performing July 10 a 7:15 p.m. While reggaeton artists Gego y Nony will perform August 21 at 6:30 p.m. “There’s something for everybody,” says Salvia.

ArtBlaze on the Beach is free to attend. See the full lineup here: 

Wednesday, July 10

• Trapper Schoepp, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
  
  
• Roxie Beane, 5-6:15 p.m.
  
  
• Hip-hop by Your Move MKE, 6:30-7 p.m.
  
  
• Wave Chapelle, 7:15-8 p.m.
  
  
• Live DJ sets by DJ D-On, DJ Shortstyle, and DJ E Rich with a complimentary “choose your DJ” silent disco for up to 200 people, 8-9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 31st

• Lil Rev, 3:30-5 p.m.
  
  
• An open session with MKE Yoga Social, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
  
• Tigera Band, 6:15-7:45 p.m.
  
  
• Karlies Kelly “How to Salsa,” 7:45-8:15 p.m.
  
  
• De La Buena, 8:45-9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 7th

• The Kid Boogie Down with DJ Lukewarm, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
  
  
• Hale o Malo, 5-6 p.m.
  
  
• Undercover Organism, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
  
  
• Urban Empress, 8:15-9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 21st

• Girls Rock Showcase, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
  
  
• An open session with MKE Yoga Social, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
  
  
• DJ Kenny Perez, 6-6:30 p.m.
  
  
• Gego y Nony, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
  
  
• The Sparkle and Burn Fire Show, 7:45-8:15 p.m.
  
  
• DJ Shawna 8:30-9:30 p.m.