Engage and Activate: Diverse Professionals Forum
OCT. 5 AT 6:30 P.M. | COMPANY BREWING
This group discussion facilitated by a short film will let young professionals share their perspectives and connect with one another. There will be complimentary food, drink specials and music from DJ Bizzon.
Opening Night Party Featuring DJ Spinderella
OCT. 6 AT 8 P.M. | THE COOPERAGE
This kick-off to the festival features a lineup of legendary DJs including DJ Spinderella and Doc B spinning music from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s.
Pop-Up Cinema: Epikos Church Sherman Park
OCT. 6 AT 6 P.M. | EPIKOS CHURCH
This free screening of thought-provoking short films will be followed by a panel of violence prevention experts to inspire positive community conversations.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
Ancestral Wisdom: Afro-Latinx Memory and Cultural Practices
OCT. 6 AT 6 P.M. | RADIO MILWAUKEE
Marquette University philosophy professor Stephanie Rivera Berruz guides a free panel discussion educating about culture through generations of expressions.
Spinn M.K.E. Cycle Classes
OCT. 6 AT 6:30 P.M. | SPINN M.K.E.
The lifestyle fitness studio will offer several cycle classes with hip-hop music and inspirational energy for residents to try throughout the festival. Registration is required.
Battle of the Chefs
OCT. 6 AT 7 P.M. | PRITZLAFF BUILDING
This friendly competition spotlights local chefs and Milwaukee cuisine. Funds raised from the event will support local youth culinary and hospitality programs.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration feat. Bomberxs DeCora and De La Buena
OCT. 6 AT 7 P.M. | RADIO MILWAUKEE
This Latinx celebration will include the captivating rhythms of Afro-Latin jazz and traditional music and dance from nearby performance groups.
Festival Late Night: The Turn Up with DJ Bizzon
OCT. 6 AT 9:30 P.M. | COMPANY BREWING
Part of an ongoing party series, this after-hours event presents DJ Bizzon with high-energy music from various genres.
Culture by Design: A Sneaker and Streetwear Summit
OCT. 7 AT 12 P.M. | BAIRD CENTER
Curated for sneaker and streetwear enthusiasts, this summit will host the work of many prominent designers, pop-up exhibitions and mixed-media displays from various brands.
La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón Percussion and Dance Workshops
OCT. 7 AT 10:30 A.M. AND 12:30 P.M. | MKE YOUTH ARTS CENTER
A collective of Bomba practitioners dedicated to preserving and teaching the Puerto Rican style of music and dance will run two workshops showcasing the rhythms, movement and connection of the art form.
Finding Light in Death: A Uniquely Milwaukee Monologue
OCT. 7 AT 5:15 P.M. | RADIO MILWAUKEE
The host of Radio Milwaukee’s Uniquely Milwaukee podcast will share her take on memory and mourning during this community conversation.
Festival Late-Night: Adi Armour and Klassik
OCT. 7 AT 9:30 P.M. | COMPANY BREWING
Continue the party with soul singer Adi Armour paired with rapper and singer Klassik for a night of neo-soul, hip hop and R&B.
Motorcycle Diaries: The Legacy of Motorcycle Music, Fashion, and Community
OCT. 8 AT 11 A.M. | PILOT PROJECT BREWING
This conversation will discuss motorcycle culture throughout history and how it came to ubiquitously represent rebellion and community. There will also be food, drink and vintage vendors.
Tangled Roots: Unraveling Hair Discrimination and the Implications of the CROWN Act
OCT 8 AT 4:30 P.M. | WISCONSIN BLACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
In this Black women-led conversation, participants will discuss the politics around hair discrimination and the need for legislation protecting hair textures.
Janelle James: Newly Famous Comedy Tour
OCT 8 AT 7 P.M. | PABST THEATER
Award-winning actor and comedian Janelle James of the hit TV show Abbott Elementary will take the stage for a comedy set along with a Q&A about her life and career.
PsychoHAIRapy Workshop
OCT 9 AT 9 A.M. | MILWAUKEE FILM
Clinical psychologist and hairstylist Dr. Afiya will hold a workshop that speaks on how mental health and hair are often intertwined.
Sound Bath Healing with Melissa Blue Muhammad
OCT. 9 AT 6:30 P.M. | HONEYBEE SAGE AND WELLNESS & APOTHECARY CAFE
Experience sound as a restorative force in this full-body listening class. Registration is limited to 30 spots.
The Art of Storytelling: Exploring Narrative Craft and the Ripple Effects of Representation
OCT. 9 AT 5:30 P.M. | SAM’S PLACE JAZZ CAFE
Journal Sentinel reporter James Causey leads a discussion with local journalists about responsible and representative storytelling and the power of narratives.
Don’t @ Me Tour with Aida Rodriguez
OCT. 10 AT 6 P.M. | MILWAUKEE IMPROV
Off her 2021 comedy special Fighting Words, actor and comedian Aida Rodriguez presents an evening of laughs along with Gwen La Roka.
Every Bottle Tells A Tale: An Evening of Wine, Dinner, and Storytelling with Edgar Torres
OCT. 10 AT 6 P.M. | BAVETTE LA BOUCHERIE
Winemakers Edgar and Erika Torres pair their wines with dinner from Third Ward’s Bavette La Boucherie. While dining, guests will hear from Torres about his journey of immigrating from Mexico and growing a love of wine.
Hey, High, Hello: A Conversation on Cannabis
OCT. 10 AT 6:30 P.M. | COMPANY BREWING
Experts and advocates tackle the topic of cannabis legalization with trivia movie clips from stoner cult classics.
Parental Advisory: A Breakbeat Play
OCT. 10 AT 7:30 P.M. | MILWAUKEE REP
This play from award-winning playwright Idris Goodwin explores parenthood and expression through hip-hop. After the show, there’ll be a panel discussion with local music and community leaders on the legacy of hip-hop.
Engage & Activate Community Schools Program
OCT. 11 AT 5 P.M. | LINCOLN AVENUE SCHOOL
For students, Milwaukee Film will screen two short films by local directors: The Heartland and The Stigma of the Durag. Following the films will be a guided family-friendly discussion about self-acceptance and more.
Pop-Up Cinema: Latino Arts
OCT. 11 At 5:30 P.M. | LATINO ARTS
This screening of the classic ’50s comedy film Dos Tipos de Cuidado, starring Pedro Infante, includes Latinx food and vendors.
A Sense of Belonging: How Do You Say Your Last Name?
OCT. 11 AT 5:30 P.M. | MARN ART + CULTURE HUB
Milwaukee photography and designer Howard Leu and Brooklyn author and illustrator Vanessa Nguyen answer existential questions of identity and growing up in America as first-generation Asian kids.
The History of Polarization in American Music: A Conversation on Race and Music Presented by Gangstagrass
OCT 11 AT 5:30 P.M. | RADIO MILWAUKEE
The Billboard-charting bluegrass hip-hop group hosts a conversation on the history of American music and musicians that transcend limiting genre definitions.
GenreQueer Presents Queer Trivia Night
OCT. 11 AT 6 P.M. | PROMISES
Promises invites teams of four to six people to a celebration of queer history and entertainment with trivia, drinks, music and dancing.
Poetry Unplugged 20th Anniversary Reunion
OCT. 11 AT 7 P.M. | THE COOPERAGE
A lineup of local and national poets, backed by the band Cigarette Break, celebrate Poetry Unplugged, Milwaukee’s long-running open mic events.
The Collaborative Connection: A STEM Education Mentorship Match
OCT. 12 AT 9 A.M. | LUBAR ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER
Local youth get the chance to learn from and connect with experts in STEAM-related fields through 20-minute rotations.
The State of Modern Conservatism Featuring Charlie Sykes
OCT. 12 AT 3:30 P.M. | MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY WEASLER AUDITORIUM
Political commentator Charlie Sykes guides a discussion on current Republican politics meant to examine the complexities of today’s political world and promote civil discourse.
Elevation Without Intoxication Workshop
OCT. 12 AT 6:30 P.M. | HONEYBEE SAGE AND WELLNESS & APOTHECARY CAFE
This lesson about cultivating a healthy mind and body through herbs and tinctures comes with nonalcoholic spirits and cocktails.
Closing Night Celebration Featuring Gangstagrass and Shonn Hinton & Shotgun
OCT. 12 AT 7 P.M. | THE COOPERAGE
Wrap up the weeklong cultural festivities with a concert from the bluegrass hip-hop band Gangstagrass and local blues rocker Shonn Hinton and his band Shotgun.
