BY: ANNA GIPPLE AND ANYA KELLEY
READ MORE FROM OUR SUMMER GUIDE HERE.
JUNE
1. ART 64
JUNE 7-8 | WAUWATOSA VILLAGE
Think of this as the March Madness of painting. For three rounds, artists go head-to-head in a bracket-style tournament, each given an hour to create a piece based on a shared theme. The crowd determines each winner, with the final victor taking home $20,000. The competition yields impressive work every year.
2. Water Lantern Festival
JUNE 8 | VETERANS PARK
Festivalgoers decorate LED-lit paper lanterns and then cast them out onto Lake Michigan, filling the water with glowing lights to create an Instagram-worthy spectacle. And don’t worry – event staff clean up all the lanterns afterward.
3. Pride Parade
JUNE 9 | SECOND STREET
This year marks the 20th anniversary of this lively summer celebration of the LGBTQ community, with the theme “Respecting Our Past, Honoring Our Future.” Floats traversing the route through Walker’s Point will commemorate milestones in Milwaukee’s LGBTQ history.
4. Tour of America’s Dairyland
JUNE 13-23 | SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN
The 11-day series of bicycle races takes place in 11 different communities, with a new course every day. Close to home, race locations include West Allis, Bay View, the East Side and Tosa. Farther out, you can catch the tour in Manitowoc and Janesville. Each race is a block party in its own right, with food, drink and more surrounding the competition.
5. Lakefront Festival of Art
JUNE 14-16 | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
One of the most scenic lakefront spots in the city – the plaza under the wings of the Calatrava – fills with over 100 artists for this weekend of food, music and, of course, art. Painters, ceramicists, fiber artists, metalworkers, jewelers and more will sell their pieces, while local restaurants offer samples for attendees. Plus, a beer and wine garden will be open for lounging and sipping.
6. Brewtown Rumble
JUNE 16 | BOONE & CROCKETT
This is a peaceful rumble – all makes, models and conditions of pre-1985 vintage motorcycles are welcome at the outdoor show. Bring your own bike, if you have one, or just come and check out what’s on display. Proceeds from the event support BUILD Moto Mentor Program, a nonprofit teaching young people skills like welding, design and repair through working on motorcycles.
7. Strawberry Festival
JUNE 22-23 | DOWNTOWN CEDARBURG
We’re talking overwhelming amounts of strawberries here, folks – strawberry wine, strawberry shortcake, strawberry candies, actual strawberries. This celebration of all things strawberry – one of the most popular festivals in charming downtown Cedarburg – also features live music, kids’ activities and an arts and crafts fair.
JULY
8. Bastille Days
JULY 11-14 | CATHEDRAL SQUARE PARK
No passport is necessary to experience French culture this summer. Bastille Days is returning to Cathedral Square Park for four days of French and Cajun cuisine, live music, an international marketplace and more. The Francophile blowout regularly attracts around 150,000 people.
9. Bark After Dark
JULY 12 | KONKEL PARK
Who let the dogs out? Well, you can at this pet fest. Bring your fur baby along to explore pet-related vendors, live music by Doghouse Charlie, beer at the amphitheater and a twilight trail walk.
10. Gallery Night MKE
JULY 19-20 | THROUGHOUT MILWAUKEE
Milwaukee’s diverse art scene has a lot to offer – and these two nights put it all on display. From the Third Ward through East Town and Walker’s Point, hop between galleries at this free event, where talented artists will be showcasing their pieces, many of which are for sale.
11. Lavender Fest
JULY 20 | VILLAGE PARK, MENOMONEE FALLS
The wide fields of purple plants will be in full bloom for this event, filling the air with their calming scent. Musicians will take to the main stage, while Menomonee Falls businesses sell lavender products and food vendors serve lavender-inspired dishes.
12. Riverwest 24-Hour Bike Race
JULY 26-27 | RIVERWEST NEIGHBORHOOD
A 24-hour bike race? Yup, you read that right. Riverwest 24, also known as “the people’s holiday,” celebrates all the quirks that make the neighborhood so beloved. For a full 24 hours, bikers race between checkpoints, completing wacky challenges, like singing karaoke, skinny dipping or even getting inked up with a Riverwest 24 tattoo. For those not quite ready to take on the race themselves, spectators are more than welcome.
“I’ve always wanted to race in it. I think it’s one of the coolest, most unique things Milwaukee does in the summer.”
AUGUST
13. Black Arts Fest MKE
AUG. 3 | HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK
Celebrate African heritage and Black culture and creativity at this event on the Summerfest grounds. You’ll find music, food, dance performances, a vendor market, wellness programming and more.
14. MobCraft Weird Fest Block Party
AUG. 3 | MOBCRAFT BEER
This Walker’s Point brewer is known for its embrace of unusual flavors. It will toast its 11th anniversary with a celebration of weird that includes beer releases (like last year’s mushroom Oktoberfest), Mondo Lucha wrestling and exotic food.
15. Bronzeville Week
AUG. 3-10 | BRONZEVILLE
This neighborhood has one of the richest histories in the city, with decades of inspiring culture behind it, and it has experienced a renaissance in recent years. This week showcases it all, from dining specials at restaurants, to discounts at shops, to concerts and performances at venues across the vibrant neighborhood.
16. A La Carte at the Zoo
AUG. 15-18 | MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO
Why shouldn’t you play poker at the Zoo? Because it’s full of cheetahs! Sorry, but this beloved local institution inspires the cheesy humorist in us. A La Carte is your chance to get the most out of the zoo experience, with live music, food and drink, alongside the animals.
17. Art and Chalk Fest
AUG. 17-18 | MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART
Chalk artists put their best foot forward at this event, creating drawings so elaborate and enticing that it’s almost tragic to know they’ll be washed away in the next rain. Along with the chalk there is glass blowing, caricature drawing, pottery and music to enjoy – plus, the chance to create a little art yourself, by contributing to the open-to-all community chalk project.
18. Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts
AUG. 17-18 | FOWLER PARK
For over 50 years, this festival on the shore of Fowler Lake has showcased artists from around the country. The centerpiece of the event is a juried exhibition with over 110 artists in many mediums, including ceramics, pastels, jewelry, painting, photography and more. There’s also a silent art auction, live music, and, as one comes to expect at any Wisconsin event worth its salt, some good food!
19. Country in the Burg
AUG. 23-24 | CEDAR CREEK PARK, CEDARBURG
It’s an extravaganza of country music at this two-night event, which is bringing Martina McBride, Dylan Scott, Dustin Lynch and other artists to the stage. Plus, a portion of the proceeds go to Children’s Wisconsin, Mel’s Charities and the Wounded Warrior Project.
