1. West Allis Farmers Market
MAY 3-NOV. 29 | WEST ALLIS FARMERS MARKET
It’s the first market of the season! Find fresh local produce, flowers, cheese and meat on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through November at the biggest farmers market in the area.
2. Jacob Slade
MAY 3 | VIVARIUM
Looking for new local music? Dreamy indie-folk artist Jacob Slade is celebrating the release of his new album, Brain Fog, with a show alongside Max & The Fellow Travelers, a country-tinged side project of Diet Lite.
3. Falcon Flea
MAY 4 | FALCON BOWL
The market inside this Riverwest bowling institution is packed with vintage clothes, local art and handmade goods galore. Find your picks while a local DJ spins.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
4. Shelby Van Pelt
MAY 8 | MILWAUKEE CENTRAL LIBRARY
This Chicago author’s novel Remarkably Bright Creatures, about a widow’s unique friendship with an aquarium octopus, became a quick bestseller and soon-to-be Netflix film. Hear Van Pelt discuss the book with local librarian Jacki Potratz.
5. Milwaukee Milkmen
MAY 9-11 | FRANKLIN FIELD
Spend a spring day at the ballpark with our city’s other beverage-themed baseball team. For their home opener, the Milkmen take on the Gary SouthShore RailCats.
6. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
MAY 9-11, 16-18 | INSPIRATION STUDIOS
Upon his mother’s death, an English commoner learns that he’s in line for the earldom – and there are just eight family members ahead of him. Each ill-fated relative is played by the same actor in Kith and Kin’s production of the Tony-winning musical.
7. Brew City Birding Festival
MAY 9-18 | URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER, MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
May is peak migration season for Wisconsin’s most colorful birds. The Urban Ecology Center’s three Milwaukee locations are celebrating with over a week of guided field trips, virtual lectures, game nights, a bike ride, a bird art workshop and, of course, plenty of birdwatching.
8. Mother’s Day Paint & Sip
MAY 11 | ZÓCALO FOOD PARK
Take the mother in your life to a Karaya Arte painting session where you both can create portraits of your special loved ones. Paint supplies and instruction are included, and you can nosh and sip from Zócalo’s food trucks and bar.
9. Paul Simon
MAY 17-18 | THE RIVERSIDE THEATER
For the first time since 2018, the legendary singer-songwriter is returning to the stage for two performances in Brew City, where he’ll perform tracks from his acoustic 2023 album, Seven Psalms, as well as fan favorites.
10. Double Dose of Carmen
MAY 16-18 | PABST THEATER & MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The classic, captivating story of passion and tragedy is told two different ways in two different productions: the Bizet opera performed by the Florentine, and the Milwaukee Ballet’s rendition with new choreography from Mark Godden set to the original score.
11. Maifest
MAY 16-18 | FIREMAN’S PARK
Ring in spring at Germantown’s annual seasonal celebration. Drink bier, sample spaetzle and other German foods, and dance to live polka bands.
12. Big Truck Day
MAY 17 | RED ARROW PARK
The name says it all – large trucks and loud horns make up this family-friendly event showing off the city’s Public Works fleet. There’s also trucks of the food variety, and kids can enjoy face painting and crafts.
13. Fables From the Wide Sky
MAY 22-24 | MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER
Danceworks MKE’s latest performance digs into the mysterious power of folklore. How do fables influence our lives? Local dancers answer with choreography set to folk tunes.
14. Baroque Pop! With Julia Holter
MAY 25 | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
Known for her lively blend of chamber pop and ambient music, indie star Julia Holter joins forces with Present Music for a genre-blending performance of her original work, plus pieces by Alex Temple and Viet Cuong.
15. Festa Italiana
MAY 30-JUNE 1 | HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK
“Little Italy on the Lakefront” kicks off Milwaukee’s many ethnic festivals. Expect fireworks, bocce, an Italian Idol competition, and lots of Italian cuisine.
16. ‘Permanent Drafts’
MAY 30-AUG. 31 | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
Montreal artist Erin Shirreff starts with sculpture, but she incorporates photography into her process to challenge how we see the dimensions and materials of her work. This exhibition features over 40 of her most recent pieces.
17. Lager & Friends
MAY 3 | GATHERING PLACE BREWING
It’s the (type of) beer that made Milwaukee famous, and this Riverwest brewery is throwing a party for it at their place. Sample dozens of craft lagers from around the region – you may be surprised by the range of variety and flavors – and nosh on brats, hot dogs and pretzels.
