1. Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival
OCT. 2-5 | ORIENTAL THEATRE
Presented by local nonprofit Muslim Women’s Coalition, this 10th annual film festival spotlights Islamic cultures and perspectives with stories from around the world. Each screening is followed by a talkback with filmmakers.
2. Fiddler on the Roof
OCT. 3-26 | BROADWAY THEATRE CENTER
Skylight Music Theatre’s rendition of this classic musical, about a Jewish milkman keeping his faith in early-20th-century Russia, carries extra poignancy: Two violins owned and played before and during the Holocaust will be featured in the production.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Milwaukee Oktoberfest
OCT. 3-5 | HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK
Raise your steins! Drinking bier is just one of many traditions at this lakefront autumnal feast. You’ll also find a cornhole tournament, a wiener dog pageant and a brat-eating contest.
4. Lost Arts Festival
OCT. 4 | GROHMANN MUSEUM
It’s a parade of trades – shoe carvers, chair caners, bookbinders and more will demonstrate their crafts at this festival celebrating the labor depicted in the Grohmann Museum’s art collection.
5. MKE Studio Tour
OCT. 4-5 | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
A home says a lot about someone, and it’s the same for an artist’s studio. This annual self-guided tour lets you peek at the workspaces of local artists all around Milwaukee and learn about their creative process. Studios available to visit are as far south as Oak Creek up through Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and Brown Deer and west to Wauwatosa.
6. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon
OCT. 4-5 | DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE
The city’s biggest race comes back to the lakefront with full and half-marathons and a 5K accompanied by scenic views over the Hoan Bridge. Cheer on the thousands of runners or hit the road yourself with the much less strenuous Walk the Hoan 5K.
7. Brady Street Pet Parade
OCT. 5 | BRADY STREET
Pets of all kinds will stroll down Brady Street in a parade doubling as a costume contest. Four-legged friends will compete in a tail-wagging showdown and pet-and-owner look-alike challenge.
8. H.M.S. Pinafore
OCT. 8-12 | UW-MILWAUKEE MAINSTAGE THEATER
Forbidden love is even stormier at sea. This comic operetta set aboard a Royal Navy ship has a captain’s daughter fall for a lowly sailor. Milwaukee Opera Theatre and UWM’s Peck School of the Arts are teaming up for this production.
9. Patton Oswalt
OCT. 9 | PABST THEATER
The award-winning comedian, known for his pointed jabs and sprawling TV resume, headlines the 20th annual Milwaukee Comedy Festival, which spotlights a mix of national and local talent.
10. Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium
OCT. 11-NOV. 2 | MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Remember Goosebumps? The ever-popular children’s books about ghoulish creatures and paranormal activities are now haunting the stage. This First Stage musical is about a cursed play.
11. Holy Hill Art & Farm Market
OCT. 11-12 | HOLY HILL ART FARM
What better time to drive to Holy Hill than the arrival of fall colors? This market is the occasion, with local farmers, artists and vendors, live music and the new Grainery Bar.
12. Carve at the Pumpkin Pavilion
OCT. 15-18 | HUMBOLDT PARK
Grab your gourd and carve jack-o’-lanterns amongst friends and neighbors for this Bay View tradition. Hundreds of lit pumpkins will be on view, and patrons can snack on food and drinks from the “Fear Garden.”
13. Boo at the Zoo
OCT. 17-19, 24-26 | MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO
Wild animals and mild spookiness are the draw for this family-friendly County Zoo tradition, now taking over two weekends.
14. Mark Mulhern: ‘Early Evening’
OCT. 17-NOV. 29 | TORY FOLLIARD GALLERY
Expressive, slightly abstracted scenes of parties and passing crowds make up the recent oeuvre of Milwaukee-based Mark Mulhern. This exhibition of his newest paintings opens during this fall’s Gallery Night & Day.
15. Violent Femmes
OCT. 18-19 | RIVERSIDE THEATER
Folk pop legends and the pride of Milwaukee, the Femmes return to play through two of their classic albums: their self-titled debut and Hallowed Ground. Tickets are going fast – the first night is already gone daddy gone.
16. Fright at the Museum
OCT. 24 | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
Step into MAM After Dark – if you dare. This ghoulish edition of the monthly art party encourages guests to dress frightfully for a night of music, food, drinks and art.
17. Día de los Muertos Festival
OCT. 25 | FOREST HOME CEMETERY
A morning 5K run/walk through Forest Home Cemetery kicks off this annual celebration of the Day of the Dead – a time to honor lost loved ones with altars and gifts. The family-friendly festival on the grounds includes local vendors, arts and crafts, food trucks, and altars from the community.
18. Les Misérables
OCT. 28-NOV. 2 | MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Do you hear the people sing? That’s the touring Broadway production of Les Mis coming to town. The Tony Award-winning musical about revolution in 19th-century France is a story of redemption, injustice and love.
