Seasonal & Holidays
Spring Event Roundup: 14 Must-See Metro Milwaukee Events
Mark your calendars for these must-see events around metro Milwaukee, from annual staples to small-town celebrations.
MILWAUKEE, WI — Spring will eventually be here, and with the turn of the season comes a jammed-packed schedule of events for the metro Milwaukee area. Fairs, farmers markets and a Polka festival are all bringing people together to celebrate spring and a shared love of things like BBQ ribs and pop culture.
We've rounded up 14 of the not-to-miss events happening around the area over the next few months. There's something for everyone in this list, spotlighting the best parts of each of metro Milwaukee's distinct communities, for couples and families of all budgets.
Take a look at what's happening:
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Great Lakes Farmers Market
Date: Sundays
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Milaeger's on Douglas Ave., 4838 Douglas Ave. Racine
Synopsis: Take a stroll in a year-round indoor farmer's market in Milaeger's expo greenhouse. Products include apples, local honey, baked goods, local crops, drinks and live music.
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More Info: https://www.milaegers.com/Farm...
Kiwanis Pancake Day and Lakefront Artists Fair
Date: May 5, 2018
Times: Pancake Day 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. ; Artists Fair 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Festival Hall 5 Fifth Street, Racine, Wis.
Synopsis: Kiwanis Pancake Day is a Racine tradition that features all you can eat pancakes and sausage. It's served by many local volunteers, politicians, celebrities and Kiwanis family members. Enjoy breakfast with hundreds of your closest friends. Right outside, Racine's first outdoor art fair of the season features more than 100 artists from throughout the Midwest.
More Info: http://kiwanisracine.com
Spring Astronomy Day
Date: April 21
Time: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: Modine-Benstead Observatory 112 63rd Drive, Union Grove
Synopsis: Train your eyes on the skies on the evening of April 21 as the Modine-Benstead observatory hosts its monthly public night open house. There is no charge for admission or parking. Come out and take a look back in time through one of the observatory's two main telescopes. The Modine Benstead Observatory includes two domed observatories as part of the facility. The main building includes the 16-inch telescope, an observation deck, library and meeting room. The smaller domed building houses our 14-inch telescope.
More Info: http://www.rasastro.org/events...
Waukesha Art Crawl
Date: May 5
Time: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Downtown Waukesha
Synopsis: 175 artisans at 20 galleries and showplaces are featured at this seasonal event. Walk the downtown streets to survey local art, enjoy live music, food and drink.
More Info: http://www.waukeshaart.com
Waukesha Farmers’ Market
Date: Saturdays from May to October
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Farmers’ Market Area, 125 W. St. Paul Ave., Waukesha
Synopsis: More than 70 vendors provide products that are homegrown, raised or handmade in Wisconsin. Products include in-season fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, baked goods and arts and crafts.
Times: The Traveling Beer gardens open from 5 p.m.to 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends- with last call at 9 p.m.
Locations: 14 Milwaukee County Parks (see more info for details)
Synopsis: Beer garden season begins in April with the opening of South Shore Terrace Beer Garden, and will move into top gear on May 16 with the return of the Traveling Beer Gardens. The two, simultaneously running, tours will travel to fourteen stops in Milwaukee County parks in 2018, and this year they'll feature a few exciting changes.
More Info: https://patch.com/wisconsin/sh...
Wisconsin State Polka Festival
Date: May 18 to May 20
Times: Times Vary
Location: Four Points by Sheraton Milwaukee Airport 4747 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, Wis.
Synopsis: 11 big bands featuring Dutchmen, Polish, Czech, Slovenian, and German style polka music provide light and lively polka music to go along with two huge wooden dance floors. There are dance lessons Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., food, prizes, and the crowning of the Wisconsin State Polka Queen. There's also a Friday Fish Fry and a Sunday Polka Service.
More Info: http://www.wisconsinpolkaboost...
Milwaukee Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival
Date: May 26
Time: Starting at noon
Location: Waukesha County Expo Center 1000 Northview Road
Synopsis: Purchase food from more than 25 food trucks featuring food from a variety of nationalities and regional favorites. Early entry VIP tickets are available. General Admission tickets are $5. VIP tickets are $25. $5 parking is available at the Waukesha County Expo Center.
More Info: https://www.waukeshacounty.gov...
Milwaukee Jazz in the Park
Date: Thursdays May 31 to Aug 30
Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Cathedral Square Park in Downtown Milwaukee
Synopsis: Jazz in the Park is Milwaukee’s downtown summer music series, featuring a variety of music including of jazz, big band, funk, R & B, reggae, blues and more. Performers come from across town or across the country. Concerts take place Thursday evenings, 5pm-9pm from May 31 through August Music starts at 6 p.m.
More Info: http://easttown.com/?page_id=7...
Tosa Tonight Concert Series
Dates :6/13, 6/20, 7/4, 7/11, 7/25, 8/8, 8/15, 8/29
Times: Music starts at 6 p.m.
Location: Events will be held at Hart Park in the Rotary Performance Pavilion
Synopsis: Join your Tosa neighbors for evenings of fantastic music under the stars, featuring local, national, and international talent.
More Info: https://tosatonight.com
Milwaukee Highland Games
Date: Saturday, June 2
Time: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Hart Park, 7300 Chestnut Street, Wauwatosa
Synopsis: The Games present a spectacle of music, dance, Celtic clan culture and men in traditional Scottish garb. Yes, real men wear skirts. Heavy athletic competition of caber, hammer and ax throwing and longbow skills will take place in the open areas of the park.
More Info: http://www.milwaukeehighlandga...
Brewtown Rumble
Date: Sunday, June 3
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Walker’s Point
Hosted by Fuel Cafe | 630 S 5th St.
Synopsis: The Brewtown Rumble is a ride-in vintage motorcycle show. The Rumble also features live music, a pin-up show, vendors and food from some of Milwaukee’s best cafes, restaurants and food trucks.
More Info: http://brewtownrumble.com
PrideFest
Date: June 7-10
Time: Kickoff, June 7 at 5 p.m.
Friday June 8 2:30 P.M. - Midnight
Saturday June 9 Noon - Midnight
Sunday June 10 Noon - 10:00 P.M. (Grounds)
Noon - Midnight (Dance Pavilion)
Box office closes at 11 P.M. daily.
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds)
Synopsis: Celebrate the nation's largest LGBT+ festival with permanent festival grounds, operated entirely by volunteers since 1987.
More Info: http://pridefest.com
Summerfest
Dates: June 27 to July 1 and also from July 3 to July 8
Times: Times vary.
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds)
Synopsis: What more can be said about America's largest music festival? the event features more than 800 performance groups drawing nearly 900,000 fans over 11 days on 11 different stages.
Parking: https://patch.com/wisconsin/gr...
More Info: https://summerfest.com
Image courtesy The Guild of Artists and Artisans
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