By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published May 20, 2024 at 12:31 PM

OnMilwaukee is a proud sponsor of QWERTYFEST MKE.QWERTYFEST MKE is a three-day fest celebrating the invention of the typewriter in Milwaukee 150 years ago. The weekend features many quirky events, including "The Quick Brown Fox Typing Contest."

The contest takes place Friday, June 21 at Turner Hall, 1040 Vel R. Philips Ave., at 6 p.m. during QWERTYFEST MKE's Typewriter Ball.

This year, contestants must bring their own manual (non-electric) typewriters. Contestants will "type it out" on Turner Hall's stage. They'll receive a sheet of phrases and will be awarded a point for every word they type correctly in three minutes. Contestants get free admission to the Friday Typewriter Ball. 

The winner will receive a trophy, a gift basket of local goodies and, of course, bragging rights. 

Why is it called "The Quick Brown Fox" typing contest? “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” is a famous panram, which means it contains every letter of the English alphabet. It's often used for touch-typing practice, testing keyboards and displaying fonts. 

Prove you've got the fastest digits in town. There will only be one person to win this inaugural contest and it could be you!

The contest is limited to 10 contestants. People interested in competing can email qwertyfestmke@gmail.com to enter and get more info. 


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.