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While the summer may be fleeting, you've got plenty of things to do this weekend to make the most of it. From Oak Creek Lions Fest to Milwaukee Milkmen baseball and everywhere in between, make the most of your last weekends of the summer. The weekend starts now with the Weekend Preview, brought to you by Potawatomi Casino Hotel!
FRIDAY
Painting on the Plaza at The New Fashioned
Join Splash Studio’s summer series for a relaxing patio painting session, perfect for all skill levels. Tickets include supplies, step-by-step instruction, and a grazing charcuterie board.
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2000s Party at The Brick House MKE
Ages 18+ are invited to throw it back in style with all-2000s music, fashion, and vibes. Bring your Juicy tracksuits, Sidekicks, and Von Dutch hats for a nostalgic night of throwback hits and fun.
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Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts at BMO Pavilion
Neil Young is back with his band Chrome Hearts, and they're on the road for the "Love Earth" world tour. See them in Milwaukee on Friday night.
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Cerveceros Night Watch Party at Zocalo
Celebrate community, culture, and baseball with an evening full of interactive art, music, and Brewers-themed fun at Zocalo. The night will feature the Carcade video game with MLB: The Show, flash tattoos, a mural and so much more.
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Aidan Canfield with Special Guest Quentin October at Vivarium
Aidan Canfield blends rock and country influences drawn from artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Kenny Chesney, and Zach Bryan. His emotional songwriting has resonated with fans across the country, especially during support tours with Riley Green and the Cameron Sacky Band.
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Partner Pick
La Fiera de Ojinaga, Los Belicos De Culican, La Reunion Nortena, La Alizana Nortena, Grupo Blindaje at The Rave
Five regional Mexican artists will make their way to The Rave on Friday night for a collosal show!
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Ben Mulwana + Wattle & Daub at Anodyne Coffee Roasters
Wattle & Daub, a folk duo from northern Illinois, offer intimate performances full of heart and connection. Their acoustic songs tell stories that blend tradition, humor, and reflection. Sharing the stage is Ben Mulwana, a Ugandan-born artist whose soulful sound and heartfelt lyrics make for an unforgettable set.
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Firefly Fridays
Celebrate community every Friday evening at Firefly Grove Park from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy local food trucks, Vennture Brewing Company’s beer tent, sensory play from The Little Village Cafe, and live music through September 26.
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Killer High Life, Mizzy, Bug Moment, Tiny Vamp at Cactus Club
Killer High Life is an indie/emo rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Formed during the member’s first year of university, their sound switches frequently between dreamo/shoegaze, midwest emo, indie rock, and punk.
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Fireworks + Bucks at the Ballpark: Milwaukee Milkmen vs. Lake Country DockHounds
The Bucks are taking over the ballpark with entertainment, giveaways, and on-field fun. Watch the Milkmen face off against the DockHounds and stay for postgame fireworks.
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Mom Prom at Vennture Brew Co.
This laid-back garden party is for moms and mom-adjacent folks looking to relax with great drinks and good vibes. Featuring romance book talks from Thirst – A Romance Bookstore, secondhand shopping, and refreshing cocktails, it’s your chance to pause and connect before fall sets in.
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Screening of The Outsiders with C. Thomas Howell at Turner Hall Ballroom
Join C. Thomas Howell for a special screening of The Outsiders followed by stories from the set and a live Q&A session. A pre-show Meet & Greet will be available, with limited opportunities post-show. Merchandise will be on-site.
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Summer Jam featuring Hot Like Mars, Modern Joey, Shadeseeker at The Cooperage
Hot Like Mars is Chicago’s funkiest, most soulful rock band, turning heads with their exhilarating live performances and consistently compelling studio releases.
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Sip & Sound End of Summer Music Series at Style Pop Café
This music series at Style Pop Café features a rotating cast of Milwaukee artists every Friday in August from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy diverse sounds from King Kalumet while sipping on something tasty.
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Live Magic at Wizard Works Brewing
Award-winning magician Chris Ivanovich performs sleight-of-hand, mentalism, and mind-blowing tricks right at the bar. Come for a drink, stay for the magic.
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Jayx: Late Night Spin at Cactus Club
Jayx holds down the decks in the bar all night with energetic and varied taste. Locals know!
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SATURDAY
Deftones at Fiserv Forum
Deftones bring their acclaimed 2025 tour to Fiserv Forum on Saturday, with support from Phantogram and The Barbarians of California.
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Kohl’s Design It! Lab
Perfect for all ages, this hands-on creative lab offers rotating projects that can be completed in 5–20 minutes. Make something unique and take it home with you.
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Smash Burger Pop-Up at Dead Bird Brewing Co.
Head to Dead Bird Brewing Co. for a fully vegan pop-up featuring $8 Smash Burgers (extras available), stadium hot dogs, elote cups, and more. Enjoy craft drinks and a dog-friendly patio—no tickets or reservations needed.
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Bloom Beach Festival
Milwaukee’s lakefront EDM festival takes over Bradford Beach for one day, transforming the shoreline into an immersive dance escape. Bloom promises a high-energy, unforgettable experience by the lake.
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Bourbon, Blues & BBQ at Black Husky Brewing
Head to Black Husky Brewing for their inaugural Bourbon, Blues & BBQ featuring bourbon from 45th Parallel. Also, three bands with no cover charge! Food and treats from Junior's Smoked BBQ and Lush Popcorn will be available as well.
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Defenders Night: Milwaukee Milkmen vs. Lake Country DockHounds
Celebrate a spirited rivalry at the ballpark as the Milkmen face off against the DockHounds. Bring the energy and enjoy the game-day atmosphere.
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DJ Bizzon at Potawatomi Casino Hotel
Known for his creative edits and energetic style, DJ Bizzon has shared stages with top artists and serves as a DJ for the Milwaukee Bucks. Catch him live for an unforgettable set.
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IndiaFest Wisconsin
Celebrate India’s vibrant cultural heritage with food, music, performances, and community spirit. Hosted by volunteers of Spindle India, Inc., this festival blends tradition with togetherness.
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Topher at The Wicked Hop
Topher takes over the turntables every Saturday at The Wicked Hop until close. He’ll be holding down the late-night hearts with a mixture of hip hop, R&B, pop and more, so don’t forget your dancing pants!
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Justin Bieber Brunch at Oak Barrel Public House
Beliebers unite at Oak Barrel Public House for themed brunch bites, Bieber-inspired drinks, swag bags, and nonstop Justin hits. Dress the part and sing along from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.
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Marshall Building Art Crawl
Explore six floors of galleries, shops, and studios in the historic Third Ward Marshall Building. Enjoy demonstrations, artist meet-and-greets, and a Saturday reception at Gallery 218 with live jazz and a cash bar.
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Bleary Eyed, Shamewave, Humid at Cactus Club
Philadelphia emo band Bleary Eyed are making their way to Milwaukee, and they'll stop in Bay View for a show with locals Shamewave and Humid. Get sad and have fun!
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Morning Yoga at Davidson Park
Start your Saturday with a free, all-levels yoga session from 9-10 a.m., followed by coffee from Style Pop Cafe and build-your-own bouquets from First Roots Farm. No registration required.
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Strangelander at Vivarium
Originally formed as The Middle West, Strangelander began with a spontaneous jam session at Full Moon Milwaukee. The group’s instrumental music came together in a single week of inspired creativity.
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Third Ward Art Festival
Taking place Labor Day weekend, this free festival features over 150 juried artists, live music, food vendors, interactive demos, and a family-friendly kids’ zone.
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Well + Good, The Night Painters, Mary Don’t Care at Anodyne Coffee Roasters
Three Wisconsin-based bands take the stage: indie alt-rock from Milwaukee’s Well + Good, Madison’s The Night Painters with a new album release, and MKE folk-punk from Mary Don’t Care.
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Nuke Plant Chickens, Mourning Star, Charlieboy, Mtn Deu at Falcon Bowl
Four bands are back at Falcon Bowl for another great show featuring new and upcoming names!
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Wonderful Bluffer, Rainbow Cobra, Venturer at Linneman's
Wonderful Bluffer is a 5-piece Rock and Roll band formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With influences ranging from traditional blues, to the heaviest of progressive rock music, this dynamic group of multi-instrumentalists provide a unique variety of sounds guaranteed to please any listener.
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SUNDAY
Billy Idol, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at American Family Insurance Amphitheater End of Summer Bash: Milwaukee Milkmen vs. Lake Country DockHounds
Billy Idol hits the road with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts for a rock-filled night at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. It's a nice day to... tour again!
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Close out summer with high energy and big plays at this final showdown between the Milkmen and DockHounds. Enjoy fierce baseball action and fun for the whole family.
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Falcon Flea
Head to Falcon Hall in Riverwest for a curated market featuring vintage finds, handmade goods, artwork, and small business vendors. Nearly 50 booths inside, outside, and along Fratney Street.
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Fresh Floral Vase Design at Greyhouse Creative Market
Learn how to build a beautiful vase arrangement using seasonal flowers. All materials, tools, and expert instruction are included to help your blooms last and impress.
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Full Band Open Jam with Uncle Don at Nashville North
Every Sunday at Nashville North, musicians are invited to jam on a fully lit stage with pro equipment and local legend Uncle Don. Drums, bass, and PA provided—just bring your talent.
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Harbor House 15th Anniversary Clambake Party
Celebrate 15 years of lakefront dining at Harbor House with a traditional New England–style clambake, live music, and skyline views. The rolling-style event includes raw bar options, seasonal sides, and dessert.
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Summer Night Movie in Veterans Park (Shrek)
Gift of Wings presents a free outdoor screening of Shrek at dusk in Veterans Park. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and enjoy $1 popcorn under the stars on Milwaukee’s lakefront.
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Wavy Lines Workshop Series at Cactus Club
This series of workshops will explore the diverse uses in which cellulose fibers can be used to make an assortment of objects often associated with non-cellular high volume production based materials such as: plastics, ceramics, or metals. This is a celebration of paper-like materials and their diverse and expansive uses.
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K Camp, Fresco Trey, Domani at The Rave
Milwaukee native K. Camp is back in the city for his "Kiss 6" Tour, and he's headlining Sunday night at The Rave!
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Urban Bird Hike
Join a morning hike at Lakeshore State Park to learn birdwatching basics and spot migratory species in their natural habitat. Binoculars recommended; a few are available to borrow.
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Midwest MudFest at The Cooperage
Prepare for a night of chaos-drenched liberation at the second annual Midwest Mudfest, now greased up and reloaded as Electric Boogaloo. It’s louder, sweatier, and more unapologetically unhinged than ever before.
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Pilates in the Park
Complimentary 45-minute Pilates classes are offered Sundays by Anointed Hands. Stretch, strengthen, and connect with nature—beginners welcome.
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Riverwest Farmers Market
Every Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., find fresh produce, baked goods, honey, flowers, and more on Pierce Street between Center and Hadley. All are welcome.
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Special Needs Swim Time
The Springs Water Park offers designated swim hours for individuals with special needs and their families on select Sundays from 4–7 p.m. Admission is $8.50 per person.
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Walker Square Farmers Market
The beloved neighborhood market returns in 2025 to Walker Square Park. Support local farmers, enjoy fresh food, and listen to live music from 12-2 p.m. each Sunday.
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Goth Barge: Subspace After Barge at Cactus Club
The party goes all weekend, so turn up on Sunday night! Goth Barge will be DJing following their boat party for an all-night rager.
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ALL WEEKEND LONG
Labor Day at the Harley-Davidson Museum
Labor Day weekend at the Harley-Davidson Museum will be packed with excitement from Thursday, August 28 through Sunday, August 31. Events include Thursday Bike Night – Ladies Night, the H-D® Factory Outlet Sale, MKE Labor Day Weekend Challenge, MOTOR Bar & Restaurant Smoker, Big Unit Poker Run and much more.
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Oak Creek LionsFest
This four-day community festival features three music stages, carnival rides, games, raffles, food, and even helicopter rides. With an $8,000 cash raffle and a packed schedule, there’s something for everyone.
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Curious George™: Let’s Get Curious!
Now open at Discovery World, this interactive exhibit brings Curious George’s world to life with fun science, math, and engineering activities. Explore mini golf, a space rocket, a farm, and more—all included with general admission.
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Dirtnap Records 25th Anniversary at X-Ray Arcade
Dirtnap Records are bringing an absolutely insane three-day fest to the very famous stage at X-Ray Arcade!
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Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Dive under the sea for a live production of The Little Mermaid, featuring beloved songs like “Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea.” This magical musical retells Ariel’s timeless journey to the surface.
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Kinetic Garden, Summer Floral Show at The Domes
The harmony between nature and art finds colorful expression in “Kinetic Garden,” a floral exhibit on view at The Domes June 7th - September 7th.
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Adam Ferrara at Milwaukee Improv
Adam Ferrara is an internationally touring headliner two-time nominee for best male stand-up by the American Comedy Awards and has three Comedy Central Specials. He proudly played Chief Needles Nelson on the Emmy® nominated FX drama "Rescue Me" with Denis Leary and Frank Verelli on Showtime’s hit series "Nurse Jackie" opposite Emmy® Award winner Edie Falco. He has also co-starred alongside Kevin James in the hit movie "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and in "Definitely Maybe" with Ryan Reynolds and Isla Fisher.
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Exploration Dinosaur at the Milwaukee County Zoo
Dig into dinos! Unearth the past and explore prehistoric life, including the bones, teeth, and more from mighty dinosaurs like the T. Rex and Triceratops! Walk among more than 20 full-size and scientifically accurate animatronic displays, plus four activity stations
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The Kalmbach Art Collection: Pairing Words and Imagery
Don't miss the first public exhibition of Kalmbach Media’s historic art collection. Totaling fifty-nine original paintings, "The Kalmbach Art Collection: Pairing Words and Imagery" is a pillar of rail-themed art filled with landmark works from Howard Fogg, George Gloff, Gil Reid, Ted Rose, John Swatsley, and many others.
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100 things to do in Milwaukee (and beyond) this summer
Looking for a way to get out and enjoy summer with your friends and family? We have ideas. From eating at a restaurant with a great patio view to enjoying local festivals to exploring the many outdoor attractions around town and more, here's everything you need for a great Milwaukee summer.
100 things to do in Milwaukee
100 things for families and kids to do in Milwaukee this summer
Milwaukee provides fun for the whole family all summer long! Your mission is to see how many of these you can cross off of your checklist during the Great Milwaukee Summer.
100 Things to Do!
It's beer garden season!
Beer garden season has arrived in Milwaukee! Here's the dish – or should we say, the pour – including when they're open and more.
Beer Garden Guide
Enjoy some free music!
In just about every corner of Milwaukee, you'll hear live music in the summertime. The neighborhoods of the city come alive when the sun stays out late, and that means plenty of free concert series and a wide array of music for you to enjoy.
Free Live Music Guide
Try a new restaurant!
Regularly supporting our locally owned restaurants is among the most impactful things we can vow to do. Lori Fredrich's list of 52 Restaurants for 2025 is here!
#52Restaurants