Living - Activities - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Milwaukeans take part in many clubs and organizations; activities include interest groups, clubs, hobbies, community centers, organizations, and groups

• Groups: Interest, community, and business groups; activities include clubs, hobbies, community centers, and organizations
  • AA: Alcoholics Anonymous Milwaukee
  • AIDS: Resource Center of Wisconsin; provides HIV prevention, training and education, access to services for people affected by HIV disease, clinical research on HIV treatment and HIV advocacy through nine statewide offices
  • Alice's Garden: sustainable farming; community cultural development, and economic agricultural enterprises
  • Amateur Radio ES: Milwaukee/Waukesha Amateur Radio Emergency Service; consists of licensed amateur radio operators (hams) who have voluntarily registered qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service during disasters
  • Agriculture, Urban: Food Systems; focuses on community food systems, sustainable agriculture, community gardening, and leadership
  • Anthropology, Urban: Urban Anthropology Inc. (UrbAn); engaged exclusively in the practice of urban anthropology; cultural diversity and a holistic approach to urban problem-solving
  • Art Bay View: Bay View Arts Guild; works to make art a part of life in the neighborhood of Bay View, a neighborhood south of downtown Milwaukee
  • Art Latino: Latino Arts; provides and promotes Hispanic programming in the arts
  • Art Riverwest: Riverwest Artist Association; aims to foster reflective, innovative, and proactive art to enrich and stimulate the community
  • Art Walker's Pt: Walker's Point Center for the Arts; art exhibits; supports visual and performing arts and learning in a multicultural environment
  • Art Youth: Milwaukee Youth Arts Center; a contemporary arts education and rehearsal facility for the young people; joint venture of First Stage Children's Theater and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra
  • Arts @ Large: Arts education; Walker's Point
  • Artist Resources MARN: Milwaukee Artist Resource Network; an advocacy group that pools knowledge and skills to help promote the arts in Wisconsin
  • Astronomy: Milwaukee Astronomical Society; observatory in New Berlin; observations of eclipsing binaries, RR Lyraes, Asteroid Occultations, Lunar Grazes; hands-on astronomy and public outreach
  • Autism Society: Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin; supports people with autism spectrum disorders, their families, professionals, and others
  • Bees: Beevangelists
  • Bike Collective: Milwaukee Bicycle Collective
  • Billiards: Billiard Congress of Wisconsin; conducts tournaments on professional-size pool tables
  • Blood: BloodCenter of Wisconsin; provides blood products, medical expertise, and scientific discovery
  • Bonsai: Milwaukee Bonsai Society; dedicated to helping individuals in their efforts to increase their knowledge and skills in the art of bonsai
  • Bowling: United States Bowling Congress; national governing body of bowling; located in Greendale, Wisconsin near Southridge Mall; serves more than three million bowlers across the country
  • Boys & Girls Clubs: Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee; a youth-serving agency to empower all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens
  • Broadcast: Society of Broadcast Engineers Chapter 28 Milwaukee; gives chapter information, newsletters, and articles about broadcasting such as the story of Milwaukee's first radio and television stations
  • Burns, Robert: Robert Burns Club of Milwaukee; dedicated to Scotland's 18th century poet Robert Burns; includes club information as well as links to information about Robert Burns and his works
  • Catholic: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee; information and news about the Roman Catholic Archdiocese which includes Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties
  • Chinese: Milwaukee Chinese Community Center; Chinese language education, culture outreach, and social engagement
  • Christian Ctr: Milwaukee Christian Center; based on the south side of Milwaukee, an agency offering community programs
  • Civil Air Patrol: Milwaukee Composite Squadron Five, Civil Air Patrol
  • COA: Children's Outing Association Youth and Family Centers; services and programs for Milwaukee families; established 1906
  • Community Shares: Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee; supports and funds organizations actively working to solve serious social problems confronting the Milwaukee area
  • Creative Trust: fostering life-long learning through art
  • Custard: CustartList.com; devoted to listing the daily flavors of custard (a dessert made of eggs, sugar, and milk) available for sale at restaurants or stands; custard is a great Milwaukee tradition; this Web site originated for Milwaukee-area stands, this list now provides information all over the United States; customizable
  • Engineers: Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers; supports the ethical practice of Professional Engineering
  • French: Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee; dedicated to promoting French language, literature, history and culture and to encouraging French-American cultural exchange and friendship; offers classes
  • Fun: MKE Fun; a list of Milwaukee area attractions related to unique shopping, dining, nightlife, and things to do
  • Groundwork: Groundwork Milwaukee; develops the physical environment with community-based partnerships to promote environmental, economic, and social well-being
  • Growing Power: Food Systems; focuses on community food systems, sustainable agriculture, community gardening, and leadership
  • Genealogical Society: Milwaukee County Genealogical Society; collects, exchanges and preserves genealogical materials; informs the general public about genealogy; and purchases books of genealogical value to be donated to public libraries in the Milwaukee area
  • Genealogy WIGenWeb: Wisconsin Genweb Project; information about Milwaukee County, Wisconsin genealogy resources
  • Greater Milw Foundation: Greater Milwaukee Foundation; helps people establish permanent charitable funds that serve people throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties and beyond
  • Green Bldgs: Wisconsin Green Building Alliance; facilitates and promotes the development and use of ecologically sustainable materials and practices within Wisconsin's built environment
  • Goodwill: Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago; provides work opportunities and skill development for people with barriers to employment
  • Habitat: Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity; opporunities for home ownership
  • Historic Milwaukee: Historic Milwaukee; dedicated to increasing the public's awareness of Milwaukee's historical and architectural heritage; provides walking tours and guided bus tours, and lectures
  • Horse Stables: MKE Urban Stables; equine-assisted services and programs to youth and veterans; Milwaukee Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit
  • Human Res Mgt: Human Resource Management Association of Southeastern Wisconsin; a professional organization for those involved in the human resource management profession; the local affiliate chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management
  • Humane: Wisconsin Humane Society; provides quality, cost effective services for homeless animals; site includes information on animal adoption
  • Hunger: Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee; provides donated food and food purchased in bulk to area emergency feeding organizations; offers various forms of administrative and technical assistance; promotes social policies that ensure food security
  • International: International Institute of Wisconsin; dedicated to the promotion of international cooperation, understanding, and a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural perspective through education, exchange, communication, social activities, and immigration and naturalization services
  • Irish Cultural Ctr: Irish Cultural and Heritage Center; information on Irish events in Milwaukee
  • Irish Shamrock Club: Shamrock Club of Wisconsin; oldest and largest Irish American organization in the State of Wisconsin
  • Islamic: Islamic Society of Milwaukee; works to serve the religious, educational and social needs of the community and to promote good citizenship; to advocate for social justice, to build relations with other communities and to assist those in need
  • Jewish: Milwaukee Jewish Federation; builds a strong unified Jewish community in Milwaukee, in Israel and throughout the world; committed to the principles of Klal Yisrael (the collective unity of the Jewish people), tzedakah (the obligation to care for one another) and tikkun olam (improving the society in which we live)
  • Keep Milw Beautiful: Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful; works for waste reduction and reuse, recycling, composting, and litter and graffiti prevention; environmental education and community involvement programs and events
  • Labor: Milwaukee County Labor Council; supports organizing labor
  • Law Bar: Milwaukee Bar Association; advocates for local and state practice standards, ethics codes and lawyer discipline and licensure
  • LGBT: Milwaukee Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center; community-based organization to improve the quality of life for LGBT people in the Metro Milwaukee area
  • MACC Fund: Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer; a charitable organization formed in 1976 to support research into the effective treatment and cure of childhood cancer; special events include professional athletes, community-minded business people, corporations, fraternal organizations, local celebrities, and volunteers
  • Makerspace: Milwaukee Makerspace; a social club for people who like build, invent, tinker and/or collect new skills and expand their minds
  • Medical: Medical Society of Milwaukee County; an organization of physicians that provides leadership responsive to the needs of its members and collaborates with others to improve the community's health by maintaining the highest possible standards in the practice of medicine
  • Medieval Life: Barony of Caer Anterth Mawr; dedicated to providing an atmosphere of learning, sharing, growth and recognition through the study and re-enactment of medieval life
  • Ministries: Milwaukee Outreach Center; unites churches and ministries to reach out to those in need of physical and spiritual help
  • MS Soc: Wisconsin Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; helps people with multiple sclerosis
  • New Urbanism: Congress for the New Urbanism Wisconsin Chapter; works for sustainable cities, agricultural and natural land preservation, urban centers and towns with diverse neighborhoods, and education and exchange in the area of the New Urbanism
  • Park People: Park People of Milwaukee County; a volunteer group working in partnership with the Milwaukee County Park Department to protect, enhance and preserve the more than 144 parks and 6,000 hectares of land in Milwaukee County
  • Performing Arts: United Performing Arts Fund; raises operating funds for its member performing arts groups
  • Public Policy: Public Policy Forum; a group devoted to a range of issues affecting southeastern Wisconsin, the state and the nation: education, tax and economic development policy, transportation, public safety, health, public infrastructure and other quality of life issues
  • Press: Milwaukee Press Club; local journalism organization
  • Recreation: Milwaukee Recreation; a department of the Milwaukee Public Schools to provide community recreation programs for adults and children
  • Recycling: Milwaukee Recycles; Recycle for Good - Milwaukee; aims to bring together neighborhoods while providing information and education in preventing valuable recyclables from going to waste in our landfills; recycling information from a variety of local, state and federal resources
  • Red Cross: American Red Cross Greater Milwaukee Chapter; provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies; includes Dodge, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha Counties
  • River: Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers; works to advocate for water quality, land use, and the biota in the watersheds of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers
  • River Rivitalization: River Revitalization Foundation; conservation and protection of the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers; protection of riparian corridors; land acquisition, easements, connecting green space, creating a parkway which provides public access to the river valley, and landowner education
  • St. Vincent: St. Vincent de Paul Society District Council of Milwaukee; a Catholic lay organization which involves its volunteer members in helping situations with those who are in need
  • Salvation Army: Salvation Army Greater Milwaukee; provides food and housing
  • SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives; works for entrepreneur education and the formation, growth, and success of small businesses
  • SciFi: Milwaukee Time Lords; a science fiction fan club with its original foundation being the British TV series Doctor Who
  • Scottish: Wisconsin Scottish; preserves the traditional arts and crafts, culture, heritage and traditions of the British Isles through educational activities
  • Scottish Dancers: Milwaukee Scottish Country Dancers; a social group that enjoys learning and dancing the traditional jigs, reels and strathspeys of Scotland
  • Singles: MKE Personals; a resource that allows singles connect through personal ads as well as a personality profile that helps match dimensions of compatibility
  • Special Olympics: Special Olympics Wisconsin; provides persons with cognitive disabilities year-round sports training and competition
  • Story-Ex Fabula: community bonds through storytelling
  • Tech Comm: Society for Technical Communication Wisconsin Chapter; serves Technical Writers, Graphic Artists, and other technical communication professionals throughout Wisconsin, especially in the Southeastern area of the state
  • Transition: Transition Milwaukee; works to create, enhance and promote community projects related to food, power, economics, transportation, and self-reliance
  • Turners: Milwaukee Turners; hosts public discussions and debate on democracy and programs for physical health such as gymnastics education, public forums, music and art events; has its roots in the German Turn Verein associations of the early 19th century founded by Frederick Ludwig Jahn in 1811 to prepare youth mentally and physically for resistance to Napoleonic domination; these organizations were later founded in the United States by German immigrants; the Milwaukee Turners were founded in 1855
  • United Way: United Way of Greater Milwaukee; conducts a single, community-wide fund-raising campaign once a year to provide local health and human service programs with money for community problems like child abuse, hunger, homelessness and substance abuse
  • Urban Ecology: Urban Ecology Center; a neighborhood ecology education community center in Riverside Park; see photo album page
  • Urban Gardens: Milwaukee Urban Gardens; acquires and preserves land and partners with neighborhood residents to develop and maintain community gardens; currently holds titles to four properties: Greenfolks Garden in Riverwest; Village Roots Garden in Bay View; Hocking Heritage and Spencer Garden, both on the Northwest side of Milwaukee
  • Urban League: Milwaukee Urban League; works to help people to achieve their full potential and participate in the social mainstream, to secure economic self-sufficiency, parity and power, and civil rights
  • Vintage: Retro - Milwaukee; memories, images, and accounts of Milwaukee's past
  • Volunteers: Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee; connects people with opportunities to volunteer in a wide range of organizations; site includes a listing of volunteer opportunities with many area nonprofit organizations
  • Water: The Water Council; works on area freshwater research, economic development and education; formerly The Milwaukee Water Council
  • Woman's Club: Woman's Club of Wisconsin; civic and social club; see photo album page
  • Women's Business: Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation; an economic development corporation offering business education, technical assistance and access to capital for women and minority entrepreneurs
  • Writing: Redbird studios; a small educational organization dedicated to helping people write; located in the Marian Center on the shore of Lake Michigan in Bay View, Milwaukee
  • YMCA: YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee; provides exercise and fitness programs to the community as well as programs for families, mentoring, teens, children, and young women
  • YWCA: YWCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee
  • Zoological Society: Zoological Society of Milwaukee; conserves wildlife and endangered species, educates people about the importance of wildlife and the environment, and supports the Milwaukee County Zoo
  • -USA Directories-: Search organization directories; there are hundreds of thousands of organizations, associations, societies, and nonprofits in the US covering many interests; some of these are based in Milwaukee; these directories help you locate an organization
• Commerce: Organizations promoting business and business opportunities in the Milwaukee Area
  • Water Council: Water-related Milwaukee-area businesses, education and government people and organizations; more than 180 members; global water technology companies; water entrepreneurs; government agencies; non-governmental organizations; academic research programs; water professionals
  • Water Commons: Milwaukee Water Commons; community organization; stewardship, access, decision-making for water resources
  • StartupMKE: new business community
  • Commons: college students work to launch high-growth startups
  • Dept of City Dev: Milwaukee Department of City Development; aims to improve the quality of life in Milwaukee by guiding and promoting development that creates jobs, builds wealth and strengthens the urban environment, and at the same time respects equity, economy and ecology
  • Hispanic Chamber: Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin; networks existing businesses with the personnel and technical resources to expand and diversify
  • M7: Seven-county region surrounding Milwaukee; promoting itself for economic development and business purposes; counties are Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha, and Washington
  • MiKE: innovation in MKE; a design, technology and innovation cluster
  • MMAC: Metropolitan Milwaukee Area Chamber of Commerce; encourages business development, capital investment and job creation, and provides networking opportunities, events, and volunteer opportunities; Council of Small Business Executives; represents businesses in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington Counties
  • Research Pk: Milwaukee County Research Park Corporation; manages the development of a university-related research park on 70 hectares of Milwaukee County owned land in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
  • SWWT: Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust (Sweet Water); a collaborative effort to achieve healthy and sustainable water resources throughout the Greater Milwaukee Watersheds
  • Tech Hub: MKE Tech Hub Coalition; works to increase the tech talent in the Milwaukee region
  • World Trade Assoc: Milwaukee World Trade Association; membership organization that links companies and individuals with common interests: the expansion of international business, exchange of experiences, increasing member knowledge and expertise in international sales and services
• Listings: Connect to online calendars and databases; show what's going on and where; see also the venues section for listings of events
  • Shepherd: Milwaukee events listings
  • -Major CALENDAR-: Major Festivals Calendar; a brief run-down of the major festivals listed in chronological order with links to official Web sites and a brief description
  • JSOnline: Entertainment; shows Milwaukee events on a wide range of categories; provided by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper's online service
  • Visitors Calendar: Calendar of Events; view list of major events or search for events by date and category; provided by Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • OnMilw Events: Events section from onMilwaukee.com; lists area events
  • Movies: BigScreen Cinema Guide; what's playing in local movie theaters; customizable
  • Footlights: Guide to theater in Milwaukee
  • UWM: University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee; shows daily, academic, and ongoing events at the campus including public lectures, concerts, films, art, and events
  • Ticket King: Local and national ticket broker; specializes in Wisconsin and Minnesota events; site includes listings of hot events and availability of tickets
  • -USA Listings -: Events listings directories; there are many sites that list events of all kinds
• Performing: Milwaukee is home to many performing arts and cultural groups
  • Alverno Presents: performing arts series at Alverno College
  • Bel Canto Chorus: choral arts organization; includes the Bel Canto Boy Choir
  • Boulevard Theatre: Boulevard Ensemble Studio Theatre
  • Chamber Theatre: Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
  • Comedy: Milwaukee Comedy; Milwaukee Comedy Festival and milwaukeecomedy.com; lists comedy events including sketch comedy, improv, stand-up, open mic nights, special events and more in and around the Greater Milwaukee area
  • Constructivists: live theatre
  • Early Music: Early Music Now; presents historically-informed performances by recognized artists and ensembles who specialize in music before 1800
  • First Stage: First Stage Children's Theater
  • Jazz: Milwaukee Jazz Vision; musicians, teachers, students, listeners, music industry professionals and community leaders working to advance the Jazz community in Milwaukee
  • Knightwind: Knightwind Ensemble; adult wind band
  • Milwaukee Ballet: Ballet company in Milwaukee
  • MPT: Milwaukee Public Theatre; creates and presents theatrical and performing arts productions through a professional company
  • NextAct: Next Act Theatre; professional non-profit theater company
  • Opera Florentine: Milwaukee Florentine Opera Company; presents grand opera productions and community and educational programs
  • Opera Skyllight: Skylight Opera Theatre; professional opera and music theater company encompassing baroque opera, European operetta, Gilbert and Sullivan, Broadway musicals, contemporary chamber operas and original musical revues; in English; located in the Broadway Theatre Center
  • Pink Banana Theatre: encourages new and emerging artists
  • Present Music: Ensemble specializing in new music in the United States
  • Renaissance: Renaissance Theaterworks; specializing in the feminine voice; located off-Broadway at the corner of Water and St. Paul Streets
  • The Rep: Milwaukee Repertory Theater; professional, live theater company located in the heart of the Downtown Theater District in the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex, located in the Milwaukee Center
  • Symphony MSO: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra; major, professional symphony orchestra
  • Symphony Festival: Milwaukee's Festival City Symphony; provides free or low-cost concerts for Milwaukee audiences while giving talented musicians an opportunity to perform
  • Symphony Youth: Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra; provides training in techniques of orchestral and ensemble musicianship through a program of rehearsals, performances and enrichment activities to young musicians ages 8-18 in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin
  • Windfall: Windfall Theatre; a non-profit, professional theater company with a three-production season
• Festivals: Milwaukee is known as the City of Festivals; many ethnic and cultural festivals are held annually in Milwaukee; some of these festivals are the largest of their kind; most (but not all--see Web sites) are held at Milwaukee's Maier Festival Grounds (known as Summerfest grounds because of its largest and most famous annual festival) located on 30 hectares at the Lake Michigan shoreline just north of the mouth of the Milwaukee river; all of these festivals depend on thousands of volunteers and staff; see the calendar of major festivals for a chronological run-down of the major festivals; see the periodic events section for information on recurring concert series and other non-festival events
  • -Major CALENDAR-: Major Festivals Calendar; a brief run-down of the major festivals listed in chronological order with links to official Web sites and a brief description
  • Arts Lakefront: Lakefront Festival of Arts; put on by the Milwaukee Art Museum, offers unique works of art in a variety of media, demonstrations by artists, food, and music
  • Art Third Ward: Third Ward Art Festival
  • Asian: Asian Festival
  • Bastille: Bastille Days; organized by Milwaukee's East Town Association; celebrates music, food, and culture loosely organized around a French theme; held in the Cathedral Square area of Milwaukee's East Town
  • Black Arts: honors African and African American culture
  • Brady St: Brady Street Festival; see photo album page
  • Brewfest: Milwaukee Brewfest; a celebration of beer, breweries, and brewers; held at the Old Coast Guard Pavilion Park on Milwaukee's lakefront
  • Bronzeville: Cultural and Arts Festival
  • Center St: Center Street Daze Festival; in Riverwest
  • Comedy: Milwaukee Comedy; Milwaukee Comedy Festival and milwaukeecomedy.com; lists comedy events including sketch comedy, improv, stand-up, open mic nights, special events and more in and around the Greater Milwaukee area
  • Directory: Community and Parish Festival Directory; this is a directory of the many community, church, fair, and other small festival and fairs held throughout the area; CFC = Council of Festival Committees
  • Dragon Boat: Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival; organized by Milwaukee Chinese Community Center
  • Film: Milwaukee Film Festival; features an international slate of films
  • Firkin: Milwaukee Firkin (29.81 liters in the US) Craft Beer Fest; a celebration of Milwaukee beer, past, present and future; a US firkin is a unit of measure about a quarter barrel of beer or 29.81 liters; see photo album page
  • Fifth St: Fifth St
  • Folkfair: Holiday Folk Fair International; produced by the International Institute of Wisconsin, an organization dedicated to racial, cultural, and ethnic understanding
  • Fringe: performance and visual arts; celebrates Milwaukee's vibrant and diverse arts scene
  • German: German Fest; features musicians and dance troupes from around the world, costumes, contests, a live Glockenspiel, and other family activities
  • Greek: Greek Fest; at State Fair Park
  • Harbor: Harbor Fest; put on by the Harbor District
  • Highland Games Scottish: Milwaukee Scottish Fest
  • IndiaFest: InidaFest; Indian authentic food, gorgeous costumes, cultural shows, dance, music, and activities
  • Indian Summer: Native American; celebrates the diversity of both traditional and contemporary Native American culture
  • Irish: Milwaukee Irish Fest; celebrates Irish culture, music, and food at the lakefront annually and also works on promoting Irish culture and traditions throughout the year
  • Italiana: Festa Italiana; music, food, bocce, artifacts from the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church, gondola rides, fireworks
  • Jazz: Summer Sizzle; Jazz festival in the Historic Third Ward
  • Kite: Various Kite Festivals; in Veterans Park; see "Events" section; Cool Kite Festival, Family Kite Festival, Frank Mots Kite festival; see photo album page
  • Laborfest: Milwaukee County Labor Council AFL-CIO; a parade through downtown Milwaukee; festival on the Summerfest grounds (Maier Festival Park)
  • Locust St: Locust Street Festival; music, food, vendors, beer run/walk; in Riverwest (west bank of the Milwaukee River)
  • Mexican: Mexican Fiesta; the sound, culture and taste of Mexico
  • Octoberfest: Milwaukee
  • Periodic Events: for other events, see this listing of non-festival events of various kinds; Milwaukee has many annual or one-day special events, ongoing summer concert series, and recurring trade shows that are not festivals, but have many similar features (food, folks, and fun)
  • Petfest: Pet activities; Fromm Family foods
  • Polish: Polish Fest; food, music, Chopin Piano competition; site includes information about Wisconsin's Polish Community
  • Pride: PrideFest; celebrates diversity, the accomplishments, contributions, and history of the LGBT community
  • Running: Milwaukee Running Festival; marathon, half-marathon
  • Rock the Green: near-zero waste music festival; eco-friendly event production; clean/renewable energy to power the event to composting to biodegradable plates/utensils and more
  • Scottish: Milwaukee Highland Games / Milwaukee Scottish Fest; bands, food, dancing, sheepdogs, parade
  • Summer Sizzle: Jazz festival; in the Historic Third Ward
  • Summer Solstice: The East Side's Summer Solstice Music Festival
  • Summerfest: Summerfest; Milwaukee's largest and most famous summer festival; world's largest outdoor music festival; "The Big Gig;" music festival; eleven days, twelve hours a day, thirteen stages, hundreds of performers, food, hundreds of thousands of folks, and fun
  • Sun Fair: On Historic Mitchell Street; entertainment, rides, games, music, and food; visits to historic churches
  • Trainfest: Trainfest; presents operating model train layouts along with manufacturers, historical societies, displays, artists, hobby shops, demonstrations, and locomotive testing; put on by the Wisconsin Southeastern Division, Inc. of the Midwest Region of the National Model Railroad Association
  • Urban Island: urban park festival; at Lakeshore State Park; see photo album page; formerly called Gathering Waters Festival
• Periodic: Milwaukee has many annual or one-day special events, ongoing summer concert series, and recurring trade shows; see the festivals section for the world-famous and community ethnic festivals held in Milwaukee
  • Air Show: Milwaukee Air and Water Show; on the Lakefront; airpower demonstrations; water show; my photos
  • Al's Run: Run and Walk for Children's Hospital; fundraising run and walk for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin; memorializes Al McGuire, the late Marquette University basketball coach, wanted to thank the southeastern Wisconsin community for its support of the Marquette Warriors during the 1977 NCAA season
  • APT: Arte Para Todos; neighborhood local art and music experience
  • Bay View Bash: A block party for the Bay View neighborhood; music, entertainment, and food
  • Bay View Gallery Night: a twice-yearly art event
  • Beer Gardens: Milwaukee County Parks; drink beer in selected parks through the summer season; "traveling beer garden"
  • Beer Week: celebrating Beer in Brew City
  • Bradford Beach: Summer fun; Bradford Beach is open May to October; beach Volleyball Leagues run June through September; Music by the Fire each Thursday and Sunday Funday’s starting June 17 through September 26; Bradford Beach Jams
  • Brewers Mini: Brewers Mini-Marathon; half-marathon, 5K, 10K; begin and end at Miller Park
  • Chill on the Hill: Humboldt Park; outdoor summer concert series
  • Christkindlmarket: German-themed holiday market; at the Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center plaza
  • Cicloviamke: a car-free public space event; families and friends can exercise and play, and neighborhood businesses can engage the community
  • Circus: Tripoli Shrine Circus; annual circus held in February
  • Cream City Classic: Open river swim; on the Milwaukee River
  • DOMKE: Doors Open Milwaukee; visit building interiors during this special program of Historic Milwaukee, Inc.; my photos from DOMKE
  • Dylan's Run: Benefits Autism Research and The Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin
  • Fall Experiment: technology, art, film, and music
  • Festivals: MKE Festivals; a list of the many ethnic and cultural festivals held in Milwaukee
  • Free Music: Directory of area music series; a directory of places to go in the greater Milwaukee area for free music and other events, including summer concert series
  • Gallery Night: Quarterly art gallery event; art galleries, art schools, and art musuems throughout the downtown, east side, Third Ward, and Walker's Point, and around offer special exhibits, food, entertainment on a Friday night
  • Green Energy: Green Energy Summit and Exposition; green sector development and investment; energy-water nexus; education, efficiency, financing, agriculture, building, business, manufacturing, careers, innovation, recycling, renewables, responsibility, sustainability, transportation, and water; see photo album page
  • Harley: Anniversary of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles in Milwaukee
  • Holiday Lights: Winter season lights display; lights illuminate downtown parks and buildings
  • Holiday Parade: Annual Holiday Parade; downtown Milwaukee
  • Hunting Moon: Pow Wow; a celebration of Native American culture and tradition
  • Jazz: Milwaukee Jazz Vision; periodic jazz events; Bay View Jazz Fest; Visions on the Lake
  • Jazz in Park: Weekly summer jazz concert; in Cathedral Square park in downtown Milwaukee's East Town
  • Lake MI Trail Marathon: Marathon; Half Marathon; 50k; 32k Training Run; trails through Milwaukee's park system
  • Lake Park: Concerts at Frederick Law Olmsted designed park; lighthouse, golf, lion bridges; see photo album page
  • Lakefront Marathon: Annual marathon; from Grafton to downtown
  • Live @ Peck: summer concerts and film at the outdoor Peck Pavillion at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
  • Live @ the Lakefront: Summer concert series at Discovery World; at Pier Wisconsin on Lake Michigan
  • Maker Faire: makers show off their stuff; tech enthusiasts, inventors, crafters, educators, tinkerers and hobbyists of all ages exhibit their work and share their knowledge and skills; co-hosted by Betty Brinn Children’s Museum and the Milwaukee Makerspace, in collaboration with MAKE magazine and sponsored by Brady Corporation.
  • Marathon/Runningfest: Milwaukee Running Festival; marathon, half-marathon
  • Memorial Day: War Memorial Center, downtown Milwaukee, Veterans Park
  • Mexican Independence: Mexican Independence Parade and Festival
  • Milwaukee Day: a celebration of the 414; events throughout the city on April 14th to recognize what is special about Milwaukee
  • Milwaukee Rally: Harley-Davidson motorcycle rally; produced by Harley-Davidson Dealers of Metro Milwaukee
  • Morning Glory Craft: Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair; fine craft artists exhibiting media in ceramics, glass, leather, wood, photography, jewelry, fiber, enamel, handmade paper, metal, and mixed media
  • Museum "Mile": annual day of free entry to a consortium of museums in the East Side of Milwaukee; Charles Allis Art Museum, Jewish Museum Milwaukee, North Point Lighthouse, Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Museum of Wisconsin Art on St John's on The Lake; NOTE: the walking distance from the southernmost museum, The Jewish Museum of Milwaukee, to the northernmost, North Point Lighthouse, is about 3 km (I'm not sure why they name this consortium after a distance representing about half that)
  • Night Market: MKE Night Market; people, food, music, and the night on West Wisconsin Avenue
  • Park Events: Calendar of events in Milwaukee County parks
  • Plein Air MKE: artists paint and compete for prizes; along the Milwaukee Museum "Mile"
  • Polar Plunge: Polar Bear Plunge Milwaukee
  • Race4Cure: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure; fundraiser for the Komen foundation which fights breast cancer
  • Ride for Arts: Miller Lite Ride for the Arts; bicycle ride to benefit the United Performing Arts Fund
  • River Challenge: Milwaukee River Challenge; a rowing regatta on the Milwaukee River along a 3.5 km course
  • River Flicks: summer film series; see photo album page
  • River Rhythms: Weekly summer concert series; in Marquette Park on the Milwaukee river
  • Sculpture: Sculpture Milwaukee; annual outdoor urban sculpture in downtown Milwaukee
  • St Patrick's: Saint Patrick's Day Parade; Shamrock Club of Wisconsin; my photos
  • Skyline Music: Summer music series at Selig-Joseph-Folz Ampitheater
  • State Fair: Wisconsin State Fair; annual celebration of the agriculture and industry of Wisconsin
  • Starup Week: new business community
  • Veterans Parade: Annual parade recognizing veterans; my photos
  • World Beef Expo: Annual beef tradeshow; held at Wisconsin State Fair Park and features many breeds of beef cattle, breed auctions, a prospect auctions, commercial trade show and seminars, youth and collegiate livestock judging competition, and youth sweepstake events
  • YP Week: Young Professional Week; events celebrating Milwaukee for the young professional workforce

Is something missing or incorrect? Please send a correction to johndecember@gmail.com with the subject places-mke.