There’s so much going on in the Milwaukee area this weekend, and a lot of it is FREE to attend! Here are our top picks:
Northwestern Mutual Community Park in Henry W. Maier Festival Park, E. Chicago St. and N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Sunday, September 17, 2023, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: FREE
This Sunday, catch the final Family Fun Day at Northwestern Mutual Community Park, and this one has a performing arts theme, highlighting various performing arts member groups from the community.
Milwaukee World Festival has partnered with the United Performing Arts Fund and Northwestern Mutual to present a day of performing arts-themed programming and other family-friendly experiences, including live performances, interactive activities, food trucks, and more!
The event will feature onstage performances from arts groups such as the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Youth Theater, Signature Dance Company, Danceworks, and others.
Food and beverage options will be available from the following vendors: Bobalou Gourmet Pretzels, Fazio’s Popcorn Wagon, Pete’s Pops, Sil’s Mini Donuts, and Streetza Pizza.
Free parking is available in Log G, located south of the Henry Maier Festival Park Mid-Gate, as well as designated bike parking.
Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Dr., Hales Corners, WI 53130
September 15-October 29, 2023, 5:30-10 p.m. (closed Mondays)
Admission: General $25; Children (Ages 3-11) $16; Infants under 3 FREE; Family 4-Pack (two adults and two children) $70
China Lights, the popular Chinese lantern festival, returns to Milwaukee County’s Boerner Botanical Gardens this weekend (September 15-October 29).
This year’s ‘Nature’s Glow” theme will shine a light on biodiversity of the ocean and beyond to jungle animals and insects. The lantern displays made their debut at the Natural History Museum of France. Milwaukee is the first stop in the United States.
The event will feature larger-than-life themed lanterns, including a giant 20-foot-high Octopus that visitors can walk through, an animated crab that “bubbles,” a 20-foot-long T-rex walk-through tunnel, and a series of animated and illuminated bugs that shine lights on the biodiversity of the insect’s world.
Wick Playfield (park next door at MPS Central Services building, 5225 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI)
Saturday, September 16, 2023, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Young people are invited to head to Wick Playfield for the second annual MPS Ultimate Sports Day! MPS Athletics & Milwaukee Recreation will host this free event for 1st-8th graders to experience new sports and learn fundamentals.
Participants will move through stations around the field, with each station representing a different district-sponsored sport. Qualified instructors and coaches from around the area will lead athletes at each station.
Prizes and giveaways will also be available. Register today to try a new sport, spend time outdoors, and develop new skills!
Established in 2004, the Bay View Bash is a community festival of food, art, music, crafts, books, and community organizations. All proceeds from the Bay View Bash are directly invested back into the city’s neighborhoods.
Taking place between Potter and Clement on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View, the event will feature live entertainment on five stages, a pet parade at 10 a.m. and more!
6200 S. 76th St., Greendale, WI 53129
Sunday, September 17, 2023, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Admission: FREE
This is a free kite festival hosted by Greendale Parks & Recreation and Gift of Wings in Greendale Community Park. The fun starts on Sunday, September 17, at 11 a.m.
N70 W6340 Bridge Road, Cedarburg, Wisconsin 53012
September 16-17, 2023
Admission: FREE
Kick off harvest festival season with a sweet and savory weekend at the 50th Annual Wine & Harvest Festival in historic downtown Cedarburg.
There will be live music, grape stomping, pumpkin weigh-ins, a hilarious giant pumpkin regatta (Sunday at 2 p.m.), a classic car show, a Kids Korner with petting zoo, bouncers and barrel train, wine tasting and more!
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There’s so much more happening this weekend! Our Events Calendar is packed with daily events for kids and families. And it can be sorted by location!
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