Looking for the best things to do in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin this weekend? From Gallery Night MKE and Country Thunder Wisconsin to lakeside festivals, Broadway musicals and free outdoor Shakespeare, here are Sandy Maxx’s top picks for July 17-19.
Festival Fun
Riverwest Blueberry Fest (Saturday, July 18 – Milwaukee)
Blueberry lovers can enjoy fresh blueberry pancakes, pastries, lemonade, live music, local artists and vendors, plus Amorphic Beer’s limited-edition blueberry IPA made with 400 pounds of blueberries.
Falls Lavender Fest (Saturday, July 18 – Menomonee Falls)
Shop more than 100 artisan vendors, discover lavender-inspired products, sip lavender lemonade, enjoy live music from The Dirty Bucket Band and Cream City Hotclub, and bring the family for food trucks and activities.
Port Fish Days (Thursday-Saturday, July 16-18 – Port Washington)
Celebrate one of Wisconsin’s oldest festivals with fish fries, Fishgiving, Fishmas Eve, the Saturday parade, UW Marching Band, Brew City Wrestling, carnival rides and fireworks over Lake Michigan.
Armenian Fest (Sunday, July 19 – Greenfield)
Experience authentic Armenian cuisine, traditional folk dancing, live music, cultural exhibits and homemade specialties including shish kebab, stuffed grape leaves and baklava.
Country Thunder Wisconsin (Thursday-Sunday, July 16-19 – Twin Lakes)
Keith Urban, Riley Green, Shaboozey, Lonestar and dozens more artists headline Wisconsin’s biggest country music festival, complete with camping, food vendors and four days of entertainment.
Art-Filled Events
Gallery Night MKE (Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18 – Milwaukee)
Explore dozens of free galleries throughout the Historic Third Ward, Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel, the Marshall Building and downtown while meeting artists and discovering new exhibitions.
East Side Gallery Night (Friday, July 17 – Milwaukee)
Discover Black Cat Alley, artist studios, maker markets, neighborhood galleries, live music and creative pop-ups throughout Milwaukee’s East Side.
56th Midsummer Festival of the Arts (Saturday-Sunday, July 18-19 – Sheboygan)
Browse artwork from nearly 100 juried artists while enjoying live music, artist demonstrations, food trucks and hands-on activities surrounding the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.
Frida Fest (Saturday-Sunday, July 18-19 – Milwaukee)
Celebrate Frida Kahlo with mariachi music, folklórico dancing, painting workshops, artisan vendors, authentic Mexican cuisine and Sunday’s Frida look-alike contest.
On Stage
Spamalot (Through Sunday, July 19 – Milwaukee)
It’s your final weekend to catch the hilarious Broadway musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
Million Dollar Quartet (Closing Weekend – Fort Atkinson)
Relive the legendary Sun Records recording session featuring Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins during the final weekend of this hit Fireside Theatre production.
Rhythmworks: Ritmo Vivo (Saturday, July 18 & Sunday, July 19 – Milwaukee)
Danceworks celebrates cultures from around the world with flamenco, cumbia, Kathak dance, K-pop and original jazz, hip-hop and musical theatre choreography.
Phylicia Rashad at Ten Chimneys (Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18 – Genesee Depot)
The Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress headlines the prestigious Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program at Wisconsin’s historic Ten Chimneys estate.
Ghosts (Through Sunday, July 19 – Milwaukee)
Wisconsin Classic Stage transforms a church parking lot into an intimate outdoor theatre for a bold new interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama.
Shakespeare in the Park (Saturday, July 18 & Sunday, July 19 – Milwaukee, continuing weekends through August 16)
Pack a lawn chair and picnic for free professional Shakespeare performances in Milwaukee County parks, including a double feature of The Merry Wives of Winsdor focusing on Falstaff for laughs and a family-friendly puppet adaptation of the dramatic Richard III before the main performance.
Whether you’re looking for live music, festivals, theater or art, there’s no shortage of memorable Wisconsin weekend events to explore across southeastern Wisconsin.
Keep up with culture and creativity in Wisconsin and around the world with “What’s On Tap with Sandy Maxx” daily at 6 P.M. on WTMJ.
