Summer is one of the best times in Milwaukee. All the pent up energy from the long Wisconsin winter explodes through an array of festivals of all sorts (street, food, music, art, anything you can imagine!), art/music shows, museum and gallery nights, and movie nights. Getting involved in the local community and culture is a great way to improve your English language skills, to meet new people, to have new experiences, and to learn about American culture. Take a look at these events going on in July around Milwaukee and UWM and get involved in the excitement!
Summerfest: June 26th – July 7th
Deemed to be the World’s Largest Music Festival, Summerfest will be welcoming over 800 artists from all backgrounds: country, rap, pop, rock, techno, indie, folk, you name it! Everyone can find something at Summerfest that they enjoy with 11 straight days and 11 stages full of every style of music you can think of!
Summerfest takes place at the Henry Maier Festival Park:
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Visit the Summerfest website to learn about dates, times, artists playing, and ticket prices: https://www.summerfest.com/
Independence Day Fireworks!: July 3rd at Dusk
Bring a blanket, some snacks, and some friends to enjoy some fireworks down by the lakefront at Veterans Park to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day. Fireworks are a long-standing American summer tradition, and this is the perfect way to experience the American summer. Fireworks are on July 3rd and will start at dusk.
Veterans Park
1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Free movie night at Veterans Park: July 6th
Need something to do on the weekend? Veterans park is showing “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” for free at Veterans Park on Friday, July 6th. Movie starts at dusk and popcorn is only $1.
Veterans Park
1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
NEWaukee Night Market: July 10th
One of the best things about Milwaukee in the summer besides the numerous festivals are also the street markets. Street markets a fantastic way to get to know the local community and culture because many local artists come perform street music and many local vendors come to sell their food specialties, art, and other products to the Milwaukee public. NEWaukee is hosting the monthly summer street market on July 10th from 5pm-10pm.
Come down to W. Wisconsin Ave. between Plankinton and Vel R. Phillips to enjoy local vendors, games, bonfires and s’mores, live musicians, and local grub. Entrance is free.
Bastille Days: July 11th – 14th
Milwaukee turns into the land of festivals during the summer because we have so many different cultures to celebrate. Bastille Days from July 11th-July 14th celebrates both French and Cajun French through a variety of vendors, everything from clothing to art to food to wine. This is a great four day festival to celebrate everything that French and French Cajun culture has brought to the United States (and more specifically Milwaukee). Enjoy some jambalaya with beignets and some wine while you enjoy some live music and purchase some cajun art.
Bastille Days takes place at Cathedral Square Park and entrance is free.
official website: https://easttown.com/events/bastille-days/
Jazz in the Park: July 18th and July 25th
Every summer, free music shows take place throughout Milwaukee. One of the most popular is Jazz in the Park held in Cathedral Square Park from 5pm – 9pm. Enjoy some good ol’ American jazz, blues, reggae, country, funk, and more.
official website: https://easttown.com/events/jazz-in-the-park/
Gallery Night and Day: July 19th and July 20th
In addition to a great festival and food scene, Milwaukee also boasts a diverse art scene. The Historic Third Ward is hosting Gallery Night and Day, where partnered galleries, museums, and businesses are hosting free entrance Friday, July 19th from 5pm-9pm and Saturday, July 20th from 10am to 4pm.
Some partnered museums and businesses include the Harley Davidson Museum, Grohmann Museum, Jewish Museum Milwaukee, and the Pfister Hotel.
You can learn more about the partnered businesses and museums and their opening times at the official website: https://historicthirdward.org/experience/events/gallery-night-and-day/
Celebrate Moon Day: July 20th
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the United States’ landing on the moon! To celebrate the Milwaukee Public Museum is hosting Celebrate Moon Day. The museum will be hosting free out- and indoor activities and demonstrations on Saturday, July 20th from 11a.m. to 3pm. Activities include being able to look through a professional telescope, launching a balloon rocket in the MPM courtyard, making a paper rocket with Milwaukee Public Television, and take a look at different space objects displayed, such as NASA artifacts, Apollo 11 photos, and the Milwaukee Journal newspaper article from July 21, 1969 celebrating the landing.
Learn more about this event and other events held during the month of July at the Milwaukee Public Museum celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing: https://www.mpm.edu/programs/special-events/moon-month?utm_source=Planetarium+List&utm_campaign=16693335be-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_12_03_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_02b508924b-16693335be-292040653
Lunar Party at UWM: July 20th
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, UWM’s Manfred Olson Planetarium is also throwing a bash that is completely free and open to the public! Come celebrate the man landing on the moon with food trucks, face painting, talks from space experts, a bounce house, and more on Saturday, July 20th from 12:00pm – 3:00pm at the UWM Physics Building (1900 E. Kenwood Boulevard).
Official website: https://uwm.edu/planetarium/event/lunar-anniversary-party/
Brady Street Festival: July 27th
Festivals in Milwaukee seem to never end during the Summer. Another popular one is the Brady Street Festival on Saturday, July 27th from 11am until midnight. Come enjoy some live music, food samplings, a Drag show, some pro-wrestling, and much more in this upbeat part of town!
Learn more info here: http://bradystreet.org/documents/20-brady-st-festival-
Milwaukee Air & Water Show: July 27th & 28th
Enjoy some air and water shows from different performers and squadrons including the U.S. air force demonstration squadron and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration team. Enjoy the show down by the lakefront for free on July 27th and 28th. Water show starts at 10am. Air show starts at noon.
Learn more: https://www.milwaukee365.com/event/2019-milwaukee-air-water-show/?_ga=2.263132620.1792005006.1561472831-2025124274.1551201843