From farmers markets to festivals, wellness classes and block parties, there’s always something to do during the summer in Milwaukee.
Here are some free events happening in Milwaukee neighborhoods:
(Check out our concert series list here.)
Markets
Walker Square Farmers Market
The South Side market runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays through Sept. 28 in Walker Square Park, 1031 S. 9th St, and features produce vendors, live music, activities and more. The Square Plaza Market, a makers market and car expo, will also be happening in the park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 17. More information here.
Fondy Farmers Market
The Fondy Farmers Market’s regular season hours are 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30 at 2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave. More information here.
Jackson Park Farmers Market
From 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays through Oct. 2, the Jackson Park Farmers Market is underway at 3500 W. Forest Home Ave. The market area is located on the Kinnickinnic River Parkway, next to the pond and boathouse. More information here.
Enderis Park Farmers Market
The Enderis Park Farmers Market takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays through Oct. 27 at Enderis Park, 72nd and Locust streets. There’s a pay-what-you-can yoga class at the market from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 3 and Aug. 17. More information here.
Other community events
Milwaukee Rec Summer Community Wellness
Milwaukee Rec has a host of free community wellness activities this summer, including free yoga and zumba in the park, community bike rides, meditation and forest bathing. Register for classes here. More information here.
Rolling with Rina
Milwaukee Recreation is hosting a free summer skate series with instructor Rina at parks across the city. Free skate rentals will be available (while supplies last) from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 25 and Friday, Aug.15 at Burnham Playfield, 1755 S. 32nd St., and Friday, Aug. 8 at Franklin Square Playfield, 2643 N. 13th St. More information here.
Summer Park Jam
True Skool’s family-friendly Summer Park Jam returns from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Peck Pavillion, 929 N. Water St. The event will feature live performances by EPMD and DJ Scratch, vendors, graffiti, interactive art, breakin battles and more. More information here.
National Night Out
There are several National Night Out events scheduled with the Milwaukee Police Department from Aug. 5 to Aug. 13, including in District 7 from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Harriet Tubman Park, 4750 N. 48th St.; District 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 2200 W. Kinnickinnic River Parkway; District 5 from 3 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11 at Kern Park, 3614 N. Humboldt Blvd.; District 3 at Johnson’s Park, 1919 W. Fond du Lac Ave., from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13. More information here.
Shakespeare in the Park
Returning this year with performances of “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” games and other activities is Optimist Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park. This season, which runs on Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 17, has dates at a variety of parks, including at Mitchell Park on Saturday, July 26 and Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum on Sunday, Aug. 3. More information here.
Fond Du Lac Food Festival
Fond Du Lac BID 54 is hosting a celebration of food from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 at the Sherman Park Grocery Store, 4315 W. Fond du Lac Ave. More information here.
Movie Night at Davidson Park
Bring the family to free movie nights at Davidson Park, 3725 W. Juneau Ave. In partnership with Near West Side Partners, the films start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 25, Aug. 15 and Sept. 12. More information here.
Caribbean and Latin American Festival
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, the Caribbean and Latin American Festival will be held at Humboldt Park, 3000 W. Howell Ave. The event features a community resource fair, limbo dance contest, local bands and foods from Caribbean and Latin American countries and more. More information here.
Hip-Hop Week MKE
Hip-Hop Week MKE is scheduled to return from Aug. 18 to Aug. 23, with events looking “through the lens of health, financial literacy and civic engagement.” The annual celebration of hip-hop culture will feature performances, seminars and other events. More information here.
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
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