An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/140439
July is THE festival month every year in Milwaukee FESTIVALS FILL Milwaukee all summer, but July is truly THE festival month. SUMMERFEST, the world's largest outdoor music festival, opens the month (see page 30), followed on the lakefront by Festa Italiana, the original lakefront ethnic festival and the largest Italian event of its kind in America (see page 8). Summerfest BASTILLE DAYS, North America's largest French-themed celebration, fills downtown Milwaukee's Cathedral Square Park, July 11-14. The free, four-day street festival features live music, an international marketplace, chef demos, wine and beer tastings, French and Cajun cuisine, roaming busker entertainment and a signature 43-foot Eiffel Tower replica. Musical entertainment on four stages includes classic French ballads and jazzy blues to Cajun-creole and folk rock. Special events include the BMO Harris Bank Storm the Bastille Run/Walk, Mardi Gras Friday, Kids Day and the Waiter'Waitress Race. Bastil1e Days runs 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. bastilledaysfestival.com. GERMAN FEST brings its blend of music, food and Gemütlichkeit to Milwaukee's beautiful Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) July 25-28. Don't miss the racing wiener dogs in the Dachshund Derby. German Fest's Saturday parade and "living" Glockenspiel also are favorites. Bastille Days Always a highlight is the Mader's sit-down restaurant at the south end of the grounds. New this year is the Sprecher Bootlegger and Saz's Bier Garten. German Fest runs 5-11 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m.-midnight Friday, noon-midnight Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday. For info, visit germanfest.com. BRADY STREET FESTIVAL brings fun to the city's near-east side Saturday, July 27, from 11 a.m.-midnight. The festival from Van Buren to Farwell Avenue features a variety of vendors selling pottery and jewelry as well as fare from Brady Street restaurants and cheese tasting from more than 15 Wisconsin cheesemakers. Entertainment ranges from the Division BMX stunt team, to the House of Harley's Ride-a-Harley experience and Pro-Wrestling ring sponsored by Casablanca (KEY Milwaukee's favorite Middle Eastern restaurant). Four stages of live music and interactive entertainment round out the fun. For details, visit bradystreet.org Brady Street Festival 46 The Brady Street neighborhood, once the home of Milwaukee's Italian community and the center of the city's 1960s counter-culture, now is known for trendy and locally owned boutiques and shops, eclectic selection of restaurants and lively nightlife.