An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/72319
FAMILY-FOCUSED FUN GALORE Festa brings the BP Team U.S.A. Experience to Milwaukee, featuring a starter block sprint area, wheel chair drag race, BP sports lab, lung capacity test, heart rate test, BP olympic trials and four interactive gam- ing stations. Kids of all ages also will gather for the Pinocchio Parade at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, daily entertainment at the Children's Stage, hands-on fun at the LEGO activities tent and a fun, free "Kids Zone" area. Abbondanza in the Sky, the spectacular fireworks show presented Friday by Milwaukee's Bartolotta Fireworks. Festa also presents fireworks on Thursday, Saturday & Sunday. Other don't miss attractions at Festa include: Bocce Ball daily,with a tournament Sunday. Gondola rides, turning the Summerfest lagoon into a Venetian scene. Two gondolas will provide romantic rides this year. The 25th Annual Wheel and Heels Rush on Festa 5K run and walk takes place Friday, July 19 in conjunction with the National Spinal Cord Injury Association–Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter. At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a special 35th anniversary parade honors the late Milwaukee Mayor Henry W. Maier for his support of Summerfest, Festa Italiana and all ethnic festivals at what is now Henry Maier Festival Park. Participating will be all ethnic festivals as part of the United Ethnic Festivals organization, city officials, marching bands and other dignitaries. Festa Italiana hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday, July 19; 11:30 a.m.-midnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Father John M. Belmonte, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., will cele- brate Mass Sunday at the Marcus Amphitheater and lead the procession into Festa. Advance tickets at $10 are available until July 1. Regular admission is $13 at the gate, with children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Special admission programs include free admission with a Piggly Wiggly Preferred Card from 5-7 p.m. Thursday and free admission from 3-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday for all 35-year-olds (with valid IDs) in celebration of the 35th anniversary. For additional information and updates, visit www.festaitaliana.com or follow @FestaMKE on Twitter or FestaItalianaMilwaukee on Facebook. 9