Hike for History in Washington Park
Plus, Sprecher Fest, Tosa Makers Market, sunset canoeing and Fourth of July festivities.
Washington Park Urban Ecology Center. Photo from the City of Milwaukee.
It’s the Fourth of July weekend and even though Summerfest isn’t happening at its usual time and the Veterans Park fireworks have been canceled, there are still plenty of other firework shows to celebrate the holiday with a bang. There’s also some weekend long events like the annual Sprecher Fest and a gaming convention hosted by Midwest Gaming Classic.
July 1-3: Sprecher Fest 2021
Sprecher Fest makes its return in 2021 at The Bavarian Bierhaus located at 700 W. Lexington Blvd. The festival will feature Sprecher Brewing Co.’s Special Amber, Hefe Weiss, Black Bavarian and plenty of root beer, Bavarian Bierhaus’ beer selection. Sprecher and the beer hall have also collaborated on a one-of-a-kind Festbier for the event. There will be live music and new food options every day of the festival. Thursday will feature local food trucks and a performance by Pat McCurdy. Friday will feature a fish fry and live music from Cold Sweat and the Brew City Horns. Saturday will feature pig and chicken roast specials and a performance by 5 Card Studs. For more information on ticket pricing and hours for each day, click here.
On the first Saturday of every month, the Tosa Maker’s Market will take place near Hart Park, just a short walk from where the Tosa Farmer’s Market is traditionally held. Each month, the market will curate a collection of uniquely-crafted items from small business makers. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, click here.
July 2-3: Game Nights (& Day)
Midwest Gaming Classic is hosting a retro game night that will take place over the course of the holiday weekend featuring everything from tabletop gaming to video games, pinball machines and more. For those who want to flex their skills, there will also be a series of tournaments. Passes to the event are $79 for Friday night, $99 for Saturday night or $175 for a weekend pass. Game Nights (&Day) will take place at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel, 375 S. Moorland Rd.
July 3: Washington Park History Hike
Explore and learn about a historical Milwaukee park on a hike hosted by the Urban Ecology Center. The walk will begin at 9 p.m. and start at the Urban Ecology Center’s Washington Park branch. Admission is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers, and registration is required. Click here for more information and to register.
July 3-5: Milwaukee Area Fireworks
Veterans Park will not have its traditional firework show this year, but there are plenty of neighborhoods that will be celebrating on their own throughout Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Check below for a list of locations and times for Milwaukee area firework shows.
July 3
Brookfield: 9:17 p.m. start at Mitchell Park
July 4
New Berlin: 10 p.m. start at Malone Park
Wauwatosa: 9:15 p.m. start at Hart Park
Shorewood: 9 p.m. start at Atwater Park
Whitefish Bay: 9 p.m. start at Klode Park
Greendale: Dusk at the Gazebo
Greenfield: 9:45 p.m. at Konkel Park
Oak Creek: Dusk at Lake Vista Park
South Milwaukee: Dusk at Grant Park
July 5
Dusk at Alcott Park
Dusk at Gordon Park
Dusk at Humboldt Park
Dusk at Jackson Park
Dusk at Lake Park
Dusk at Lincoln Park
Dusk at Mitchell Park
Dusk at Noyes Park
Dusk at Washington Park
Dusk at Wilson Park
July 4: $4 Admission at the Milwaukee County Zoo
Looking for a family friendly event to spend your day off on the fourth? The Milwaukee County Zoo is getting in the holiday spirit by reducing its admission to $4.
July 6: Sunset Canoe on the Milwaukee River
The Urban Ecology Center will gear up and row down the Milwaukee River just in time to witness the sunset reflecting off of the water. Canoers will meet at the Rowing Club located at 1990 N. Commerce St. at 6:30 p.m. Personal boats are not allowed, and all equipment will be provided by the Urban Ecology Center. Tickets are $24 for members and $34 for non-members.
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Michael, you forgot West Allis, Sunday July 4th 9:30 p.m. from State Fair Park. If you would like to view and not pay to see from within the park, anywhere near the perimeter of the fair is good viewing except near tall trees of course.
A Washington Park/Urban Ecology Center historic footnote. Many years ago, The Milwaukee Sentinel was the city’s not-so-hot morning newspaper. I was a “Sentinel boy,” getting up every morning at 3:30 to deliver the paper to my mostly unappreciative, cheapskate customers on 40th Street between Lisbon and Vliet. A lousy job for a 12year-old kid, but one redeemed by a single thing: at the time, the Milwaukee County Zoo was located in Washington Park, right next to my route. So, in the decent weather months, with the sun coming up, I would toss my papers to the sound of the roars of elephants and gorillas who, like some humans, were just waking up. A very cool thing. Another very cool thing, the great job that the Urban Ecology Center has done with the park in our time.