Kite Festival Returns To Veterans Park

2017 Kite Festival. Photo by Jack Fennimore.

There are plenty of events in Milwaukee this weekend to fill up all of that free time you have over the extended holiday weekend. Celebrate Kegel’s Inn’s brand new beer garden at the Memorial War Center – where there will be plenty of beer, giant pretzels and snacks. Take the family to the annual Wilde Subaru Family Kite Festival, where there will be hundreds of colorful kites as well as free kite-flying lessons. And if you want to take a walk on the weird side, check out the Oddities & Curiosities Expo, where you can shop taxidermy, hand-made jewelry and preserved specimens.

May 26: New Beer Garden at Memorial War Center

Kegel’s Inn is opening its new beer garden – dubbed the “beer cooler by the lake” –  at the War Memorial Center (WMC). The beer garden will feature German beers, nitro Old Fashioned’s, nitro cold brew coffees, Gluten-Free options and more. The beer garden also serves food such as gourmet loaded brats (including a vegan option), pretzels and curry kettle chips. The beer garden will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. all Memorial Day weekend, but will be closed on Monday. Those who pay for WMC parking will receive a beer. Click here for more information.

Celebrate the opening of the Saint Kate Arts Hotel’s “Legends of Drag” exhibit, which features photographed portraits of drag queens from all over the United States. The photographs were taken by artists Harry James Hanson and Devin Antheus, who will be on site at the grand opening event for a meet and greet as well as a book signing. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and admission is free. The hotel is asking all interested in attending to register here.

May 28-29: Wilde Subaru Family Kite Festival

Veterans Park is once again hosting the Wilde Subaru Family Kite Festival, featuring hundreds of colorful kites as well as free kite-flying lessons. The two-day event will feature a “grand launch” of 600 kites on both days at noon, as well as a demonstration by the Windjammers kite-flying team. The first 100 kids to participate in the “Kids Mad Dash,” will receive a free kite. Admission to the event is free, and the festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 28 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 29. Click here for more information.

May 28: ‘Lest We Forget’ at Turner Hall Ballroom

“Lest We Forget” is a Milwaukee music scene memorial event, where Milwaukee artists of bygone decades reunite for one show. It’s been a decade since the event’s debut, but “Lest We Forget” is making its return this weekend, featuring performances  by The Crosses, Johnny & The Losers, Wanda Chrome & The Leather Pharaohs, 3XCleavers and more. A portion of the proceeds from the show will be donated to MusiCares, a nonprofit that provides health, financial and rehabilitation resources to musicians.

If you’re a fan of the strange and unusual, then the traveling Oddities & Curiosities Expo is for you. Featuring tons of vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses, the Oddities & Curiosities Expo is your one-stop shop for taxidermy, preserved specimens, artwork, antiques, jewelry and other unique handcrafted goods. The expo will also feature the Museum of Marvelous Mutations, billed as the “World’s Largest Traveling Freak Show.” Admission to the expo is $12 in advance and $15 day of, and children ages 12 and under receive free admission.

May 29: Indeed Brewing Maker’s Market

Grab a delicious brew and shop the wares of local makers at Indeed Brewing Company this Sunday. Vendors at the market will include Happy Buddha Boutique, Krazy Kastle Palace, rubbishREMADE and more. The event will run from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is free to attend.