St. Patrick’s Day Parade Will March Through Downtown

2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo courtesy of Westown.

If that short stint of warm weather has inspired you to get out of the house more, you’re in luck – there’s plenty to do in Milwaukee this weekend.

Wisconsin’s only horror convention is coming to the Four Points by Sheraton Milwaukee Convention Center hotel, giving fans of the genre the chance to shop from a variety of vendors and meet some of their favorite actors and directors. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will travel through downtown with floats, dancers, Irish hounds and more, and the Sugar Maple is putting on another one of its popular pop-ups – this time paying homage to Parks and Recreation. 

March 14-16: Milwaukee Horror Con

Billed as Wisconsin’s only horror convention, Milwaukee Horror Con is giving fans of gruesome flicks the chance to shop a variety of vendors as well as meet some of their favorite actors and directors. Guest celebrities will be available for photo opportunities and autographs, and some will even show up in costume. Milwaukee Horror Con will also screen a lineup of short indie films throughout the weekend with all screenings being free to ticket holders. Milwaukee Horror Con will take place at the Four Points by Sheraton Milwaukee Convention Center. Ticket prices vary depending on the day. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Milwaukee Horror Con website.

March 13-16: Snakehole Lounge

The Sugar Maple is back with another entry in its series of pop-culture pop-ups. This time, the craft beer bar is transforming into the Snakehole Lounge, a nod to political satire mockumentary Parks and Recreation. The event will feature Parks and Recreation trivia, costume contests, vendors and more. In addition to a menu of specialty cocktails inspired by the show, the Sugar Maple will also host the “Know Ya Boo?” partner compatibility contest as well as a “Rent A Swag” clothing swap. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to a number of organizations including ACLU, Alliance For the Great Lakes, Equality Now and more. For more information, read the press release on Urban Milwaukee’s website.

March 15: St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Over 100 parade units will travel through downtown Milwaukee as part of the 57th annual Shamrock Club of Wisconsin St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Starting at noon, guests can catch Irish dance performances, decorative floats, Irish wolfhounds and more traveling from W. Wisconsin Ave. to E. Highland Ave. There will also be a ShamROCK Kick-off party starting at 5:30 p.m. at Lucky Clover Irish Pub, featuring Irish entertainment, drink specials and raffle prizes, as well as a Shamrock Club Post Parade Party at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the St. Patrick’s Day Parade website.

March 15: Suhoor Food Truck Fest

After taking a year off, the Suhoor Food Truck Fest is back! In celebration of the halfway point of Ramadan, Suhoor Food Truck Fest will bring over 15 vendors offering Halal meals to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee Community Center. The festival aims to foster community connection through food as well as family-friendly games, henna tattoos, halaqas and more. The event will run from 10 a.m. p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, visit the Urban Milwaukee website.

March 16: Faire Folk Spring Revel

You don’t have to wait until the Bristol Renaissance Faire in the summer to dress up like it’s “ye olden times.” The Faire Folk Spring Revel will bring Ren Faire entertainment, food and drink to the Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery. Guests can dress up and shop from a variety of vendors, participate in a mead tasting event, watch LARPing tournaments and more. There will be food on site from Smokin’ Jacks BBQ and Twisted Plants. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

March 15: Lion’s Tooth 4th Anniversary Party

Lion’s Teeth, an alternative bookstore in Bay View, is celebrating its fourth anniversary. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the bookstore is promising guests “prizes and surprises all day.” Lion’s Tooth opened in 2021 with a DIY ethos carried over from owners Cris Siqueira and Shelly Mcclone-Carriere’s punk rock roots. Since then, it’s become a staple in the Milwaukee book community, offering unique small press and independent titles. Visit the Urban Milwaukee website to learn more about Lion’s Tooth.