Take A Winter Break at Bradford Beach

Winter Break at South Shore Park. Design by Billy Judge Baldus.

It’s Super Bowl LIX weekend, but there are still plenty of non-football-related events to check out around Milwaukee this weekend. WMSE is throwing its annual Art & Music celebration, which will feature 175 pieces of artwork up for auction as well as live performances. Check out axe throwing, ice sculpting and beard competitions at Flannelpalooza, or hit Bradford Beach and participate in some winter-themed activities at Winter Break MKE.

February 7: WMSE’s Art & Music

WMSE 91.7 FM is putting on its eighth annual Art & Music event and auction at the Pritzlaff Building. The event will feature 175 album-sized events to bid on, entertainment by WMSE DJs and live music and art by Milwaukee-based duo Nineteen Thirteen. There will also be food available from a lineup of food trucks as well as drinks from breweries and distilleries. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $15 and tickets can be purchased on the WMSE website.

February 8: Winter Break MKE

Mental health is important to keep in check during Wisconsin’s seemingly endless winters, and thankfully Winter Break MKE is here to help. This event aims to foster community connections, mental well-being and outdoor enjoyment all in one. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a number of outdoor winter sports, watch dog mushing, take a cold dip in the lake or simply hang out by a warm bonfire. The event will run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Bradford Beach. For more information, including a complete list of activities, visit the Winter Break MKE website.

February 8: Guitar Festival Concert

Latino Arts is putting on its 12th annual Guitar Festival Concert and Youth Competition, an event that will showcase master classes with internationally-celebrated artists and feature workshops covering classical guitar playing. Winners of the Latino Arts Youth Competition will perform, and the event will feature a solo performance by Iliana Matos, the first woman to win the S.A.R. La Infanta Doña Cristina International Guitar Competition, and Alberto Quintanilla, an artist who has been called one of Mexico’s greatest guitarists of his generation. The event will take place at Latino Arts, Inc. and tickets are $10. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Eventbrite website.

February 8: Laughing Liberally MKE

If you’ve been bummed out about the recent headlines involving Donald Trump and Elon Musk and want to laugh it out, then Laughing Liberally MKE is for you. Progressive comedians will take to the stage at Comedy Sportz Milwaukee, including performances by Brian Green, Raegan Niemela, David Schedlinger, Chloe Mikala and sketch comedy troupe The Accountants Of Homeland Security. The show will run from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and tickets are $9.53. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Laughing Liberally MKE website.

February 8: Flannelpalooza

Beard competitions, chainsaw carving and ice sculptures are just some of the highlights of Flannelpalooza, a celebration of National Flannel Day that is filled with entertainment, winter activities, food, beverages and more. Check out axe throwing courtesy of The Mobile Adventure Company, or warm up with some drinks by participating in the Rustic Oak Pub Crawl. Flannelpalooza will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Wauwatosa at Root Common and Hardwood between State St. and Wauwatosa Ave. For more information, visit the Wauwatosa Village website.

February 9: Handcrafted: Lakefront Makers Market

Beer and art will come together at Lakefront Brewery’s Makers Market, an event featuring a mix of over 20 local vendors selling their wares. The brewery will offer its usual drink and food menu as well as Bloody Marys. This year, the event is partnering with Kinship Community Food Center and is collecting non-perishable food items for donation. Handcrafted will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Lakefront Brewery’s beer hall.