Celebrate 60 Years of Art, Music, Food, and Fun at Lakefront Festival of Art
Gather with artists, performers, local vendors, and fellow arts and culture enthusiasts this June 13–15 at the longstanding fan-favorite lakeside festival.
Photo by Front Room Studios courtesy of the Milwaukee Art Museum
MILWAUKEE, WI—April 22, 2025—This June, Lakefront Festival of Art (LFOA) celebrates 60 years as Milwaukee’s destination to discover and buy one-of-a-kind art from exceptional artists; enjoy live performances by local acts; and try your hand at fun art projects. A summertime tradition, the three-day event brings established and emerging artists from across the country together with festivalgoers of all ages at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s lakeside campus.
[inarticlaed]A fixture of the summer festival season, LFOA returns with 145 fan-favorite and first-time artist vendors selected by an independent jury of Milwaukee-based arts professionals. Across the Museum’s grounds, attendees connect with works of art—from paintings and prints to ceramics and sculptures—and their makers, who hail from across the state and nation. This year, the festival expands its footprint with an additional 30 booths, a large performance stage, and new food and beverage vendors.
“We’re excited to celebrate 60 years of art on the lakefront, along with live music and fun as the summer festival season kicks off,” said Scott Schwebel, Chief Experience Officer. “I’m thrilled we can mark this anniversary with more activities and artists for all to enjoy.”
LFOA is more than an art festival—it’s a can’t-miss celebration of creativity in all forms. This June 13–15, the outdoor event features a robust lineup of live music and dance performances curated by Radio Milwaukee, including Evan Christian, Danceworks, and Maximiano. The festival kicks off on Friday morning, June 13, with Wisconsin-based artists Jamie and Craig Rogers creating a mural with chalk on Art Museum Drive and continues into the weekend with additional activations that will bring pops of color and pizzazz to the grounds.
Taking place over Father’s Day weekend, the festival offers family-friendly fun and something for everyone. Visitors of all ages can create works of art outdoors with Kohl’s Art Studio and enjoy fresh bites made by local vendors like BelAir Cantina and Pete’s Pops. Sunday, June 15, festivalgoers can join a Museum docent at 2 p.m. for a themed drop-in tour to explore artworks that relate to fatherhood. Children can dance to the kids’ disco set by Radio Milwaukee’s Dori Zori, and adults can enjoy sips at the Father’s Day beer tasting.
Lakefront Festival of Art is an annual fundraiser organized by Friends of Art, the Milwaukee Art Museum’s longest-running volunteer support group. Thanks to funds raised at events like LFOA, the support group has helped the Museum welcome now-iconic artworks into its collection and present awe-inspiring exhibitions.
Tickets are available now through Sunday, June 15, and include access to both the festival and the Museum, where festivalgoers can wander the collection galleries and explore The Brilliance of the Spanish World: El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán and Erin Shirreff: Permanent Drafts.
For more information about Lakefront Festival of Art, visit mam.org/lfoa.
LFOA Hours
Friday, June 13, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
LFOA Admissions
- General admission: $27 (online advance ticket $22)
- Members: $10 (Member kids under 18 are free)
- Seniors (65+), students, military: $20
- 3-Day pass: $45 (online advance ticket $40)
- Kids 12 and under: Free, thanks to an anonymous donor
- WI K–12 teachers: Free, with valid school ID or paystub
Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Beer Capitol Distributing
PNC
Contributing Sponsor
Morgan Stanley
Media Sponsors
MKE Lifestyle
Radio Milwaukee
About the Milwaukee Art Museum
The Milwaukee Art Museum is an essential destination for art and architecture and a vital cultural resource that connects visitors to dynamic art experiences and one another. Housed in iconic buildings by Santiago Calatrava, Eero Saarinen, and David Kahler on a 24-acre lakefront campus, the Museum is Wisconsin’s largest art institution and home to both broad and deep collections, with exceptional holdings in American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; conceptual and minimalist art; prints and drawings; European art from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century; photography and new media; modern and contemporary design; folk and self-taught art; and twentieth-century Haitian art. A bold symbol of Milwaukee’s ambition and forward-thinking vision, the Museum is a place for community building, education, and celebration that fosters creativity, free speech, and critical discourse for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. For more information, visit mam.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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