It’s Time for the Beer Run

Runners prepare for the 2019 Beer Run. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.

This weekend will truly feel like summertime has begun in Milwaukee with street festivals, rummage sales, outdoor art galleries and more! Locust Street Days will see the return of the Locust Street Beer Run as well as five stages with packed lineups of local musicians. Bay View Gallery Night will transform retail spaces, bars and restaurants into miniature art galleries and venues, and Smoke on the Water will bring pounds of delicious BBQ to the Henry Maier Festival Park.

May 29: Bay View Gallery Night and Bay View Jazz Fest

Restaurants, retail shops, bars and more will temporarily transform into miniature art galleries and music venues as part of Bay View Gallery Night. Head over to Clementine’s Tavern, where art inspired by Star Wars will be on display, or check out At Random, which will host paintings, handmade jewelry, clothing and more from various artists and makers on the patio. There are over a dozen participating businesses, and all locations are free to attend and open to the public. Bay View Gallery Night will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Visit the Bay View Gallery Night website for a full list of participating businesses. Running in conjunction with Bay View Gallery Night is Bay View Jazz Fest, a night of jazz performances at Humboldt Park featuring The Prairie School Jazz Combo, Milwaukee Jazz Institute Combo and KASE. Bay View Jazz Fest will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

May 30: The Great Riverwest Rummage Sale & Flea Market

Over 200 vendors will set up shop on E. Burleigh St. in front of Art Bar, Wonderland and Meow Bar & Lounge as part of The Great Riverwest Rummage Sale & Flea Market. This free event invites guests to shop vintage clothing, toys, housewares and more from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will also feature live music, food trucks on site and drinks being served from pop-up outdoor bars in front of Meow Bar and at the speed hump on N. Fratney St. And if you need a boost of energy, grab a coffee at Wonderland’s express window. For more information, visit the Art Bar and Wonderland’s website.

May 30: Radiate

WMSE is hosting its inaugural Radiate event, an all-day EDM festival featuring a dozen DJs on the turntables from noon to 12 p.m. The event will feature sets from Asher Gray, Lukewarm, Subspace and more, and will take place at Third Space Brewing. Guests can also partake in a lineup of food trucks, local vendors, community partners and more. For more information on the event as well as participating DJs, visit WMSE’s website.

May 30: Smoke on the Water

Give yourself the meat sweats at Smoke on the Water, a BBQ & Brews Fest presented by Harley-Davidson. The event, which will take place at the Henry Maier Festival Park, will feature live music, cold beer and plenty of food. Featured BBQ vendors include Real Urban BBQ, Nino’s Southern Sides, Roll MKE and more. Check out live music courtesy of country group Crossfire, and participate in a variety of activities such as a nine-hole mini golf course and classic yard games. Smoke on the Water will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission tickets are $12 and can be purchased by visiting the Milwaukee World Festival website.

May 31: Locust Street Festival

Street festival season is upon us! The annual Locust Street Festival will once again shut down the stretch of Locust St. between Humboldt Blvd. and Holton St., featuring live music, food trucks, art vendors and more. This year’s festival will feature five stages, featuring local favorites such as Ladybird, Social Cig, Wire and Nail and more. The iconic Locust Street Beer Run is back, a 1.6-mile run through the neighborhood sponsored by Black Husky Brewing where participants drink four beers along the route. Locust Street Festival is free to attend and will run from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

May 31: Brady Street Art Walk & Splash of Pride

From noon to 4 p.m., the annual Brady Street Art Walk will bring artists, vendors, interactive experiences and more to Brady St. Guests can watch artists such as Dear Darlington, Brian R. Hibbard and Jay Arpin create live pieces on the spot and shop from art vendors such as Babirousa, Ben Argenta Kress, Blocksmith Studios and more. New to the art walk this year is Splash of Pride, an LGBTQIA+ celebration that aims to celebrate love, identity and community in the days leading up to Pride Month. Artists will paint the windows of businesses along Brady St. in a way that reflects Milwaukee’s inclusivity.