Silver City Fest Celebrates 15 Years as Festival Moves to Pierce Street During National Avenue Reconstruction
Annual neighborhood festival brings the community together on Pierce Street while encouraging support for National Avenue businesses.
MILWAUKEE, WI — For 15 years, Silver City Fest has brought neighbors, businesses, artists, families, and community partners together to celebrate the people and places that make Milwaukee’s Silver City neighborhood a special place to call home. This year, the annual celebration will look a little different as the community comes together during the ongoing reconstruction of National Avenue.
With National Avenue undergoing major reconstruction, Silver City Fest is moving to Pierce Street for 2026, creating an opportunity for neighbors and visitors to experience the festival, and the neighborhood, in a new way.
While the festival is moving off National Avenue this year, National Avenue businesses will still be part of the celebration. Businesses including Vientiane Noodle Shop, 38th Street Mart, and SunRise Nutrition will join Silver City Fest, giving festivalgoers an opportunity to support local businesses that have continued serving the community throughout construction.
The new location also provides an opportunity to discover some of the newer businesses that have joined the Silver City neighborhood, including:
- SheWolf, a women-focused boxing and fitness gym
- Elev8 Table Tennis, Milwaukee’s new home for table tennis, offering open play, lessons, and programs for youth and adults
Both are located on Pierce Street. Together, these businesses reflect the variety of local businesses that make Silver City a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.
Presented by AARP Wisconsin, Silver City Fest will take place Saturday, September 12, from noon to 5 p.m. This free, family-friendly street festival will take over Pierce Street from the 35th Street Viaduct to 37th Street, with activities taking place beneath the viaduct and along the street. The celebration will feature live music, local food, artists and makers, family activities, interactive art, community organizations, and more. This year’s featured headliner, Tlalok y Su Orquesta, will bring live music and energy to the celebration, alongside an exciting lineup of local entertainment. Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa will serve as the event’s emcee, helping celebrate the community.
“Silver City Fest has always been about bringing people together and celebrating the businesses, neighbors, and community partners who make this neighborhood special,” said JoAnna Bautch, Executive Director of VIA Community Development Corporation. “Moving the festival to Pierce Street is a change for us this year, but it doesn’t change what the festival is about. We want people to come experience Silver City, support the businesses that have continued to show up throughout construction, and discover some of the newer businesses that are helping shape the neighborhood’s future.”
As National Avenue reconstruction continues, community support matters. Neighbors and visitors are encouraged to attend Silver City Fest, explore the neighborhood, and shop and dine locally. Whether supporting a longtime National Avenue business participating in the festival or discovering a newer Silver City business on Pierce Street, there are many ways to make an impact while celebrating 15 years of Silver City Fest.
For more information about Silver City Fest, visit viacdc.org.
About VIA Community Development Corporation
Founded in 1995, VIA Community Development Corporation (VIA CDC) partners in building strong, healthy neighborhoods where all of us can thrive. Serving Silver City, Layton Park, Burnham Park, and Clarke Square on Milwaukee’s south side, VIA CDC advances neighborhood vitality through affordable housing development, small business support, community engagement, and advocacy. VIA CDC has developed more than 50 affordable homes and leveraged more than $52 million in neighborhood investment to create opportunities for Milwaukee neighbors to build wealth, strengthen their communities, and thrive.
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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