Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. and Aurora Health Care Launch Aurora Pavilion Stage and Announce New FREE Health and Wellness Fest with Special Guest Donald Driver

MILWAUKEE, WI (May 29, 2024) – Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (MWF) and Aurora Health Care today officially launched the new Aurora Pavilion stage and announced details of a new health and wellness fest on September 8, 2024, at Henry Maier Festival Park featuring special guest Donald Driver.

The new Aurora Pavilion, located just inside the Mid Gate, will provide access to the arts, amplify diverse voices through music performance, and provide a forum for health focused programming.  The multi-use stage area will be showcased at Henry Maier Festival Park during ethnic and cultural festivals, kicking off the season with Festa Italiana.

Upgrades to the NEW Aurora Pavilion include:

• Wider entrance areas, creating a more open and welcoming space with increased capacity.
• Permanent video screen enhancing production capabilities.
• Pylon Sign with digital messaging for scheduling and programming information.
• Improved access in and around the venue, as well as to public restrooms.
• Added front row area and upfront ADA accessible area, improving the stage experience for fans with mobility limitations.
• Addition of a backstage hospitality area.
• Landscaping improvements incorporating the existing shade trees, accenting the perimeter of the venue.

During Summerfest, the Aurora Pavilion will be home to a diverse range of headlining artists such as Lily Rose, Jamila Woods, HYO, Luis Figueroa, Cimafunk, Say She She, and the popular Sound Waves DJ Series, where local and national DJs host curated dance nights. For the full lineup at the Aurora Pavilion visit Summerfest.com.

“Today marks the start of a new chapter as we officially launch the Aurora Pavilion and celebrate the space as a new community asset for the greater Milwaukee area,” said Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.  “We are excited to place a new focus on health and wellness programming at Henry Maier Festival Park and continue to fulfill our mission of offering activities for the general public.”

JUST ANNOUNCED – A new health and wellness fest presented by Aurora Health Care on September 8, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., featuring a special workout led by Green Bay Packers All Time Leading Receiver Donald Driver. This FREE community event will provide attendees with the tools and resources needed to live fitter, healthier, and happier lives. Participants can engage in a variety of fitness activities, watch cooking demonstrations, hear panel discussions, and interact with dozens of vendors and community partners such as local recreation programs, nonprofits, gyms, shopping vendors, healthy food brands, and much more.

“We know that music can be an essential part of healing and is linked to both physical and mental well-being. That’s why we’re excited to share information about the expanded programming that will occur through our partnership, and our hope is that the Aurora Pavilion will be another vibrant place where our community can come together, connect, recharge and enjoy all that Milwaukee and Summerfest have to offer,” said Gabrielle Finley-Hazle, President, Aurora Health Care, and board member, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

The health and wellness fest will include:

• Group workouts – led by local trainers and fitness organizations, including a session led by Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers All Time Leading Receiver, Super Bowl Champ, Dancing with the Stars Champ, 3D Body Revolution Author and Owner of Driven Elite Fitness and Health.
• Cooking demonstrations by local celebrity chef and restaurant owner Adam Pawlak and others focused on healthy eating.
• Panels and talk-back sessions led by Aurora Health Care experts focused on men’s, women’s and family health, including a fire-side chat with Donald Driver.
• Pickleball Village, featuring open play, workshops, coaching, competitions with pros, and vendors with support from partners like Prolite, Pickleball Kingdom, Centerline Athletics, and others.
• Community partners and activities from Orangetheory Fitness, Milwaukee Recreation, Milwaukee Youth Sports Alliance (MYSA), Girls on the Run of Southeastern Wisconsin, and more.

Attendees of the new health and wellness fest are encouraged to participate in the Community Giveback, benefiting the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, Kradwell School and Sojourner Family Peace Center by bringing brand new items, still in their original packaging such as deodorant, socks and baby wipes to the event, which will be included in mental health and hygiene kits, supporting the needs of United Way and Sojourner Peace Center.  Aurora Health Care executive leaders and teammates will be on site at the event packing the kits. Aurora will provide enough supplies to pack over 1,000 kits and additional donations from the public will expand the impact of this charitable initiative.

Event organizers are seeking to add additional nonprofits and health, wellness, food and fitness-focused businesses to the vendor and programming lineup.  Interested vendors, please click HERE to learn more. Further details on the health and wellness festival will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

For more information on the Aurora Pavilion visit Summerfest.com.

About Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. is an independent, private 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1965 that produces Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance, a three-weekend music festival featuring over 600 artists across 12 stages.  Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. also maintains and improves Henry Maier Festival Park, located on 75 acres on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, WI.  In addition to Summerfest, Henry Maier Festival Park hosts a variety of ethnic and cultural festivals, concerts, family programming, walks, runs, and other special events.  The mission of the organization is to promote an understanding of different ethnic cultures, the histories and traditions of various nationalities, harmony in the community, civic pride as well as to provide a showcase for performing arts, activities, and recreation for the public and employment opportunities for the youth of the community. For more details, visit MilwaukeeWorldFestival.com or Summerfest.com, and on socials @MilwaukeeWorldFestival or @Summerfest.

About Aurora Health Care 

Aurora Health Care is the largest health system in Wisconsin and a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. The state’s largest private employer, the system serves patients across 18 hospitals, more than 70 pharmacies and more than 150 sites of care. Aurora Health Care, in addition to Advocate Health Care in Illinois and Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, is now part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $5 billion in annual community benefits.

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.