Near West Side Week Returns for Fourth Annual Celebration Hosted by Near West Side Partners

MILWAUKEE – Near West Side Partners (NWSP) invites the Milwaukee community to participate and engage in its fourth annual Near West Side Week – a weeklong celebration filled with social activities for the whole community to enjoy. From Sunday, Sept. 8 to Saturday, Sept. 14, Near West Side Week will include daily opportunities to connect with neighbors and gather together as a community.

“The Near West Side is rooted in efforts to build a supportive community of neighbors and employees, who play a role in maintaining a beautiful place to live, work, play and stay,” said Lindsey St Arnold Bell, NWSP Executive Director. “Near West Side Week is an opportunity to bring neighbors together and celebrate how far our “Neighborhood of Neighborhoods” has come in the past decade, and to gather momentum for where we are going in the future. ”

A special edition to the 2024 Near West Side Week will be our first ever Near West Fest, which is an opportunity for NWSP, neighbors and collaborators to kick-off celebrations of the organization’s 10th anniversary! Celebrations will continue through 2025, marking the first decade of collaboration and shared achievement to revitalize Milwaukee’s Near West Side.

A line-up of events and activities during Near West Side Week is below:

Sunday, Sept. 8
NWS Block Party, presented by The New State, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The New State, 2612 W State Street
Near West Side Week will officially kick off with a full-scale celebration at The New State. Celebrate the kickoff event with good food, live music and performances by local artists, and art displayed around the venue.

Monday, Sept. 9
Near West Side Coffee Social , 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Fruition MKE, 825 N. 27th Street
Start the day with free coffee and donuts at the Near West Side’s newest coffee shop, Fruition MKE, and learn about all the great resources for residents and employees who live, work, and play in the Near West Side. There will also be opportunities to tour Concordia 27, which is a welcoming community center and resource hub in the Near West Side.

Tuesday, Sept. 10
Rev-Up MKE, presented by Town Bank, 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The Rave, 2401 W Wisconsin Ave.
Near West Side Partners will host the seventh Rev-Up MKE 2024 live pitch competition at The Rave on Wednesday, Sept. 10. During this event, Rev-Up MKE finalists – local entrepreneurs who have received business training and support from Marquette University mentors – will pitch their business idea to members of their community and a panel of judges. Attendees will be able to vote for an “Audience Choice Winner,” and awards will go to top contenders. Before and after the Live Pitch event, attendees will also be treated to a Taste of the Near West Side, refreshments provided by favorite restaurants in the Near West Side.

Attendees will get to vote for their favorite idea! Attendee registration is free, but encouraged. Register here today!

Wednesday, Sept. 11
Near West Side Safety Safari presented by Penfield Children’s Center,  2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Penfield Children’s Center, 833 N. 26th Street
Gather the family for an afternoon of fun at Penfield Childrens’ Center, where the Milwaukee Bucks Rim Rockers will perform their stunts. Learn about family-supporting resources from over 30 local community partners, and enjoy some refreshing ice cream while you’re there.

Thursday, Sept. 12 – Saturday, Sept. 14
Near West Side Scavenger Hunt
Virtual
Teams of Near West Side enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in a virtual scavenger hunt, with missions and clues directing participants to explore the Near West Side and discover its hidden gems while competing for prizes. The scavenger hunt will launch via the GooseChase app at noon on Thursday, Sept. 12, and will close at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. Additional details and rules are available here.

Friday, Sept. 13
Near West Fest presented by Harley-Davidson / HD Foundation, 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Davidson Park, 3725 W Juneau Ave
Near West Side’s first-ever Near West Fest will kick off our 10-Year Anniversary celebration! Presented by the Harley-Davidson Foundation, this festival will be in the brand new Davidson Park. Free admission for the public will give attendees a chance to hear live music from DJ Kenny Perez, grab a bite to eat from food trucks, try the Molson Coors’ Near West Side 10 Year Beer, enjoy a special toast at the 1903 Tavern and beer garden, watch The Little Mermaid starting at dusk, and more!

You can walk, bike, or motorcycle over to do what Milwaukee does best – festivals!

Saturday, Sept. 14
Pedal & Picnic with NWSP & MVP, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Menomonee Valley Community Park, 212 S. 36th Street
Near West Side Partners and Menomonee Valley Partners are teaming up for a family-friendly bike ride through the Valley and Near West Side neighborhoods. Two routes are available for those of all abilities, and bike resources and tune ups will be available from the Milwaukee Bicycle Collective. Cool off with a Pete’s Pop at the finish and enjoy food from local vendors.

Brew City Match Business Crawl, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Washington Park Media Center
Visit  Near West Side’s unique small businesses during the NWS Brew City Match Business Crawl. Meet with each business owner and learn how this program helped bring their business dreams to life. Visit brewcitymatch.com for more details.

All Week: Monday, Sept. 9 – Friday, Sept. 13
Text to Win
How much do you know about your neighborhood? Each day during Near West Side Week, participants will have the opportunity to answer Near West Side trivia questions for a chance to win a gift card to a local Near West Side business. Participants can text NWSWEEK to 414-677-3300 to get daily question prompts. A new question will be added each day at 9:00 a.m., so you can text each day to test your knowledge about the Near West Side, and increase your chances of winning!

NWSP would like to thank this year’s Near West Side Week sponsors for their generous support. In particular, NWSP is grateful to Town Bank, the presenting sponsor for Near West Side Week and the Rev-Up MKE live pitch competition. In addition, Aurora Health Care, Centers for Independence, CG Schmidt, Inc., Five O’Clock Steakhouse, Harley-Davidson Foundation, Mandel Group, Marquette University, Molson Coors, O’Leary & Anick, Penfield Children’s Center, Potawatomi Ventures, Siebert Lutheran Foundation, and SPIN have generously partnered with NWSP to support Near West Side Week.

ABOUT NEAR WEST SIDE PARTNERS, INC
Near West Side Partners (NWSP) is a non-profit organization that works to revitalize the Near West Side of Milwaukee in four key focus areas: safety, housing, attracting and retaining businesses, and promoting the well-being of our neighbors. NWSP was founded through the support of business and civic leaders, including the organization’s five anchor institutions – Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, Molson Coors and Potawatomi Ventures.

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.