Valley Week highlights history, urban nature

MILWAUKEE – Valley Week, the Menomonee River Valley’s annual fall festival, returns September 21-28 and showcases the Valley’s urban nature, world class companies, premier tourist destinations, and fantastic outdoor recreation. Valley Week is presented by Menomonee Valley Partners and Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.

The week kicks off with a limited edition beer release, Menomonee River Valley Urban Escape.  The lager is collaboration between City Lights Brewing and Third Space Brewing, who, along with employees of a dozen Valley businesses, brainstormed a beer profile that would be representative of the Valley’s past and present. The lager was brewed with wild rice – “Menomonee” means wild rice – an ingredient neither brewery had experimented with in the past. Proceeds from beer sales will help fund continued work to revitalize the Valley.

Valley Week continues showcasing the Valley as a great place to visit and a great place to work.  Like the Menomonee River Valley itself, Valley Week offers something for everyone, from Campfire Stories featuring personal stories of transformation, the Ultimate Beer Run, kayak tours and pontoon cruises to enjoy the Menomonee River, a Job Fair to highlight career opportunities, and so much more.

All the week’s experiences are listed at TheValleyMKE.org, including:

All Week Long

• Valley Bingo: You’ve heard of the Valley’s nature and trails, bars and restaurants, and public art; now Valley Bingo is a fun challenge to stop by 25 spots, get your bingo card marked, and win prizes! No purchase necessary and black outs are entered for a grand prize drawing!

Thursday, September 19

• Urban Escape Limited Edition Beer Release – 4:30pm | Third Space Brewing
  Brewed with wild rice that gave the Menomonee River Valley its name, this collaboration beer between City Lights Brewing and Third Space Brewing is a celebration of the transformative changes that have taken place in the Valley over the last 20 years. Proceeds will help to fund the work ahead.

Saturday, September 21

• Ultimate Beer Run 3.7K – 11am | City Lights Brewing & Third Space Brewing
  This quirky 3.7K run/walk event makes a loop between the Valley’s two breweries, offering participants a thirst quenching mid-point beer and a celebratory finisher beer.
• Bike Tour – History of the Valley – 2pm| Hank Aaron State Trail
  One of the best ways to get around the Menomonee River Valley from the Harley-Davidson Museum to Miller Park is on bike via the Hank Aaron State Trail – and this tour is the way to learn fun facts about history and Valley projects that make this district a national model!

Monday, September 23

• Sunset Kayak Tour – 5:15-8pm | Menomonee River with Milwaukee Kayak Company
  Embark on a relaxing paddle into the sunset on the Menomonee River. We’ll touch on the history of the Valley, share some fun facts, and see the city from a different perspective. On the way back, we’ll switch on our headlamps and enjoy a moonlit trip back past the Harley-Davidson Museum® and other sights.

Tuesday, September 24

• Valley Job Fair – 3:30pm | Standard Electric Supply Co.
  The Job Fair offers a face-to-face connection and some onsite interviews for Valley companies with more than 200 open positions right now. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, September 25

• Food Truck Wednesday – 11:30am-1:30pm | Standard Electric Supply Co
  Grab a bite to eat and take in the fall weather in the Menomonee Valley Community Park.
• Campfire Stories – 5:30-7:30pm | Menomonee Valley Community Park
  Enjoy hot drinks, s’mores, Palermo’s Pizza samples, and a sunset view while listening to fireside stories from specially curated presenters who share their personal stories of transformation: Cindy Angelo, first female brakewoman for the Milwaukee Road in 1974; Giacomo Fallucca, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for Palermo’s Pizza; and Rebeca Heaton Juarez, Silver City neighborhood resident who is excited to raise her kids in the heart of the city. Free.

Thursday, September 26

• Blood Drive – 7am-1pm | Zimmerman Architectural Studios
  Help save the lives of patients in need of a transfusion through the second Valley Blood Drive, a partnership with Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. Donors get a free pair of ear buds!
• Sunset Kayak Tour – 5:15-8pm | Menomonee River with Milwaukee Kayak Company
  Embark on a relaxing paddle into the sunset on the Menomonee River. We’ll touch on the history of the Valley, share some fun facts, and see the city from a different perspective. On the way back, we’ll switch on our headlamps and enjoy a moonlit trip back past the Harley-Davidson Museum® and other sights.
• Happy Hour Cruises – 4:30, 5:30, 6:30pm | Twisted Fisherman Crab Shack
  Three 45-minute cruises on the Menomonee River offer a journey through the Valley’s past and a glimpse of its future—as well as beer and cocktails!

Friday, September 37

• 20 Years of Transformation Luncheon – 11:30am | Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
  Enjoy lunch in the new east tower at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino as we celebrate 20 years of transformation in the Menomonee River Valley.

Valley Week Specials

• Sobelman’s Pub and Grill will donate $1 to MVP from every Bloody Mary sold from September 21-28.

For more information and to register for events, visit TheValleyMKE.org/ValleyWeek.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

Recent Press Releases by Menomonee Valley Partners

Valley Week Features Urban Nature & Outdoor Exploration

Sep 19th, 2022 by Menomonee Valley Partners

Valley Week runs from September 24 to October 1 in Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley

Menomonee Valley Partners, Urban Ecology Center Complete Transformation of 24-Acre Brownfield

Aug 25th, 2020 by Menomonee Valley Partners

Multi-year campaign included creation of Three Bridges Park and Menomonee Valley UEC branch, expansion of Hank Aaron State Trail

Valley Businesses Join in Supporting Housing First Effort

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With a lead gift from We Energies, Valley businesses are contributing to provide housing to the homeless