Party at Festa, with artists and on the moon (sort of )
Feast on Festa
Sure, there’s music and entertainment at Festa Italiana at Maier Festival Park, but let’s face it: You’re there for the food, including the cannoli-eating contest (3 p.m. Saturday) and new food purveyors including Pizano’s Pizza and
Pasta, Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market and Milk Bottle Bakery. Music headliners include disco demigods KC and the Sunshine Band (9 p.m. Saturday) and Milwaukee favorite Phil Vassar (9 p.m. Sunday). Other Festa staples, including the gondola rides, the Italian Idol competition and the fireworks (10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) will be back. Festa’s open 3 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday. Tickets at the gate are $13, free for kids 12 and younger when accompanied by an adult; admission deals abound. (Check the website for details.) Info: festaitaliana.com
Take in some art (OK, a lot of art)
The summer edition of Gallery Night and Day, starting at 5 p.m. Friday and running into Saturday, is a warm-weather opportunity to check out works of art at scores of venues in downtown Milwaukee and adjacent neighborhoods. In many instances, the artists themselves will be on hand (sometimes, refreshments, too). Gallery Night’s also a good opportunity to see exhibits and venues you’ve meant to catch up with, like the “Evicted” exhibit at Mobile Design Box, 753 N. 27th St.; the “Daredevils” show at the Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 W. Canal St.; and “Carve, Cast, and Coil: International Sculpture from the Permanent Collection,” at the sorta-new gallery The Warehouse, 1635 W. St. Paul Ave. A complete list of participating spots and what they’re showing is at the Gallery Night and Day website. Info: historicthirdward.org/experience/events/gal lery-night-and-day
Play Fair in Waukesha
177 years is olllld, but the Waukesha County Fair, which had its start in 1842, doesn’t look it. The fiveday fair at the Waukesha County Expo Grounds, 1000 Northview Road, has five entertainment stages, rides and games, and lots and lots of animal-judging competitions. Main Stage headliners include Vince Neil, 7:30 p.m. Friday; Muddfest, a hard-rock lineup led by Puddle of Mudd, starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday; and Jefferson Starship, 6 p.m. Sunday. The fair is open 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Tickets at the gate are $10, $5 for kids ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and younger. Main Stage shows are free, with limited VIP tickets available for Muddfest Saturday and Jefferson Starship Sunday. Info: waukeshacountyfair.com
See what’s fishy in Port Washington (Trick question: It’s everything)
Port Fish Day, Port Washington’s annual fish-frypalooza, takes over the harbor, upper and lower Lake Park areas of the city Saturday, serving up fish and chips, cheese curds, chicken tenders and other basic food groups at a slew of stands run by community organizations. There are five entertainment stages — 1970s rockers Head East are the top headliner at the main stage at 8 p.m. — but there’s also a classic car show, carnival rides, a parade (10 a.m.) and more. Info: portfishday.com
Fly to the moon
With Saturday marking the 50th anniversary of that “one small step for (a) man,” there’s going to be a lot of moon-related festivities going on this weekend. Among them: The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Manfred Olson Planetarium is throwing a “lunar” party from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, inside and outside the UW-Milwaukee Physics Building, 1900 E. Kenwood Blvd. Outside, there’s a live DJ, a rocket bounce house and other kids activities, and food trucks; inside, there’s 20-minute planetarium shows at noon, 1 and 2 p.m., a chance to check out early maps of the moon, and more. Admission is free. Info: uwm.edu/planetarium
Get the blues (and jazz, and gospel) on Garfield Avenue
Garfield Days, the north side jazz, blues, gospel and arts festival, is in its 22nd year. The festival takes over West Garfield Avenue from King Drive to North 7th Street. Despite the name, it’s one day — Saturday, from noon to 8 p.m. — but it’s a day filled with music, food, tradition and lots to do. Info: Garfield Days — Jazz, Blues, Gospel & Arts Festival 2019 Facebook page Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12.