Celebrating Wisconsin, African American culture and more Play fair
It’s here, with the cream puffs and the animals and the rides and foods on a stick: the 2019 Wisconsin State Fair.
This weekend, the fair opens at 8 a.m. daily, closing at midnight Friday and Saturday, and 11 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the fair is $14; $8 for seniors 60 and older, kids ages 6 to 11, and military and veterans with ID; and free for children 5 and younger. Info: wistatefair.com/fair
Welcome back Black Arts Fest MKE
Black Arts Fest MKE, launched last year as a celebration of African and African American culture, is back Saturday at Maier Festival Park with a pair of strong headlining acts and an impressive lineup of local artists and performers. Singer Bettye LaVette plays the Johnson Controls World Music Sound Stage at 9:30 p.m., and Sisters With Voices (SWV) takes the stage at the Miller Lite Oasis at 10:15 p.m. Black Arts Fest MKE runs from noon to midnight Saturday; tickets at the gate are $12; $8 for seniors 60 and older and kids ages 8 to 11; free for members of the military and veterans (with ID), and for kids 7 and younger when accompanied by an adult.
Info: blackartsfestmke.com Head over to Bronzeville
Saturday’s the start of Bronzeville
Week, an eight-day spotlight on the history and culture of the historically African-American neighborhood centered on North Avenue from North King Drive to North Seventh Street, from Garfield Avenue to Meinecke Avenue. The centerpiece attraction is the Bronzeville Cultural & Arts Festival; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday along North Avenue from King to Seventh, there will be three stages, food, an area for kids, vendors and more. Info: Bronzeville Week Facebook page
Find more fair weather
The Ozaukee County Fair has something few other county fairs have, and it’s hard to beat: free admission. The fair — which started Wednesday and runs through Sunday at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds, W67-N866 Washington Ave., Cedarburg — has live music, animal judging, demolition derbies Friday through Sunday, and more. The fair is open from 8 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Info: ozaukeecountyfair.com
Celebrate Puerto Rican culture
The seventh annual Puerto Rican Festival arrives at Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave., from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Live music, food and culture are on tap; see the festival Facebook page for details. Info: 7th Annual Puerto Rican Festival Facebook page
Watch small teams play big-time basketball
If you’re still missing basketball after the Bucks’ postseason, you’re in luck:
Ice Cube’s Big3 tournament stops at Fiserv Forum at 3 p.m. Sunday. It’s a three-on-three competition featuring six teams made up of former NBA All-Stars and Hall of Famers (among the latter are former Bucks Nate Archibald and Gary Payton, both coaches). Tickets start at $21. Info: big3.com
Get some laughs (OK, a lot of laughs)
The funniest festival of the summer, the Milwaukee
Comedy Festival, runs through Sunday in a halfdozen venues, bringing a welcome dose of regional and national stand-up, improv and sketch comedy to the city. See the website for showtimes, performer rosters and ticket prices. Info: mkecomedyfest.com
See some classic cars
Milwaukee loves car shows, and they don’t get a lot bigger than the Milwaukee Concours d’Elegance, with luxury cars on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in Veterans Park, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive. There are activities Saturday, too (see the website for details), but Sunday’s when you can see 200 classic vehicles on display. Advance tickets are $25, free for kids 12 and younger when accompanied by an adult. Info: milwaukeeconcours.com
Hit the beach (party).
Head over to Lakeshore State Park, the park on the lake at 500 N. Harbor Drive, Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. for the Urban Island Beach Party. New to the popular bash this year will be a craft beer garden; returning from last year will be the floating lantern launch. There’s also music and vendors and kayaking and face painting and more. Admission to the beach party is free; lanterns are $20, available in advance online with a limited number available onsite Friday. Info: urbanislandparty.com
Catch cool sounds by the lake
Music returns to Maier Festival Park Sunday in the form of Jazz Visions on the Lake, a free showcase of local musicians, under the aegis of Milwaukee Jazz Vision. It goes from noon to 6 p.m., with the Milwaukee Jazz Orchestra capping the bill at 4:30 p.m. Info: Jazz Visions on the Lake Facebook page Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12.