Irish Fest, India Fest, Zoo a la Carte on the menu
Irish party over here
Irish Fest organizers call the four-day festival the world’s largest celebration of Irish and Celtic music and culture. It’s definitely one of Milwaukee’s biggest parties. Nine stages of entertainment, cultural exhibits, Celtic sports (tug-of-war, anyone?) and more are on tap. This year’s Irish Fest, per usual at Maier Festival Park, gives a special nod to Celtic culture from Nova Scotia. Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Tickets on Friday are $10; at the gate Saturday and Sunday, it’s $20, $15 for seniors 60 and older. Kids 12 and younger get into the festival for free all weekend. Info: irishfest.com
A zoo-ful of food and music
There’ll be 34 restaurants and food purveyors this weekend at the 34th annual Milwaukee Journal Sentinel a la Carte at the Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road. Flavors ranging from Aladdin’s to Woodland Grill will be available. Oh, and there’s music — five stages’ worth, including headliners Wynonna & the Big Noise (8 p.m. Friday) and Asia with John Payne (8 p.m. Saturday). A la Carte’s hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Admission at the gate is $15.50, $14.50 for seniors 60 and older, $12.50 for kids ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and younger. (Parking at the zoo is $12.)
Info: milwaukeezoo.org/events/alacarte
Flavors of India in Bay View
India Fest Milwaukee celebrates the sights, sounds and tastes of India with bollywood music, traditional dance, authentic Indian food, cultural exhibits, drama and more. The sixth annual festival returns Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave. Admission is free. Info: indiafestmilwaukee.org
Boats on parade
It’s a pretty sight on a pretty lake: The second annual Milwaukee Venetian Boat Parade passes by McKinley Marina and the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, 1450 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, at 8 p.m. Saturday. In addition to the flotilla of floating craft — all decked out in lights — there’ll be food, beverage and music available at the sailing center, where an official judging stand will survey the parade participants as well. (The boats start near the marina’s gas dock, and then go through the marina and along the shore off Veterans Park before returning. Info: mcboat.org/mke-venetian-boat-parade or the 2018 Milwaukee Venetian Boat Parade Facebook page
Guitars, guitars everywhere
Rock, blues, jazz, fingerstyle, classical — you name the style of guitar, it’s there at the Wilson Center Guitar Festival this weekend. Master classes, competitions and performances by a variety of stylists. Other attractions include a headline show featuring Elvin Bishop with Bob Welsh and Willy Jordan at 7:30 p.m. Friday (separate ticket) and a backyard block party at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Activities start at 9 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. Admission to many of the doings (other than the headlining concert) are free. Info: wilson-center.com Happy 80th, Brown Bottle Not every restaurant gets to turn 80. Which explains why the Brown Bottle, recently returned to the Schlitz Park office park at 221 W. Galena St., is doing it big with an 80th anniversary happy hour Friday. Starting at 3 p.m., the first 100 patrons will receive a commemorative anniversary T-shirt. The restaurant will be decked out in displays of historical items and memorabilia from the spot’s origins as a gathering place for visitors to the former Schlitz brewery. Info: The Brown Bottle Facebook page