From Fiesta to Hip-Hop Week, Bucks to islands, the party scene is bustling
Mexican flag over Summerfest
Mexican Fiesta is back on the Summerfest grounds, embracing the flavors, sounds and culture of Mexico. There'll be plenty of music at the Fiesta, with performers including El Bebeto, Mariachi Los Nietos and norteño outfit Calibre 50. There's also the popular custom car and motorcycle show (noon to 6 p.m. Saturday), a cultural pavilion, appearances by Lucha Libre stars and more. Hours are noon to midnight Friday through Sunday at Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive. Admission at the gate is $17, free for kids 8 and younger; admission is free for all from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, with more admission deals at the festival's website. Info: mexicanfiesta.org/mexicanfiesta
A Fringe experience
Dance, performance art, opera, theater, classic Broadway tunes, experimental music, even an original musical — the deck is stacked for this year's Milwaukee Fringe Festival,
Saturday and Sunday in and on the grounds of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. Indoor programming in Vogel Hall and Todd Wehr Theatre is combined with roving players both days and free performances in Peck Pavilion starting at 3 p.m. Sunday. For details and tickets, check the festival's website. Info: mkefringe.com
Hip-Hop Week's wind-down
Hip-Hop Week Milwaukee wraps up this weekend with some big names. Among them: DJ Kool Herc talking about the origins of hip-hop at 4 p.m. Friday at Miller High Life Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave.; Ghostface Killah performing at 8 p.m. Friday at the Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.; and RZA performing his live score of a kung-fu classic in "RZA: Live From the 36 Chambers" at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave. Ticket prices vary; check the website for details and more program highlights. Info: hiphopweekmke.com
WMSE takes it outside
Community radio station WMSE-FM (91.7) hosts its Backyard BBQ Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. in Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave. This year's headliner (besides the barbecue and beer) is alt-country stalwart the Old 97's, playing at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. Info: wmse.org
And the home of the Bucks …
The Milwaukee Bucks would like you to stop by their new place this weekend. The Fiserv Forum, the new arena at 1111 N. Phillips Ave., is hosting an open house Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. There'll be a formal ceremony, a block party and public tours of the new digs. (Tours require a ticket, which is free; there's info at nba.com/bucks.) Info: Fiserv Forum Open House & Block Party event page on Facebook
Get your root beer here
Mugs at the ready: Glendale, the home of Sprecher Brewing, holds its second annual Root Beer Bash Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Richard E. Maslowski Community Park, 2200 W. Bender Road. It starts with a race/walk at 9:30 a.m. that doubles as a police K-9 fundraiser, with kids' games, a Root Beer Olympics from 3:30 to 5 p.m., music from Boomer Nation, and beer-themed eats from several Glendale restaurants. Admission is free. Info: glendale-wi.org
Legos, Legos everywhere
Lego lovers (and the people who love them), rejoice: Brickworld Wisconsin is here. For the first time, the Lego-centric play and fan experience is in Milwaukee, with Lego and Duplo play brick areas; creations crafted by master builders; Lego sets, minifigures and other stuff for sale; and more. Brickworld runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m .Sunday in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion at State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th St., West Allis. Admission is $13, free for kids 3 and younger. Info: brickworld.com/brickworld-wisconsin
The Caribbean by the Milwaukee River
If you're in the mood for a trip to the Caribbean but stuck in town this weekend, check out the Taste of
Islands festival Saturday in the Peck Pavilion outside the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. The festival, which runs from 2 to 10 p.m., includes live music from De La Buena (3 p.m.) and Adonis Puentes & The Voice of Cuba Orchestra (7 p.m.); kids' activities; and art and food options with a Caribbean flavor. Admission is free. Info: marcuscenter.org
Last call
It's your last chance to catch these. "Photographing Nature’s Cathedrals: Carleton E. Watkins, Eadweard Muybridge, and H. H. Bennett": The Milwaukee Art Museum's summer photography show featuring three of the 19th century's premier landscape photographers wraps up its run Sunday. Hours this weekend at the art museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show is included with museum admission: $19; $17 for students and seniors 65 and older; free for museum member, and for kids 12 and younger. Info: mam.org.
"Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily": The Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's staging of the mashup of 19th-century celebrity, Oscar Wilde and Sherlock Holmes winds up its run Sunday at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Info: milwaukeechambertheatre.com.