VISIT Milwaukee Blog
Make it Polish Fest this Weekend!
by Guest Blogger Margaret Casey
Who needs beer and brats when you can have vodka and pierogis? That is the question and Polish Fest is the answer! The ethnic festivals kick off with three days of celebrating Polish culture at Henry Maier Festival Park, this Friday through Sunday, June 14-16.
Head down to the festival for everything from music to crafts, Polish delicacies to vodka tastings. The Buffalo Concertina All-Stars will brag about their own Polish Fest – which they claim to be the largest – but we know better. Our own Polish Fest has increased attendance every year, and this year it’s on track to set another record.
Adults can chill out on the Harley Deck and sample Sobieski Vodka drinks while colorful Polish folk dance groups perform on the stage below. Polka bands from around the country and Canada will have you dancing the night away and Milwaukee’s own Mount Olive will be rocking it on Saturday night after the fireworks. Come on now…who wouldn’t want to watch “The Big Boomski” on a gorgeous Saturday night on the lakefront?
Bring the kids for lively entertainment at the Children’s Stage, where balloon artists, musicians, Kohl’s Wild Theater and the reptiles and amphibians of the Schlitz Audubon Society are sure to bring smiles. And Poland’s Highland (Tatra) Sheepdogs will be wagging their tails to greet you.
The cultural area features traditional Polish crafts, including wycinanki (paper-cutting), pisanki (decorated eggs) and more, and Milwaukee’s pre-eminent historian, John Gurda, joins other experts in discussing various topics of Polish immigrant history.
And of course the FOOD…pierogis and paczki and chrusciki, oh my! Mouthwatering traditional Polish specialties including sausages, pancakes, soups and pastries are sure to win you over. Cooking demos will even show you how to prepare Polish dishes at home.
Check the Polish Fest website for ticket info and many special deals: www.polishfest.org. Gate Tickets $12.00, Advance Tickets $10.00, Senior (55 +) Gate Tickets $10.00, Children (15 & Under) FREE with paying Adult.
Baw się dobrze…(Have Fun) at Polish Fest!
Details:
Polish Fest
June 14-16
Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds)
Start Your Engines
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Wednesday, June 12, 2013 By Zack Zupke Creative Services Manager VISIT Milwaukee |
Biggest four-sided clock in North America. World’s largest music festival. World’s only Harley-Davidson Museum. Sexiest building on the planet. Milwaukee’s list of unique venues and events goes on and on and continues this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile as Andretti Sports Marketing brings the stars of the IZOD IndyCar Series back to the longest continually operating speedway in the nation at Milwaukee IndyFest.
The fest will feature two days of exciting race action from the IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires cars Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15. Fans will also have the opportunity to watch Firestone Indy Lights and Pro Mazda Championship test for free on Thursday as an added bonus to this year's IndyFest.
In addition to the racing, IndyFest will also include a long list of activities and attractions throughout the two-day festival. Race fans will love getting up close with drivers as they work on their cars pre-race, families will enjoy the free ferris wheel and game area and the beer garden with local bands will rock the grounds after the checkered flag is waved.
The Milwaukee IndyFest infield will be packed with even more activities for race fans, families and festival-goers. There will be a number of unique sections inside the confines of the historic one-mile oval to rev up race fans all weekend long, including: The Coors Light Music & Beer Garden, Family Fun Zone, Vintage Car Corral and the IZOD IndyCar Fan Village.
So, while you celebrate Father’s Day weekend in one of the most unique cities in the world with the best dad in the world, there’s no better place to start summer’s engines than Milwaukee IndyFest at the Milwaukee Mile.
Details:
Milwaukee IndyFest
June 13-15
Various Locations
Suite Location
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Monday, June 10, 2013 By Zack Zupke Creative Services Manager VISIT Milwaukee |
The tried, but true, real estate adage “location, location, location” supposes it’s not always the “what,” but more the “where” that counts. So, when your “what” matches your “where,” you’re golden. The new Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Milwaukee Downtown went for the gold and is definitely glowing at the intersection of Wisconsin Ave. and Old World Third St.
Previously a Best Western property, Marriott gobbled up adjacent space from long-time businesses Johnnie Walkers and Powers Jewelers to create a surprisingly-stunning footprint in the historic Straus Building. The newest hotel in downtown Milwaukee, this is an atypical Fairfield Inn & Suites, complete with industrial chic design and urban spaces (a garage door opens to make the lobby and Old World Third Street one and the same), yet all the amenities you’d expect like a business center, clean spacious rooms (103 total), free high-speed internet and complimentary daily breakfast buffet.
The spaciousness continues with a 1,000-square-foot, lobby-level meeting room equipped to handle 75 guests with on-site catering services for breakfast and lunch, a rare find in a Fairfield Inn & Suites. Even more impressive is a fantastic fitness center set against the backdrop of cream city brick, smartly preserved during renovation so it feels like you’re working out in a New York loft.
The lofty endeavor took some time to complete, but the Fairfield Inn & Suites, set in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, is open for business and it’s a hit. It’s got location (just a block from the Delta Center and a five-minute walk to Milwaukee’s lakefront) and everything else business and leisure travelers will need and, most importantly, enjoy.
Details:
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Milwaukee Downtown
710 N. Old World Third Street
Don’t miss the largest LGBT pride festival in the country!
by Guest Blogger Todd O'Leary
Milwaukee was just named one of the Top 10 Destinations for Gay Travelers by TravelNerd. One of the main reasons we achieved this designation was because of PrideFest.
Kicking off Milwaukee’s lakefront festival season is PrideFest. As the largest LGBT pride festival in the country, PrideFest attracts thousands of people to the city every year. I think attendees will find PrideFest to be one of the most diverse festivals in Milwaukee – gay, straight, families, couples, singles, all races and ages – all are welcome!
The Basics
June 7-9, 2013 at the Henry Maier Festival Park
Tickets are $16 for a single day admission
While there are many highlights to PrideFest, I’ve chosen a few below, just to get you thinking. For a full line-up, check out PrideFest’s website.
Big Gay 5K
The fun actually starts a day early, with the 2nd Annual “Big Gay 5K” presented by the Cream City Foundation, Milwaukee Gay Sports Network, and PrideFest. This year’s run/walk will take place on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 6:30pm with a special celebration and awards ceremony inside the PrideFest grounds. This is a fun (and healthy) way to participate in the festival! Each participant will receive a t-shirt and a single-day PrideFest admission ticket. The Run/Walk is $32 in advance and $40 the day of the race. All proceeds benefit AIDS Walk Wisconsin and the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.
The organizers of PrideFest (all volunteers, by the way) do a great job with the festival, but do a particularly nice job on the entertainment lineup. Over the past several years, PrideFest’s headliners have read like a who’s-who of the entertainment world.Here are this year’s headliners:
Friday, June 7 – Sophie B Hawkins – 9:15pm at the Miller Lite Mainstage; followed by Andy Bell at 11pm (also on the Miller Lite Mainstage)
Saturday, June 8 – The Indigo Girls – 10:30pm at the Miller Lite Mainstage
Sunday, June 9 – Dangerous Muse at 7:30pm at the Miller Lite Mainstage; followed by Amanda Palmer at 8:45pm (also on the Miller Lite Mainstage)
In addition, the Dance Pavilion has become a destination in its own right. National and local DJs spin for the audience, while roving performance artists hype up the crowd.
The Health & Wellness Area demonstrates the festival’s commitment to the community’s health and well-being. Over 30 organizations take part in the area, which includes HIV & AIDS testing, interactive performances on a dedicated stage, and prize opportunities for those who visit.
Milwaukee Pride Parade
Though not technically part of PrideFest, the Milwaukee Pride Parade is a fun and colorful procession through Milwaukee’s main “gayborhood” – Walker’s Point. The parade begins at 2pm on Sunday at 2nd Street and Lapham. It travels north on 2nd Street to 2nd & Seeboth. This year’s Grand Marshal is Sue Black, President of the Milwaukee Wave Professional Indoor Soccer Team, and former Milwaukee County Parks Director.
Milwaukee’s summer festival season is here and I can’t think of a better way to kick it off than with the colorful pageantry, fantastic entertainment and pride-full festivities of PrideFest. See you there!
Details:
PrideFest
June 7-9
Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds)