17 Things to Do in Milwaukee This Weekend: April 21-23
Originally published on Milwaukee Magazine 4/20/231. Young Frankenstein
ALL WEEKEND | SUNSET PLAYHOUSE
This weekend, Sunset Playhouse is opening their latest musical Young Frankenstein, a hilarious retelling of the famous story from the desk of Mel Brooks. When Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson inherits the family home in Transylvania, he and his assistant Igor step into the roles of mad scientists to make their own creation that rivals that of his grandfather.
2. 2023 MIAD Senior Exhibition
ALL WEEKEND | 273 E. ERIE ST.
This weekend, MIAD’s 2023 graduating class kicks off its Senior Exhibition. It features nearly 200 students’ capstone projects that demonstrate skills in contemporary art forms, and even artificial intelligence. The kickoff party will be Friday during Gallery Night, and the students will be be there to discuss their art from 5-9 p.m.
3. 30x30x30 Exhibition Opening
FRIDAY FROM 5-10 P.M. | VAR GALLERY
This is the 9th year of the 30x30x30 exhibition at Var Gallery, an annual showcase of an artistic challenge. Every January, selected artists are invited to make 30 pieces of art in 30 days, in an effort to kick off the year in a creative way. The works are then exhibited and sold at Var Gallery for collectors to invest in smaller pieces by a large variety of talented artists.
4. Beer Garden Season Opening Ceremony
FRIDAY AT 6 P.M. | ESTABROOK BEER GARDEN
Beer garden season is officially kicking off with this opening day ceremony at Estabrook Beer Garden. Milwaukee County and park officials will host the ceremonial keg tapping for beer lovers from across the city to enjoy. The following hour, all beer will be free. There will also be a stein holding contest (aka a masskrugstemmen), as well as live music from Jon Dietz & the Twin Lakes Trio.
5. Cine Sin Fronteras Festival Kick-Off
FRIDAY AT 6 P.M. | ZÓCALO PARK
Cine Sin Fronteras is a pillar of the Milwaukee Film Festival, sharing stories of the Latinx diaspora from all over the world. They are inviting film buffs to join them at Zócalo for a festival kickoff party complete with Latinx music and a festival scavenger hunt.
6. Floral Fashion Party
FRIDAY AT 7 P.M. | MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
Spring is in the air at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Floral Fashion Party. As an extension from the Art in Bloom exhibition, this fashion show will feature extraordinary gowns and accessories inspired by and made of florals, greenery and other local plant life. Cocktail attire is recommended and there are three different types of tickets you can buy depending on how you want to celebrate the night.
7. Spring Gallery Night & Day
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY | THROUGHOUT THE CITY
Gallery night and day is back for the spring exhibition and gallery-hop. Galleries and studios in the Historic Third Ward, Walker’s Point, East Town and other nearby neighborhoods are opening their doors for visitors to see art, meet the artists, and even purchase one-of-a-kind works to expand their local art collection.
8. Record Store Day
SATURDAY ALL DAY | THROUGHOUT THE CITY
Several record stores are celebrating Record Store Day this Saturday, an annual celebration of vinyl, all genres of music and the record stores that are vital to the music culture. Milwaukee’s record stores will be hosting live music, selling exclusive Record Store Day releases, will host pop-ups and other ways to party.
9. Earth Day Events
SATURDAY ALL DAY | THROUGHOUT THE CITY
This Saturday is Earth Day, and there’s a slew of events for the citizens of Milwaukee to participate in to beautify our communities. The city is hosting Big Clean MKE, a city-wide initiative to clear our streets of trash and clutter in over 15 neighborhoods around the city. All clean-up tools and supplies will be provided.
10. Rock the Green
SATURDAY FROM NOON-3 P.M. | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM
Milwaukee’s annual eco-fest, Rock The Green, is back for its 12th year of earth-friendly celebrations. Kids (ages 3 to 7) will be able to demo Harley-Davidson’s electric-powered balance bike, and festival-goers can enjoy live music from SistaStrings and Klassik performing on a pedal-powered stage.
11. Milwaukee Zine Fest
SATURDAY FROM 10:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M. | CENTRAL LIBRARY
Milwaukee Zine Fest is back this Saturday for a daylong celebration of zines, illustrators, artists and makers. Festival-goers can enjoy several free workshops in printmaking and zinemaking, as well as a la carte shopping from dozens of vendors.
12. Joint Beer Fest
SATURDAY FROM 1-6 P.M. | EAGLE PARK BREWING COMPANY
Joint Beer Fest is a celebration of collaboration! The festival brings together breweries and distilleries from across the midwest to work together and craft some one-of-a-kind concoctions, several of which will be canned and available for purchase. Participants can enjoy unlimited tastings of new brews, vendors, live music, glass blowing demonstrations and more.
13. Caroline Rose
SATURDAY AT 7 P.M. | TURNER HALL BALLROOM
Caroline Rose is bringing her captivating live show on the road in support of her latest album, The Art of Forgetting, which was released in late March. She’s making a stop this weekend at Turner Hall Ballroom with special guest Kairos Creature Club. Tickets are available online.
14. Straight Jokes! No Chaser
SATURDAY AT 8 P.M. | UWM PANTHER ARENA
Some truly iconic comics are coming to Milwaukee this weekend for a stop of the Straight Jokes! No Chaser tour. Hosted by comedy legend Mike Epps, this night of laughs will feature sets by Cedric The Entertainer, Earthquake, D.L. Hughley and DC Young Fly.
15. The Purple Party
SATURDAY FROM 8 P.M.-1 A.M. | UP-DOWN
Have some fun while honoring the musical legacy of Prince this weekend at Up-Down. The arcade bar is hosting a night of games under purple lights with music by (and inspired by) the legendary artist. Themed cocktails will be available to sip as well.
16. Nineties by Nature
SATURDAY FROM 9 P.M.-2 A.M. | MAD PLANET
Mad Planet is taking a step back in time to celebrate the music and fashion of the ‘90s for its Nineties by Nature party. Grab your dance shoes and don your favorite nineties fits for a night of hip hop, pop, jock games, alternative, dance and more, all from the talented hands of DJ Milkman & Andrew Optimist.
17. Taste of Italy
SUNDAY FROM 11:30 A.M.-3:30 P.M. | ITALIAN COMMUNITY CENTER
Buongiorno, Milwaukee! A Taste of Italy is back this Sunday for an afternoon of cibo Italiano. Admission is free and food is pay-per-ticket. Each food item is one ticket (two for the popular calamari) and there will also be a raffle, live entertainment and enough food for the whole family.
