9 Things to Do in Milwaukee This Weekend: Nov. 18 - 20
The holiday season begins this weekend in Milwaukee.
2022 Holiday Folk Fair International
ALL WEEKEND | WISCONSIN EXPO CENTER
Milwaukee’s 79th Annual Holiday Folk Fair International returns to the Wisconsin Expo Center this weekend. The event celebrates the dance, art, cuisine and music of south eastern Wisconsin’s many cultures-- including German, Ugandan, Serbian, Japanese, Senegalese, Mexican, Italian and many more. The event includes live theater, cafes, a “tanzhaus” for dancing, international bazaar and live cooking demonstrations from local chefs preparing cultural cuisine.
Calm & Bright: Holiday Floral Show
ALL WEEKEND | MITCHELL PARK DOMES
This weekend kicks off the Holiday Floral Show at the Mitchell Park Domes. The holiday display will feature “vignettes, decorated trees, and nearly 1,000 poinsettias, including topiaries.” Bring your whole crew down to get into the holiday spirit-- Milwaukee families have been doing so since 1964!
FRIDAY AT 8 P.M. | TURNER HALL
Milwaukee’s dancing queens are gearing up for Friday’s Gimme Gimme Disco dance party at Turner Hall. Dancers should expect to hear tunes from disco heavyweights including ABBA, The Bee Gees, Donna Summer and other greats from the era. Attendees are encouraged to don era-appropriate garb so dust off those platform shoes and bellbottoms before heading out.
REYNA Intimate Acoustic Show with Valerie Lighthart + Bisca Rae
FRIDAY FROM 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. | CENTRAAL GRAND CAFÉ & TAPPERY
Milwaukee’s REYNA (formerly Vic and Gab) are playing a stripped down set in Bayview’s Café Centraal as a part of the “Courtyard Sessions” series, a weekly night of music in partnership with the Bayview Neighborhood Association and Chill on the Hill. The one-night-only show includes acoustic renditions of REYNA tracks, live storytelling, and accompanying music from Milwaukee musicians Valerie Lighthart and Bisca Rae. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Walkers Point Makers Market & Bar Hop
SATURDAY FROM 12 P.M. – 5 P.M. | WALKER’S POINT
What do you get when you combine two of Milwaukee’s favorite events? A maker’s market bar hop, of course! Pop down to Walker’s Point on Saturday to shop and sip at Indeed Brewing Co., Broken Bat Brewing Co., MobCraft Beer and Great Lakes Distillery. The event is free to attend and a great opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping.
Carmen Lagala at The Laughing Tap
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY | THE LAUGHING TAP
Comedian Carmen Lagala brings her “darkly frolicsome humor” to Milwaukee’s Laughing Tap this Friday and Saturday. Lagala has performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, on Comedy Central and in New York City clubs for over a decade. Pre-order your tickets to see if she lives up to her promise of “no topic is off-limits.”
SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M. – 4 P.M. | BEST PLACE AT THE HISTORIC PABST BREWERY
Saturday’s Vegan Pop-Up Market features a selection of hard hitting midwest vegan eats including Twisted Plant, Chicago’s Kitchen 17, Moon Cherry Sweets and AFMG Cafe. Visitors can peruse a variety of plant-based boutiques, learn more about vegan manicures and do some holiday shopping all while enjoying live music in the company of other plant-based locals.
SATURDAY AT 8:30 P.M. | CACTUS CLUB
Milwaukee’s rising star, Diet Lite, is performing this Saturday at Cactus Club. The band, which meats at the intersection of “garage rock and power pop,” is celebrating the release of their new EP, dumb bird. Supporting acts, The Dead Bolts and Social Cig, are kicking off the 18+ show at 8:30 p.m.
SUNDAY AT 9 A.M. | BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS
The season of holiday fun runs kicks off this Sunday during the “Elf Run” at the Boerner Botanical Gardens. Both runners and watchers can dress in holiday attire during the 5K or 10K walk and run. The Elf Run is the second event of the Wisconsin Winter Run Series. If you’re not ready for this one, you can mark your calendar for the “run into the new year,” “big chill” and “cupid shuffle” races that await us this winter season.
