Summer Festivals in Milwaukee: 2009

Milwaukee's Summerfest is known as the World's Largest Music Festival. This year's acts include KISS, Stevie Wonder, No Doubt, and Bob Dylan; just to name a few of some of the biggest headliners to hit Milwaukee's Maier Festival Park. The Summerfest grounds are also the location for some of the most diverse ethnic festivals in the Midwest. Starting in June and not ending until mid-September, Lake Michigan will be host to thousands of festival goers in search of great food, music, and fun.

Usually the food and music are the biggest draws to the festivals for residents and visitors to Milwaukee. There are some festival goers out there who may not realize that there will also be ways to educate and to give back to the community as well as drink beer and eat funnel cakes. Here is a small list of some of the educational and conscious events happening at Milwaukee's lakefront:

Milwaukee Pridefest 2009 - June 12^th-14^th, 2009

Friday - 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Saturday - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Sunday - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Cost: 3-day weekend pass: $35.00 ($45.00 at the gate); 1-day general admission pass: $13.00 ($15.00 at the gate)

Maier Festival Park, 200 North Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI

Pridefest will host some of the biggest names in music this year. Etta James, Brandy, and Cyndi Lauper are this year's headliners at Milwaukee's biggest LGBT festival. Not only are the coordinators of Pridefest offering great food, art, and family activities; they are also offering education as well.

This year, the 1970s Stonewall Riots of Milwaukee will be on exhibit everyday at the Arts and History Pavilion at Pridefest. The riots are considered to be the beginnings of the modern day gay and lesbian rights movement. Festival goers will be able to admire and discuss various exhibits and displays, watch television coverage of the movement and remember where they were during the dates listed on the time line at the exhibit.

Polish Fest - June 19^th-21^st, 2009

Friday - 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Saturday - 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Sunday - 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Cost: $8.00 in advance, $10.00 at the gate, $8.00 for Seniors, $7.00 for Group Tickets (10 or more), Children 15 and under FREE

Maier Festival Park, 200 North Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI

A little polka, polish, and vodka would be more than enough for some attending this year's Polish Festival in Milwaukee. After all of that dancing, drinking, and eating; a nice brisk walk might do some festival goers some good. Thankfully, Easter Seals will be able to provide just that.

Easter Seals will be holding their annual Easter Seals Walk With Me Twilight Walk on June 19^th during Polish Fest. This walk will help bring greater awareness to disabilities, change the lives of those living with disabilities, and to bring the people in Milwaukee's communities together. On this day, walkers 15 and under, festival goers who donate clothes and household goods to Easter Seals, and participants who were able to raise at least $50 will be admitted to Polish Fest for free.

Festa Italiana - July 16^th-19^th, 2009

Thursday - 2:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Friday - Sunday - 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Cost: $10.00 in advance ($12.00 at the gate), $30.00 for adult group tickets (five or more), Children 12 and under are FREE

Maier Festival Park, 200 North Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI

This year Festa Italiana is supporting the people in Italy who have suffered from the recent earthquakes in that area. More than 300 people were killed and at least 50,000 Italians were left homeless due to the earthquakes.

Milwaukee's Italian Community Center, the coordinators of Festa Italiana, and members of the Italian Consulate are working together this year to collect donations for homeless people in the Abruzzi region. In between eating cannolis and attending Sunday Mass, remember to donate to the Italian Community Center Earthquake Relief fund by writing a check, going to a local National City Bank, or by logging onto the Festa Italiana website and donating through PayPal.

Indian Summer Festival - September 11^th-13^th, 2009

Friday - Education Day - 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (General Public - TBD)

Saturday - TBD

Sunday - Prayer Ceremony - 10:00 a.m. (Gates open at 9:30 a.m. and General Public - TBD)

Cost: TBD

Maier Festival Park, 200 North Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI

At the end of summer, Indian Summer Festival helps us transition into the fall season here in Milwaukee. The first harvests of the fall, the vibrant colors of the dancers outfits, and the richness of the drums during the powwow help make the end of summer just a little bit easier. The coordinators of Indian Summer Festival will hold their annual Dylan's Run to help families with autistic children transition into their lives as well.

The Chippewa tribe has a special young man within their nation: Dylan. He is the run's namesake as well as a 12 year old autistic boy. The walk proceeds are donated to the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin (ASSEW) as well as other organizations that focus on Autism research. On Sunday, September 13^th, festival goers who participate in Dylan's Run will also receive free admission to Indian Summer Festival.

Hopefully this year at Milwaukee's lakefront, you will be able to give your time and services to these special events. Also, a little education and community service lasts a lot longer than beer and brats.

For more information on these events please visit their websites:
Pridefest - http://www.pridefest.com/index.php
Polish Fest - http://www.polishfest.org/
Festa Italiana - http://www.festaitaliana.com/default.asp
Indian Summer Festival - http://www.indiansummer.org/

For a listing of all of major Milwaukee events in 2009 and contact information: http://www.milwaukee.org/includes/media/docs/2009_major_events.pdf