Milwaukee brews up festivals this summer
Milwaukee's Summerfest annually launches a season's worth of ethnic events at Henry Maier Festival Park along Lake Michigan. But the hidden gem for locals is Bastille Days, the city's only major downtown festival. The 27th Annual Bastille Days will be held July 10-13 in a four-block area surrounding Cathedral Square Park in the heart of downtown.
The free festival, expected to draw more than 200,000 people, is among the nation's largest French-themed celebrations. Performance highlights include Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk with sets at 5 and 9:15 p.m. July 11 at the Cathedral Square stage, as well as Milwaukee native Paul Cebar, who plays at 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. that day on the same stage. The beloved Iguanas from New Orleans appear at 2 and 6:30 p.m. July 12. Former Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeean and French balladeer Robin Pluer appropriately closes out the festival at 7 and 8:10 p.m. at the Beaux Arts stage.
The festival also includes daily chef demonstrations and wine tastings, food from Milwaukee's top restaurants and street vendors selling artwork, jewelry and souvenirs. Children's day runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. July 12 and features dance lessons from the Milwaukee ballet and the Petit Tour de France tricycle race.
Do not expect polka.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.bastilledaysfestival.com or call (414) 271-1416.
Summerfest is already underway, but remaining highlights include a sizzling "Tribute to James Brown featuring Bootsy Collins" at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Alicia Keys headlining the 23,000-capacity Marcus Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Lucinda Williams at 10 p.m. Thursday at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse. The roadhouse might be a good place to camp out Thursday. The Drive-By Truckers deliver a 3 p.m. set that day, followed by alt-country vocalist Paul Thorn at 5:30 p.m. and Alejandro Escovedo at 7:30 p.m. Go to www.summerfest.com or call (414) 273-2680.
Other summer events at the Henry Maier Festival Park include Festa Italiana (July 17-20), German Fest (July 24-27) and the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary with headliners Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band (Aug. 29-30).
Dave Hoekstra