6 things you should be doing in Milwaukee this weekend, including Flannel Fest, Brady Street Pet Parade and more
Chris Foran1. Get in step at the Brady Street Pet Parade
We all know dogs really rule the world. Sunday, they — along with cats and other animal companions — will rule Brady Street during the annual Pet Parade. The 1 p.m. parade, on Brady Street from Arlington Place to Franklin Place, is the centerpiece, but there's also a herd of contests (costume, tail-wagging, pet/owner lookalike), a pet blessing, live music, raffles, sidewalk sales and more. Registration is required for the parade and contests, and is available either at the parade starting at 11 a.m. or at Eventbrite.com. (Registration fees benefit the Wisconsin Humane Society.) The proceedings run till 5 p.m.
Info: Brady Street Pet Parade Facebook page
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2. Suit up for Flannel Fest
Two of Milwaukee's favorites — flannel and free — join forces Saturday for Flannel Fest, a street celebration with music, food and more at Boone & Crockett, 818 S. Water St. The diverse music lineup includes local favorites Polica, Har Mar Superstar, Klassik, REYNA and more. The free party starts at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Info: Flannel Fest '19 Facebook page
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3. Warm up with some soup at Milwaukee Empty Bowls
This time of year, what's better than a bowl of soup? How about having a good cause on the side? At Sunday's 21st annual Milwaukee Empty Bowls, you get a handmade bowl and soup and bread from one of more than 30 restaurants and bakeries to go with it. At this year's event, you'll get to choose from nearly 2,500 handcrafted bowls, made by everyone from artists to second-graders. There's also music, kids' activities, beer and more. Empty Bowls runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Milwaukee School of Engineering's Kern Center, 1245 N. Broadway. Bowls cost $25 and commemorative spoons are $10; each bowl includes two soup tickets, with more tickets available for $2 each. (More than 95% of the proceeds will go to local charities.)
Info: milwaukeeemptybowls.org
4. Tune in music at Illuminate MKE
ILLÜMINATE MKE bills itself as a music festival designed to "bring the community together." The music lineup for the concert, planned to run from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday at The Rave/Eagles Club, includes hip-hop, rap and EDM performers; also scheduled are food-and-drink vendors and campfires. Tickets are $10 to $30, with discounts available for students and users of the LÜM streaming-music app. The location was switched this week to The Rave/Eagles Club from the lakefront because of the weather forecast.
Info: ILLÜMINATE MKE Music Festival Facebook page
5. Dig into food and music at Bay View's Beet Street festival
Something new has been added to the fourth annual Beet Street Fall Harvest Festival, the music and food block party held near Cactus Club, 2496 S. Wentworth Ave. This year's festival, from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, includes a raft of music, seasonal food from local vendors, and events like the Palomino's Great Midwestern Pie Championship and Goodkind's Beet Street Brunch, per usual. But added this year are two video shorts series, one of them including music videos, showing indoors at Cactus Club during the festival. Admission to the festival is free.
Info: 4th Annual Beet Street Fall Harvest Festival Facebook page
6. Take an art road trip
Fifty-four local artists will hold an open house of sorts in their studios this weekend as part of the self-guided Covered Bridge Art Studio Tour in Ozaukee and Washington counties. The tour, coordinated by the Cedarburg Artists Guild, runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Maps are available at the guild's website, or at the Cedarburg Cultural Center, W62-N546 Washington Ave. The tour is free.
Info: cedarburgartistsguild.com
Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12.
