Over 100 free concerts, movie nights and events are scheduled in Milwaukee County Parks this summer – including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at Boerner Botanical Gardens, concerts at Grant Beach and a Thursday night traveling concert series.

As well as established concert series such as Chill on the Hill at Humboldt Park and Jazz in the Park at Cathedral Square, entertainment will include a new Traveling Tunes series, which will visit ten parks around the county on Thursday nights. A new concert series at Washington Park this summer will feature a different theme each night, including ‘beer and bass’ – with beer tastings and food trucks and ‘roll with it’ night which offers a chance to skate with members of the Brewcity Bruisers roller derby team.

Milwaukee County Parks Director, John Dargle, said: “Milwaukee County Parks are central to why Milwaukee is so great in the summer – you can enjoy beaches, beer gardens, water parks, golf courses, cycling trails, festivals and find live, local music almost every night of the week through the summer.”

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to the events. Food and drink is available to purchase at some events, including “Chill on the Hill” at Humboldt Park and “Concerts in the Garden” at Boerner Botanical Gardens. Drink and carry-in policies vary among venues. For more information check concert websites or facebook pages.

2017 Milwaukee County Parks Summer’s Best Free Park Concerts Schedule
* Schedule subject to change. Shows go on, weather permitting. No rain dates.

Monday Night Concerts

Musical Mondays – Lake Park
At The Summer Stage 2975 North Lake Park Road, Milwaukee
Presented by Lake Park Friends

July 3 – Lakefront Brass Quintet
July 10 – 4th Street Elevator
July 17 – Caribbean Eclipse
July 24 – Alphonso Ponticelli Trio
July 31 – Cream City Percussion
August 7 – Midwest Vocal Express
August 14 – Folias Music
August 21 – Becky Spice & Chad Larget with Jack Forbes Wilson
August 28 – The Rhythm Aces

MONDAYS: 6:30-8:00 pm

Tuesday Night Concerts

Chill on the Hill – Humboldt Park
3000 S. Howell Avenue, Milwaukee
Presented by Bay View Neighborhood Association

June 6 – D’Amato with Bay View High School and Parkside Drum Lines
June 13 – Driveway Thriftdwellers
June 20 – Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
June 27 – American Legion Band
July 11 – Abby Jeanne
July 18 – Charles Walker Band
July 25 – Devil Met Contention
August 1 – Colors of the Alphabet
August 8 – Max & the Invaders
August 15 – PILES
August 22 – Misha Siegfried and His Band
August 29 – De La Buena

TUESDAYS 6:00-8:30 PM, Opening Acts: 6:00 pm, Main Acts: 6:30 pm

Wednesday Night Concerts

River Rhythms – Pere Marquette Park
900 N. Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee
Presented by Westown Association

June 14 – Willy Porter & Carmen Nickerson
June 21 – Brother
June 28 – Reverend Raven
July 12 – Chicken Wire Empire
July 19 – King Solomon
July 26 – Charles Walker Band
Aug. 2 – Saddlebrook
August 9 – De La Buena
August 16 – Thriftones
August 23 – Celtica Pipes Rock
August 30 – 5 Card Studs

WEDNESDAYS 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Happy Hour at 5:00 pm, Music starts at 6:00 pm

Wonderful Wednesdays – Lake Park
The Summer Stage 2975 North Lake Park Road, Milwaukee
Concerts for Kids & Families Presented by Lake Park Friends

June 21 – Jim Gill
June 28 – Danika and Jeb
July 5 – Paul Kaye
July 12 – Twang Dragons
July 19 – Cash Box Kings
July 26 – Fox & Branch

WEDNESDAYS: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Washington Park Wednesdays – Washington Park
1859 N. 40th Street , Milwaukee
Supported by: Washington Park Partners, Neighborhoods United for Washington Park,
Washington Heights Neighborhood Association, and Washington Heights Rainbow Association

July 5 – 5 Card Studs
July 12 – Clave Y Afinque
July 19 – Dramatic Lovers
July 26 – Cigarette Break
August 2 – Abby Jeanne
August 9 – New Age Narcissism
August 16 – Charles Walker Band
August 23 – Dead Man’s Carnival
August 30 – Foreign Goods & Tarik Moody the Diaspora Orchestra

WEDNESDAYS: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Opening Acts: 6:00 pm

Thursday Night Concerts

Jazz in the Park – Cathedral Square
520 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee
Presented by East Town Association

June 8 – Clave Y Afinque
June 15 – The Rhythm Rockets
June 22 – Legends of Milwaukee Jazz
June 29 – Alma Afrobeat Ensemble
July 6 – The Blues Disciples
July 13 – Bastille Days Programming – July 13 to July 16
July 20 – Christopher’s Project
July 27 – Paul Spencer Band
August 3 – Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal
August 10 – Salsa Manzana
August 17 – Fresh Faces of Milwaukee Jazz Featuring Foreign Goods & Roxi Copland
August 24 – Incendio / Terra Guitarra
August 31 – Streetlife Featuring Warren Wiegratz/Vivo

THURSDAYS 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Happy Hour at 5:00 pm, Music starts at 6:00 pm

Concerts in the Gardens – Boerner Botanical Gardens
Whitnall Park, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners
Presented by Milwaukee County Parks, Sponsored by Wimmer Communities

June 22* – Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
June 29 – Cold Sweat & The Brew City Horns
July 6 – Tweed Funk
July 13 – The 52nd Street Band
July 20 – The Kyle Feerick Band
July 27 – Concord Chamber Orchestra
August 3 – Well-Known Strangers
August 10 – Bella Cain
August 17 – Platinum
August 24 – Deacon Blues
August 31* – The Jimmys

THURSDAYS 6:30-8:30 PM (*Special Hours 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm)
Admission to the Gardens is free on concert nights after 6:00 pm

Thursday Traveling Tunes
Thursday night traveling concert series presented by Milwaukee County Parks

June 15 – Eddie Butts Band – Gordon Park: 2828 N. Humboldt Boulevard, Milwaukee
July 13 – AhVantSoul with Jon Pierre Gee & Kat Webb: Lindbergh Park, 3629 N. 16th Street, Milwaukee
July 20 – Eddie Butts Band, Columbus Park: 7301 W. Courtland Avenue, Milwaukee
July 20 – Piano Brew, Mitchell Boulevard Park: 5115 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee
July 27 – Davis Family Band, Johnsons Park: 1919 W. Fond du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee
August 3 – Keep’n It Clean (K.I.C.): Smith Park, 5462 N. 33rd Street, Milwaukee
August 10 – Blue Grass Allstars: Sheridan Park, 4800 S. Lake Drive (Picnic Area 1), Milwaukee
August 10 – Saturday June Band: Jackson Park, 3500 W. Forest Home (Picnic Area 2), Milwaukee
August 17 – Christopher’s Project, Dineen Park, 6901 W. Vienna Avenue, Milwaukee
August 17 – Tweed Funk: Mitchell Boulevard Park, 5115 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee
August 24 – Cigarette Break: Moody Park, 3629 N. 16th Street, Milwaukee

THURSDAYS: 6:30-8:30pm

Music in Mitchell Park
524 S. Layton Boulevard, Milwaukee

August 3 – ABRAXES Band
August 10 – Nabori
August 17 – Eddie Butts Band
August 24 – Twister Army
August 31 – El Teca y los Buitres de Guanajuato

THURSDAYS: 6:30-8:30 pm

Friday & Saturday Night Live Music
Visit the Traveling Beer gardens, South Shore Terrace Kitchen & beer Garden or Whitnall Park Beer Garden for live music.
© Photo
Lee Matz