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Dearest readers, It's finally June! It's been a bittersweet time for me as I recently left my full-time teaching gig to focus on raising my three little ones and running MiltownMoms.com.
I'm so excited to focus my energy on creating the best website to find kid-friendly fun.
I started the website four years ago. It's grown immensely, and now I feel like I'm finally free to make it everything I ever envisioned!
If you haven't subscribed yet, sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay in the know.
And please let me now how I'm doing! It really takes a village. I need to know what's working and what's not working so the website can be a super useful place for all of us. Drop me an email!
Happy exploring!
Calie
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1. Free admission days
Don't miss free admission at these Milwaukee area attractions this month! Milwaukee Public Museum: Free on Thursday, June 1st for all visitors. Open 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Residents of Milwaukee County receive a $2.00 discount on general admission everyday with proof of residency.)
Milwaukee Art Museum: Free to all visitors on Thursday, June 1st from 10:00-8:00. Find out about kid-friendly exhibits and activities here. The museum is always free for kids 12 and under!
Betty Brinn Children's Museum: Free to all visitors on Thursday, June 15th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. for Neighborhood Night. Join in for FREE admission, enjoy access to all of the Museum’s hands-on exhibits, and stop by our Be A Maker space to find tools, materials and techniques for endless ways to experiment and create.
The Domes: All three domes are now open! Free admission to the Domes on Monday, May 1st, 8th, 16th & 22nd from 9:00-12:00 a.m. for all Milwaukee County Residents with proof of residency. There is no free admission on Monday, May 29th for Memorial Day.
2. Free fishing weekend in all state parks / Learn-to-fish Extravaganza
State Parks, Forests and Recreation Areas are waiving entrance stickers for Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th.
Also, don't miss the annual Learn-to-Fish Extravaganza at the Urban Ecology Center in Washington Park! Join E.B. Garner and friends on Saturday, June 3rd from 8:00-4:00 to learn the art of fishing. Learn how to be safe by the water, bait the hook, identify fish, cast and reel. Some fishing gear is available for loan from the DNR; bring your own if you have it.
3. The Compassion Experience
Fri Jun 2 12:00 pm - 7:40 pm
Sat Jun 3 11:00 am - 6:40 pm
Sun Jun 4 10:00 am - 5:40 pm
Mon Jun 5 9:00 am - 4:40 pm
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Hubertus
This free and family-friendly event features an interactive journey through the true stories of children living in developing countries like the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda and the Dominican Republic.
In over 2,000 square feet of interactive exhibit space, visitors will step inside homes, markets and schools — without getting on a plane. Each child's story starts in poverty but ends in hope.
4. Pirate Festival in Port Washington
June 2-4 (Friday 5-11 / Saturday 10-11 / Sunday 10-6)
An invasion of pirates is on its way to Port Washington! Live music, bouncy houses, sea hamsters, lots of pirates, and more. Free admission.
5. Sun Fair
June 2-4
Historic Mitchell Street
The Sun Fair will span from S. 7th St. to S. 11th St. along historic Mitchell Street, making it the south side's largest street carnival! The Sun Fair will feature carnival style rides and games for the whole family, as well as a beer tent, food and gift vendors and more!
6. Bayshore Safety Day
Saturday, June 3rd
10:00-3:00
Bayshore Mall Town Square
Join Glendale Police Department and North Shore Fire & Rescue for safety demonstrations and displays. Sit in a fire truck! See deep diver rescue equipment. Learn more about the robot the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office Explosives Unit uses to inspect suspicious packages. Get safety tips from Safe Kids Wisconsin. And watch the fire explorer agility challenge beginning at 9:00 a.m. Come out and cheer on youths age 14-21 from fire departments across the state as they battle to be crowned the winner. The challenge simulates a number of common firefighting tasks like carrying hose up flights of stairs, forcing entry into a locked door, advancing hose across a roadway, or rescuing a victim overcome by smoke and fire. The course in grueling and these kids need your support. Come out and cheer loudly as they compete!
7. Greenfield Kids Fun Festival
Saturday, June 3
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Meijer, 5800 W Layton Ave, Greenfield, WI 53220
Bring the kids for a fun day at Meijer, filled with tons of kid-friendly activities and entertainment, including a magician, balloon animals, face painting, air brush tattoos, a portable petting zoo and more!
8. Community Planting Day
Join in the Menomonee Valley to plant native vegetation in Three Bridges Park! Dress for the weather and bring gloves/trowels if you can. Meet at the Center and head out to the planting site together.
9. Kidz Days at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
Enjoy free programming for children, held outdoors on KidZ Stage throughout the summer months on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Programs will be live performing arts that incorporates an educational component and encourages interactive participation. Performers include First Stage, Milwaukee Public Library, TrueSkool Breakdancers, WI Conservatory of Music, and The Milwaukee Flyers Tumbling Team. In addition, there will be cultural presenters which will represent the Native American, African, Asian, Hispanic, Indian and some European countries.
10. Summer Soulstice
Saturday, June 24th
10:00 a.m. to Midnight
Largest free showcase of top local bands along with visual artists, makers of Milwaukee's arts/crafts scene curated by the Waxwing, creation stations, East Side restaurants, dodgeball and BMX stunt bikes, family-friendly activities and more.
For the littlest strawberry-lovers, Henry’s Kids Korner at Cedar Creek Park offers pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatable bounce houses, food vendors, dancers, clowns and lots of other activities. New this year, Treetop Explorers will help festgoers take to the trees with their recreational climbing tools – kids of all ages will use ropes and saddles to ascend into the canopy of trees for adventure, fitness, and fun. One of the Festival’s most popular events is the CedarQuacker 500 sponsored by Port Washington State Bank, where hundreds of rubber ducks are launched into the creek in a race to the finish Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.
12. Greek Fest
June 23 - 25
WI State Fair
Enjoy traditional Greek music and dancing, along with a Greek Market full of imported goods and artifacts! A wide variety of fresh, authentic Greek food will be available, including gyros, Greek chicken, lamb, saganaki, souvlaki, baklava and loukoumades. Games and rides for children of all ages will be available. $5.00 parking rates apply.
Plus, don't forget to check your local library for free summer programs all month long!