Here are some family-friendly events that are totally *FREE* around Milwaukee this month!
Ozaukee County Fair
August 1 – 5, 2018
W67N866 Washington Ave., Cedarburg, WI 53012
Held each year in Cedarburg, the Ozaukee County Fair is one of the last free county fairs in Wisconsin. You’ll find games, rides, animals, fair food, truck pulls, demonstrations, and live music
National Night Out
Meet your local police, fire fighters, and first responders, and explore their vehicles. Games, food, and more!
Brookfield | Wednesday, August 1st, 2018 | Brookfield City Hall
St. Francis | Wednesday, August 1st, 2018 | Milton Vretenar Mem. Park
Cudahy | Thursday, August 2nd, 2018 | Cudahy Family Library
Greenfield | Tuesday, August 7th, 2018 | Konkel Park
Oak Creek | Tuesday, August 7th, 2018 | American Legion Post 434
Beat Bugs Performance
Bayshore Town Center
Saturday, August 4th at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM
Join the Beat Bugs - Crick, Jay and Kumi - in a fun, interactive Sing Along, featuring songs made famous by The Beatles! The Beat Bugs live in an overgrown backyard filled will fun, music, and adventure. Together with their friends from around the backyard, they explore, invent, have fun, and sing. While they often get into mischief, they always get by with a little help from their friends. The Beat Bugs Sing Along takes place in the Rotunda at Bayshore Town Center. Fun for the whole family!
India Fest
Saturday, August 18 from 11:00am – 9:00pm
Humboldt Park in Bay View Neighborhood
Enjoy authentic Indian food, Bollywood Music, Cultural Shows, Colorful Costumes, and Dance! At the heart of Milwaukee, IndiaFest Milwaukee (IFM) has been bringing communities together beyond borders, boundaries, language, religion and region, for the past 5 years, successfully and consistently. Celebrating 'India' in a grand fashion in the land of Wisconsin, in August; observing Independence day of India, providing a platform that brings an essence of India to the community, for education, collaboration and cultural immersion - has become the pulse of Wisconsin's summer, a tradition.
Library Highlights:
Fun with Bubbles | Sat. Aug. 4th from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Bay View Library
Slime Science (ages 6-12) | Tues., Aug. 7th 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | East Library
Film & sing-along "Moana" | Sat., August 25th - 2:30 | Tippecanoe Library
Celebration of Greenfield Arts | Sat. Aug. 18th - 10:00 - 4:00 | Greenfield Library
Sunday Funday Bazaar | Sun., Aug. 19th from 11:00 - 3:00 | Cudahy Family Library
Comedy Night | Wed., Aug. 22nd from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. | Cudahy Family Library
Throwback Thursday 90's Night | Thursday, August 2nd from 6:00 - 7:30 a.m. | North Shore Library
Free outdoor Movies
Film on the Hill | August 11th, 2018 in Humboldt Park | "Coco"
Family Flicks | August 18th, 2018 in Veterans Park | "The Lion King"
Family Flicks | August 25th, 2018 in Veterans Park | "A Wrinkle in Time"
Peck Flicks | Friday, August 3rd at Peck Pavilion at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts | "Batman"
Peck Flicks | Friday, August 24th at Peck Pavilion at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts | "The Little Mermaid"
Family movie at Konkel Park | Saturday, August 18th | "Coco"
Movies at the Beach in South Milwaukee | Saturday, August 24th | Grant Park
Movie in the Park at Cutler Park | Monday, August 27th | Cars 3
Dragons & Damsels at Havenwoods
Saturday, August 11 & Saturday, August 18th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Havenwoods State Forest (6141 N Hopkins St, Milwaukee, WI 53209)
They begin life as voracious aquatic larvae. Then they transform into formidable aerial predators. Discover their dashing, daredevil lives through activities and crafts. Then borrow a net to catch dragons and damsels on your own.
Instrument Petting Zoo at Brass Bell
Saturday, August 18th from 1:00 - 3:00
Brass Bell (210 W Silver Spring Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53217)
Kids Dream Family Film Series
Download free passes here (otherwise admission is $3.00)
Now - August 29, 2018
Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
Join Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. through August 29 to view your favorite family flicks for just $3.00! Grab the family and head to your nearest participating Marcus Theatres® location.
August 4, 5, 6 & 8 - Despicable Me
August 11, 12, 13 & 15 - My Little Pony
August 18, 19, 20 & 22 - Peter Rabbit
August 25, 26, 27 & 29 - Sherlock Gnomes
Firefly Monitoring
Wednesday, August 15 from 7:30 – 9:00pm
Urban Ecology Center® at Riverside Park (1500 E Park Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53211)
Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, members of the family Lampyridae are truly fascinating! Participate in this summer's joint firefly monitoring project with the Milwaukee Public Museum. For adults, teens and accompanied children | Free - donations appreciated Please register in advance.
Add a Little Fancy playdate | Southridge Mall
Saturday, August 25th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Join for spectacular family fun and creative activities based on the new Disney Junior series! Find the fantastique Fancy Nancy collection at Disney store at Southridge Mall to gear up for your Play Date on August 25th. All attendees at the Play Date will have a chance to win a $50 Fancy Shopping Spree from the Disney store at Southridge Mall*! Share your Disney Junior Play Dates photos on social media using #DisneyJuniorPlay! Disney Character Live Appearances are not part of this event.
Root Beer Bash
Richard E. Maslowski Community Park
Saturday, August 25th from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Festival food, fun, games, activities, and music! Stop by the MiltownMoms.com booth for bubbles, stickers, coloring, and suckers!
Taste of the Islands
Saturday, August 25th from 2:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Peck Pavilion (Marcus Center for the Performing Arts)
Celebrate the close of the Live at Peck Pavilion series with a celebration of the music, food and culture of the Caribbean Islands. Featuring international artists Adonis Puentes and the Voice of Cuba Orchestra as well as local favorites De La Buena, the day will feature kids activities, art vendors and more!
Kidz-A-Palooza
August 24th from 5:00pm- 10:00pm
Konkel Park (Greenfield, WI)
Website Enjoy a Night Full of Family Fun in the Park including giant games, inflatables, glitter tattooes, animal balloons, kids' activities, and more. Food Trucks and beverage sales available!
Entertainment schedule:
5:30-6:30pm- Mr. Pickles 6:45-7:45pm- Comedy Sportz 8:15-10:00pm- Movie: Toy Story
Ongoing free events
Kidz Days at the Marcus Center
Free Family Programming through August 16th, 2018
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 10 AM – 11AM
KidZ Stage at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
AWE Truck Studio (through August 3rd)
Free drop-in art activities for ages 4-14, Monday - Friday from 12:00 - 3:00 in various parks & playgrounds.
Splash Pads
Free Outdoor Concerts
Kids Workshops at Home Depot
The Home Depot near you hosts Kids' Workshops every month recommended for kids ages 5-12. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron, and pin. All attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times.
Farmer's Markets
Family Nature Hikes at Havenwoods State Forest
Pajama Story Time at Barnes & Noble Bayshore
(weekly on Monday)
Kids Hour classes at Apple stores
SculptureMilwaukee.com
21 works by renowned artists on display along Wisconsin Avenue through October 21. Hop on the trolley with your kids and see the art from the window, or you can take a casual stroll down Wisconsin Avenue on a self-guided tour. Start at O’Donnell Park at the lakefront and move west down Wisconsin Avenue to 6th Street. Or start on the northeast corner of 6th and Wisconsin Avenue and walk east toward the lake. Or start anywhere in between! Each sculpture displays an informational plaque about the artist and the artwork.
Free admission to area attractions:
Boerner Botanical Gardens
Boerner Botanical Gardens Free on Tuesday, August 7th.
The Gardens offer free admission to Milwaukee County residents with proof of residency on the first Tuesday of each month, May through September. Check their website for the most updated information.
Milwaukee Public Museum
Free on Thursday, August 2nd 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.)
Free admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum
Free to all visitors on Thursday, August 2nd from 10:00-8:00 for all visitors. Check out an art pack and explore the galleries, or visit the Kohl's Art Generation Open Studio. The museum is always free for kids 12 and under!
Free admission to Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Free to all visitors on Thursday, August 16th 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 the Be A Maker space to find tools, materials and techniques for endless ways to experiment and create.
Domes
Enjoy free admission to the Domes on Monday, August 6, 13th, and 20th and 27th for Milwaukee County Residents with proof of residency.
Find more free events on our Calendar!
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