Summer in Milwaukee means music in the parks, food on the lawn, and kids dancing barefoot in the grass. While there are concerts happening all over the city, some are especially welcoming to families with young kids.
Here are five local concert series for families that make it easy (and fun) to bring the whole crew along!
Love free live music? Check out our roundup of free summer festivals happening in Milwaukee this summer.
1. Chill on the Hill
Tuesdays from 6:00-9:00
Humboldt Park Bandshell (3000 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207)
bayviewneighborhood.org
Chill on the Hill is the quintessential summer experience in Milwaukee’s eclectic Bay View neighborhood. Head to the bandshell in beautiful Humboldt Park and enjoy local bands from your favorite spot on the hill. It feels like a neighborhood party with food trucks, activities for kids, pets, picnickers, and a generally festive vibe.
Helpful hint: The playground and beer garden are just steps away, as well as a picturesque lagoon and walking paths.
2. Wonderful Wednesdays
📍 Lake Park (2975 N. Lake Park Rd.)
📅 Wednesdays, July 9 – August 13
⏰ 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
🎟️ FREE & open to the public
👉 Lake Park Friends Facebook for updates
Gather your family for a fun summer tradition! Wonderful Wednesdays is a free concert series for kids and families held at the Lake Park Summer Stage, just south of the playground and tennis courts.
✨ New for 2025:
- Musa Ice Cream Truck will be on-site selling sweet treats.
- Bring your own chairs, blankets, food, and drinks.
2025 Lineup:
- July 9 – Fox and Branch: Energetic, family-friendly folk with a timeless twist.
- July 16 – Main Street Song & Dance Troupe: Talented teens perform “The Love Spectrum,” a musical about all types of love.
- July 23 – Yid Vicious: A high-energy klezmer band bringing traditional Yiddish folk music to life.
- July 30 – Little Miss Ann: Chicago-based children’s musician who gets kids moving with interactive tunes.
- August 6 – Duke Otherwise: Hilarious, imaginative songs with tap dancing and playful storytelling.
- August 13 – Susan Salidor: Beloved children’s performer known for her thoughtful, heart-filled songs.
🎶 Also don’t miss Musical Mondays, another free concert series at Lake Park happening Mondays, July 10 – August 28.
3. Washington Park Wednesdays
July – August
4145 W. Lisbon Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208
washingtonparkneighbors.com
Washington Park hosts live music concerts and family-friendly programming every Wednesday evening in July and August. Music typically includes eclectic hip hop, salsa, rock n’ roll, and more.
There are always activities for kids, such as make-and-take art projects, local vendors, and meet-and-greets with local sports teams.
4. Skyline Music Series
Kadish Park (750 E. North Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53212)
Tuesday nights in July & August
www.coa-yfc.org/skyline
Riverwest’s popular free concert series is presented by COA Youth and Family Centers, ensuring their weekly events are truly kid-friendly.
Pack a picnic or enjoy food from one of the vendors, and enjoy the fantastic view of the river and Milwaukee skyline from the hill in Kadish Park. This concert series features a mix of jazz, soul, funk, and reggae musicians. Check out the kids’ art corner featuring giveaways, crafts, activities, and surprises.
5. Starry Night Series
Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (19805 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield, WI 53045)
Fridays at 6:30pm in July & August
wilson-center.com
Gather your family and friends, pack your lawn chairs and picnic baskets, and find your perfect spot in the Wilson Center’s beautiful Gerlach/Haack Outdoor Theater. Concertgoers can purchase items from a rotating selection of food trucks that includes Flour Girl and Flame, Romero’s Taco Truck, Tots on the Street, Smokin’ Jack’s BBQ, Lou Malnati’s and Uyghur Grill.
Looking for Bigger Shows?
If your kids are a little older and ready for their first real concert experience, we’ve rounded up the top 5 major concerts coming to Wisconsin this summer that are perfect for tweens, teens, and the grown-ups who love music too. From Coldplay and The Lumineers to Benson Boone and The Killers, these shows offer big sound and big fun—without being totally cringey.
👉 Check out our top picks for Concerts To Take Your Kids To This Summer in Wisconsin.
More Summer Concerts For Families:
Sounds of Summer at Bayshore
TBD for 2025
The Yard at BAYSHORE, 5800 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale, WI, 53217
Website
Concerts in the Gardens at Boerner Botanical Gardens
Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
9400 Boerner Dr., Hales Corners, WI 53130
Website
Pro Tip: Attendees are welcome to walk through the gardens after 6:00 p.m. at no additional cost.
Summer Sounds
Fridays, June-August
Cedar Creek Park (N55 W6079 Portland Rd, Cedarburg, WI 53012)
summersounds.net
Heartbeats in the City
Every Wednesday at 12 PM, June 7 – August 30, 2023
Red Arrow Park
Website
Waterfront Wednesdays
Wednesdays from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Lakefront Park (222 W. Wisconsin Ave., Pewaukee, WI 53072)
Website
Jazz in the Park
Thursdays from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Cathedral Square Park (520 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202)
eastown.com
Tosa Tonight
Select Wednesdays, June – August
Rotary Park Pavilion (1190 N 70th St., Wauwatosa, WI 53213)
tosatonight.com
Waukesha Friday Night Live
Fridays, June – October
Downtown Waukesha (W. Main St., Waukesha, WI 53186)
waukeshafridaynightlive.com
Milwaukee’s summer concert scene offers so many great options for families, from lively neighborhood festivals to relaxing evenings under the stars. No matter which event you choose, these kid-friendly concerts are a wonderful way to introduce your little ones to the magic of live music.
If you’re looking to explore even more live music around Wisconsin, don’t miss out on some of the best blues festivals happening in Wisconsin—perfect for a family-friendly weekend getaway filled with incredible performances!
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
