Make it an epic summer weekend with these events, many of which are FREE to attend! Here are our top picks:
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Sunday Family Fun Day: Health & Wellness
Northwestern Mutual Community Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI
Sunday, July 13, 2025, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Head to Northwestern Mutual Community Park for hands-on activities, live entertainment, community partners, and local food vendors. This month, enjoy active fun and wellness-themed activities from Milwaukee Kickers, Playworks, Girl Scouts, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Wellpoint Care Network, and more.
MORE FREE FUN
Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival
Lakeshore State Park, 500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Watch colorful boats race across the water in this exciting celebration of Chinese culture. Families can enjoy martial arts, music, folk dance, and interactive cultural exhibits like lantern-making and traditional games.
Ruckus & Glee 10th Anniversary Celebration
6807 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53213
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ruckus & Glee is turning 10 — can you believe it?! This Wauwatosa toy store is celebrating with a FREE 10th Anniversary Celebration, which will include games, face painting, a magic show, a sidewalk sale, and plenty of cake. Bring the kids, your inner child, or both!
Outdoor Movies
Here’s what’s playing outside this weekend:
- Greendale Movies in the Park: Moana 2 – Friday, July 11, 8:30 p.m.
- Movie at Elm Grove Village Park Pavilion: The Lion King – Friday, July 11, 8:30 p.m.
- Greenfield Movies at Konkel Park: Despicable Me 4 – Saturday, July 12, 8:00 p.m.
SHAW Youth Try Hockey Event
Wilson Ice Arena, 4001 S. 20th St., Milwaukee, WI 53211
Sunday, July 13, 2025, Noon-2 p.m.
Grab your chance to put on gear, grab a stick, and hit the ice — for FREE! Register using the link today as these events fill up FAST. Gear is provided, and there will be plenty of helpers on hand to help get kids dressed and on the ice. No experience needed! Please arrive at least 45 minutes before ice time to allow volunteer players and parents time to get you fitted and ready to go. Use this link to reserve a spot!
Frida Fest MKE
The Farmhouse Paint Bar and Banquet Hall, 4511 S. 6th St., Milwaukee, WI 53221
July 12-13, 2025, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Saturday), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sunday)
Celebrate the life, art, and cultural legacy of Frida Kahlo at Frida Fest MKE — a colorful, interactive two-day festival filled with music, dance, art, and community. This family-friendly event celebrates local Latinx artists and offers plenty of opportunities for kids and adults to create, dance, and explore together, including craft workshops, live music and dance performances, food trucks, and more.
Piala’s Family Fun Fest
Piala’s Nursery & Garden Shop, S39W27833 Genesee Road, Waukesha, WI 53189
July 12-13, 2025, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Saturday), 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Sunday)
Enjoy a free, fun-filled, family-friendly weekend at the nursery, with live music, food, family activities and games, door prizes, plant specials, a peacock palace, and more. Donate a non-perishable or household item to the Food Pantry for an entry to win an amazing door prize!
Kids’ Disco on 88.9 FM Radio Milwaukee
Celebrate the start of the weekend and the end of the wiggles with Dori Zori and Kids’ Disco on 88.9 FM Radio Milwaukee (Saturdays, 9-10 a.m.)! Enjoy an hour long non-stop mix of music for the whole family to enjoy.
OTHER TOP PICKS
Dino Days at MPM
Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53233
July 7-25, 2025
Beat the heat when you travel back in time to the age of the dinosaurs! For three weeks, MPM will feature positively prehistoric programming. Examine real fossils, think like a paleontologist, and test your di-knowledge through hands-on activities and special events.
Neon Brush Kids
The Box MKE, 311 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 12:45 p.m.
Connect with your kids in a fun and creative environment. With paints that glow in the dark, stencils to spark your imagination, and family-friendly tunes to set the mood, you’ll be painting, laughing, and creating unforgettable memories together. Plus, you’ll each leave with a unique and colorful creation.
Mini Fest MKE
Zocalo Food Truck Park, 636 S. 6th St., Milwaukee, WI
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mini Fest offers hands-on workshops led by artists and entrepreneurs, helping reconnect community with imagination. This annual summer festival started in Chicago in 2019 and has expanded to Milwaukee (Zocalo Food Park). All ages welcome.
Find lots more on the Events Calendar! Use filters like “FREE” and “Special Needs,” or search by location.
Ready for More Family Fun?
Milwaukee is packed with even more exciting activities and hidden gems for you to explore with your family this season. Whether you’re looking for spontaneous outings or planning ahead, we’ve got you covered!
📅 Explore Our Events Calendar
From seasonal celebrations to ongoing attractions, our Events Calendar is your go-to guide for family-friendly happenings in and around Milwaukee. Discover new experiences every day, tailored just for you.
☀️ Free Summer Fun
Check out our 50 Free Things To Do With Kids This Spring to uncover free museums, natural playgrounds, easy hikes, streetcar rides, and more!
🎡 Don’t Miss Our Top Picks!
Looking for more must-visit spots? Dive into our guides on:
- Milwaukee’s Best Playgrounds – Discover the most fun and unique play areas for kids of all ages.
- Kid-Friendly Restaurants – Enjoy a meal where the whole family is welcome.
- Indoor Playgrounds – Perfect for those rainy or chilly days.
- Top Museums for Kids – Unleash your child’s curiosity with engaging exhibits.
- Free & Affordable Activities – Have a blast without breaking the bank.
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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.
