Things to do in Milwaukee this weekend: Lakefront air show, Festa Italiana, Fish Day and more
Chris ForanBy air and by sea
The Milwaukee Air & Water Show takes to the skies, and the water, along the shore of Lake Michigan Saturday and Sunday. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are the show's star attraction, with a lineup that also includes the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the U.S. Navy SEALs Parachute Team and the Air Force F-15E “Strike Eagle." There are also exhibits, interactive displays and activities in McKinley Park. The water show starts at 10 a.m., with the air show taking wing at noon. The Thunderbirds take off at 3 p.m. both days. Admission is free, with reserved-seating packages available (the box office on the grounds opens at 8 a.m.).
Info: milwaukeeairshow.com
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Serving up all things Italian
Your live-like-you're-in-Italy checklist has arrived: Festa Italiana comes to Maier Festival Park this weekend. There are gondola rides, a cannoli-eating contest, the traditional Italian cooking showcase, and four stages of entertainment, with headliners including Anthony Crivello, comedians Vince Carone and Carmen Vallone, and the popular Sbandieratori Ducato Caetani flag-throwers. Festa's hours are 3 p.m. to midnight, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $13 at the gate; kids 12 and younger get in free.
Info: festaitaliana.com
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Gallery Night, summer edition
Gallery Night & Day, the quarterly art-showing and -sharing event spread across Milwaukee's historic neighborhoods, takes it outside this weekend. In addition to exhibits and shows (many with refreshments, and the artists behind the work on hand) at scores of venues in the Third Ward, Walker's Point, East Town and elsewhere, there's a plein-air painting competition wrapping up Friday on the streets of the Third Ward. Event details, including participating venues, are at the Historic Third Ward Association's website. Gallery Night & Day events are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Info: historicthirdward.org
Fish-a-palooza in Port Washington
Anything that bills itself as the world's largest one-day outdoor fish fry you have to take seriously. That'd be Port Fish Day, on Saturday in the harbor, and upper and lower Lake Park area of Port Washington's downtown on Lake Michigan. There are four stages of entertainment, with country star Keith Anderson headlining the main stage at 8 p.m. Then there's the fish, available with or without chips for no more than $7. Admission is free, but access to the main stage requires a $5 Fish Day Button.
Info: portfishday.com
Get the blues on Garfield Ave.
One of Milwaukee's longest-running street festivals returns this weekend. The Garfield Avenue Blues, Jazz, Gospel & Arts Festival brings a day of live music, with more than a dozen performers, along with food, a youth talent show and more, to W. Garfield Ave. from N. 4th to N. 7th streets, in Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood. The festival runs from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday; admission is free.
Info: garfields502.com/festival
Fair weather in Waukesha County
The oldest county fair in the state, the Waukesha County Fair continues through Sunday on the grounds of the Waukesha County Expo Center, 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha. Attractions at the 2018 edition include a classic car show, the Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show, tethered hot-air balloon rides, loads of livestock competitions, a demolition derby, pancake breakfast, carnival rides and, of course, music, with headliners including Tesla (Thursday), Vertical Horizon and Sister Hazel (Friday), Warrant (Saturday), and the Guess Who (Sunday). The fair is open 10 a.m. to midnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10, $5 for kids ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and younger. (VIP and Elite VIP packages for Main Stage shows are also available.)
Taste of Armenia
A variety of flavors, from cheese and spinach burek to hummus and baklava, are on the menu at Armenian Fest, the annual ethnic picnic/festival held this Sunday at St. John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church, 7825 W. Layton Ave. The festival isn't just about food: There's also a cultural booth and Armenian music. The festival runs Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Info: armenianfest.com
Shakespeare in the valley
The Summit Players Theatre's outdoor summer Shakespeare tour of Wisconsin stops in Three Bridges Park, along the Menomonee River between 27th and 37th streets, with its production of the comedy "Twelfth Night" Friday. The traveling company's visit is in two stages: a kid-friendly, 45-minute Shakespeare workshop 5:30 p.m.; and the performance, at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Info: summitplayerstheatre.com
Firkin fever in Cathedral Square Park
Firkin Fest gives the froth-faithful a chance to sample from 50 firkins (think small cask of beer) along with beer from more than 40 breweries. The festival is Saturday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. in Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St. General-admission tickets are $50; VIP tickets, which get you in an hour early and offer the opportunity to sip some rare ales, are $80.
Info: milwaukeefirkin.com
Last call
This weekend's your last chance to see these productions.
"King Lear": Optimist Theatre's free outdoor production of Shakespeare's drama, with James Pickering in the title role, winds up its run Saturday at the Peck Pavilion at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. Info: marcuscenter.org.
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"Quality Street": Acacia Theatre's staging of the J.M. Barrie play ends Sunday at Concordia University's Todd Wehr Auditorium, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon. Info: acaciatheatre.com.