Lakefront Festival of Art
Overview
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Friday–Sunday, June 16–18
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South Lawn of the Milwaukee Art Museum
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Tickets available at the gate
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Museum admission is included
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Service animals are welcome
Milwaukee’s Lakefront Festival of Art is back! Enjoy a fun-filled weekend of art, food, music, and activities for all ages at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Support the arts by shopping paintings, ceramics, fiber, metalwork, and jewelry from more than 100 artists from across the nation. Sample Milwaukee flavor from local restaurants, and lounge in the sunshine in the Beer Garden or Wine Garden.
The festival continues, rain or shine. Come prepared by bringing your umbrella. Admission includes access to the Museum—stop in to explore the galleries and join a drop-in tour.
Congratulations to the 2023 LFOA Winning Artists!
Helen Gotlib, Printmaking
Katie Musolff, Painting
Aaron Macsai, Jewelry
Tiffany Ownbey, Mixed Media 2D
Rosy Petri, Mixed Media 2D
Mark Sudduth, Glass
Michael Schwegmann, Ceramics
Hours
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Museum Members at the Art Advocate level ($200) or above can enter the festival for free from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 16. Show your membership card at the gate.
| Friday, June 16 | 10 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 17 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Sunday, June 18 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. |
Tickets
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Receive free admission for two when you purchase (or renew) a full-price Museum membership at a festival entrance gate.
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Tickets include access to Lakefront Festival of Art and the Milwaukee Art Museum.
| 3-Day Pass | $30 |
| General Admission | $22 |
| Members | $10 Member kids 17 and under are free |
| Students and Seniors (65+) | $17 Students with current ID |
| Kids 12 and Under, Military, Veterans, WI K–12 Teachers | Free Military, veterans, and teachers with ID |
Parking + Directions
Garage parking is available at Museum Center Park ($20) located on Lincoln Memorial Drive, directly west of the Museum. North Art Museum Drive and the Calatrava underground parking garage are closed to vehicles Thurs–Sun, June 15–18.
Free bike parking is located on the festival grounds near the south entrance.
Street parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and fees may apply. Please observe all City of Milwaukee parking signs in areas surrounding the festival.
A dedicated drop-off/pick-up zone for Uber and Lyft is located on East Michigan Street, just west of the festival entrance gate.
Festival Entry
To enter the Milwaukee Art Museum and Lakefront Festival of Art, the Rieman Bridge and N. Art Museum Drive (north of the bridge) remain open to pedestrians.
Festival tickets can be purchased on-site in four locations: at the admissions desks in the Milwaukee Art Museum’s main entrance or East End, as well as at the outdoor ticket booths on the north and south ends of N. Art Museum Drive. Lakefront Festival of Art tickets include admission to both the festival and the Museum.
Artists
Take a sneak peek at the artists from across the nation whose creations will be featured at the festival.
Ceramics
Digital
Drawing + Pastels
Fiber–Decorative
Fiber–Wearable
Glass
Jewelry
Metal
Mixed Media–2D
Mixed Media–3D
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture
Wood
Food
Family art activities
During festival hours, enjoy hands-on art making activities for the whole family. Visit the Family Activities tent and the Kohl’s Art Studio tent to get creative with art projects. This year’s activities draw inspiration from the Museum’s collection and the artworks of LFOA poster artist Krista V. Allenstein.
Friday, June 16
| 10:30–11 a.m. | The Creator Collaborative Studio’s Creator Children’s Choir Summertime tunes sung by a chorus of young community voices |
| 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | The Belle Weather Modern folk and indie rock featuring a blend of acoustic guitar, cello, violin, and vocals |
| 1:30–3 p.m. | Heirloom Jazz combo comprised of saxophone, guitar, drums, and bass |
| 3:30–4:30 p.m. | Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Wisconsin Classic partner dances with Hollywood flair |
| 5–6:30 p.m. | Ben Mulwana Soulful lyrics and storytelling with Ugandan roots |
Saturday, June 17
| 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Wisconsin Classic partner dances with Hollywood flair |
| noon–1:30 p.m. | Áthas Traditional and original Irish music |
| 1:30–2 p.m. | Milwaukee Irish Dance Studio A unique and unforgettable showcase of Irish dance |
| 2–3:30 p.m. | Evan Christian A mixture of blues, soul, and R&B acoustic guitar |
Sunday, June 18
| 11 a.m.–noon | Sean Nolan Classical music from Latin America, France, Ireland, and Scotland on fingerstyle guitar |
| noon–1:30 p.m. | Peter Thomas Multi-genre cello soloist from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra |
| 2–3:30 p.m. | Andii Heath American jazz and folk blended with contemporary pop and rock 'n' roll |
Volunteer
The festival would not be possible without volunteer support organized by Friends of Art, a support group of the Milwaukee Art Museum. For information on how to get involved, contact lfoavolunteers@gmail.com.
Support
Lakefront Festival of Art is organized by Friends of Art (FOA), a support group of the Milwaukee Art Museum. The mission of FOA is to raise funds, used primarily for exhibitions and acquisition of art; to cultivate leaders and volunteers in support of the Museum; and to promote awareness and appreciation of the Museum and visual arts.
Every year, FOA recruits hundreds of volunteers, who work together to make Lakefront Festival of Art possible. To the 2023 LFOA committee members and volunteers—thank you.
Friends of Art President: Will Belke
2023 Festival Chairs: Rissy Fiora and Debbie Gerke
Sponsorship
Contributing Sponsors
Media Sponsor
Special Festival Friends
Jimmy Luv’s Bloody Mary Mix
Kubin-Nicholson
Saz’s Hospitality Group
Exhibition policy
The Milwaukee Art Museum and Friends of Art (FOA) do not receive any part of the proceeds from the sale of artwork at Lakefront Festival of Art. All art sales are strictly between the patron and the exhibitor, and because the Museum/FOA are not part of the transaction, they have no responsibility for the sale. Although FOA cannot resolve problems related to sales transactions, they are interested in your feedback and would like to know if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of your purchase.
