Lakefront Festival of Arts coming June 15-17

Milwaukee Art Museum celebrates 50 years of the Lakefront Festival of Arts

Milwaukee, Wis. – The Milwaukee Art Museum’s 2012 Lakefront Festival of Arts (LFOA) celebrates its 50th year this June with many new offerings to entertain the entire family. The event takes place Friday, June 15, through Sunday, June 17, on the grounds of the Museum along Lake Michigan. The 50th annual LFOA is presented by Quad/Graphics and Milwaukee Magazine.

LFOA started as a two-day festival in 1963, with about 100 exhibitors. The family-friendly event has evolved to become one of the top twenty-five art festivals in the country, featuring work by more than 170 artists, including jewelry, painting, sculpture, photography, and more.

For the third consecutive year, artists will also be exhibiting inside the Museum, allowing attendees access to the entire Museum collection and the Museum’s feature exhibition, Posters of Paris: Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries.

In addition to the world-class art and artist booths, the festival includes Lakefront Late Night, the Milwaukee Magazine Wine Garden, a sculpture garden, gourmet food, live music, and the PNC Children’s Experience, with interactive games and activities for kids.

“LFOA is the perfect event for the whole family,” says Krista Renfrew, director of special events at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “From world-class art, to the wine garden, the children’s area, entertainment, and Lakefront Late Night, there’s something for everyone.”

Funds raised from the event help acquire new art for the Museum’s collection.

“Over the past 49 years, the festival has provided the means to acquire more than 250 new works of art for the Museum’s permanent collection,” said Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Festival admission is $8 in advance, $15 at the gate, or $20 for a three-day pass. Tickets can be purchased online and at participating locations throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. Festival tickets include admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum. Festival hours are:

Friday, June 15, Noon – 11 p.m.
Saturday, June 16, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 17, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

LFOA is presented by Quad/Graphics and Milwaukee Magazine and sponsored in part by Baker Tilly, PNC Bank, MillerCoors, Hawke Nursery, Core Creative, Erie Insurance, Concordia University, International Autos Group, Potawatomi, Sommer’s Automotive.