This month, China Lights is right here in the Milwaukee area at the beautiful Boerner Botanical Gardens. The Pabst Theater and Marcus Center have been promoting it for weeks so I’ve been excited about it for quite a while, even though I didn’t really know what to expect. Blown away. The exhibit is expansive, filling a large section of the gardens, and it’s so colorful. The event also includes food, drink, live music, and other special happenings such as parades and cultural demonstrations.
China Lights runs through November 6, from 5:30-10:00 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Milwaukee experienced China Lights record-breaking attendance the second weekend it ran here, which is pretty awesome. It also means you should prepare accordingly, particularly if you visit on a weekend. Purchase your tickets and familiarize yourself with the parking options in advance so you can get into the exhibit as quickly as possible. Visit the official China Lights site for more information. On Milwaukee also has a helpful article about the logistics of the event.
Doors Open Milwaukee 2016 took place in mid-September, and it was amazing as always. We were blessed with beautiful weather both days, high 70s and sunny. I made it to 15 sites and took nearly 1,000 pictures. I shared a sneak peek in my September highlights post. I also shared a short narrative of the full two days with a few more pictures over at Niume. Over the next couple months, I’ll be sharing longer posts here with more pictures of a few of the sites.
Today I’m starting with Calvary Cemetery. I have driven by the cemetery dozens of times but had only stopped to take pictures once before, several years back. The only time I’ve ever seen the abandoned chapel on the property open to the public is during Doors Open Milwaukee. I was really sorry I missed it during the 2015 event and made it a priority to get there in 2016.
Not surprisingly, as the oldest existing Roman Catholic cemetery in Milwaukee, there is so much history packed into this modestly sized cemetery. The chapel dates all the way back to 1899. It would be amazing if more people got to experience it in full. However, I’m also glad that it’s so well preserved. If it were open to the public all the time, it would be covered in graffiti and would have suffered much more damage.
After touring the chapel, I spent nearly 45 minutes checking out the exterior and wandering through the rest of the cemetery.
I absolutely love the gate at Calvary Cemetery.
Finally, Calvary Cemetery offers my second favorite view of the Milwaukee skyline. (My favorite view, and undeniably one of the best views in the entire city, is from South Shore Park.)
Milwaukee Cocktail Week: Sept. 26-Oct. 2: Catch the last couple days of Cocktail Week! Dozens of Milwaukee bars and restaurants are offering special week-long menus.
China Lights: Oct. 1-Nov. 6, open nightly 5:30-10:00 p.m. The Boerner Botanical Gardens is hosting the internationally acclaimed China Lights exhibit for the entire month of October. The 38-acre gardens boast 38 displays with more than 1,000 lighted components.
Book of Mormon: Oct. 25-30 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The Book of Mormon is making its second run in Milwaukee for one week only! If you haven’t seen the show yet, make it a priority to go this month.
October is an ideal time to visit Holy Hill and climb the scenic tower to experience southeast WI’s fall colors in their full glory. The final Holy Hill Art & Farm Market for 2016 takes place October 15-16. The tower is open Sundays 1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and Monday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m., weather permitting. While you’re in the area, check out Jim Zamzow’s annual Halloween yard display.
Farmers Markets
The greater Milwaukee area is home to dozens of fabulous farmers markets, including one of my personal favorites (and one of the biggest in the area), the West Allis Farmers Market. Many Milwaukee farmers markets operate through mid to late fall. Pick up apples, pumpkins, cider, and much more.
Beer Gardens
Milwaukee is home to four fabulous beer gardens, all of which operate through October. It’s not too late to enjoy a brew and a giant pretzel in a gorgeous park setting. The Landing at Hoyt Park features live music on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (see event calendar for times), and the South Shore Terrace features live music Wednesday evenings from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
[Disclaimer: I do not work for the city of Milwaukee. I am not paid to promote any of the events listed on this page. I’m simply a resident of southeast WI who loves Milwaukee and enjoys attending and generating exposure for events in Milwaukee.]
This coming weekend, September 17 and 18, 2016 has arguably one of the best events in Milwaukee: Doors Open Milwaukee. For two days, more than 150 buildings in the city open their doors to the public free of charge. You can visit churches, government buildings, museums, art studios, theaters, hotels, and more. The event also includes ticketed tours and family activities, including Family Passport. It’s truly a one of a kind opportunity to explore the fantastic city of Milwaukee for free.
If you’re brand new to Doors Open, I recommend starting downtown at the U.S. Bank building or City Hall and then exploring other Doors Open sites in the downtown area, as there are many located in this region. If you’ve been to previous Doors Open weekends, I recommend studying the building list and making a game plan ahead of time so you’re sure to hit a few new sites.
Here are a few peeks of some of my favorite sites from the past two Doors Open weekends. Please keep in mind that the buildings list changes from year to year. As of publishing this post, with the exception of the Avalon Theater, all of the sites featured here will be open for 2016, but this is subject to change at any time without notice.
Down in the stacks at the Central Library. A must see Doors Open location!
View of 794, the Summerfest Grounds, Lake Michigan, and beyond from the U.S. Bank Building Observation Deck. The Observation Deck offers 360-degree views of the entire city and Lake Michigan.
Basilica of St. Josaphat, another must see Doors Open location. If you’ve never been in the Basilica, use Doors Open as an excuse to take in the magnificent architecture and learn a little of its history.
Bay View Printing Company. Please pay the printing company a visit in 2016. It is such a neat business, and the staff is very friendly.
Milwaukee skyline from one of the rooftops in Walker’s Point. There are multiple Walker’s Point buildings that open up their rooftop levels during Doors Open.
Inside 88Nine Radio Milwaukee. You can tour the majority of the building and visit the rooftop garden during Doors Open.
The 6th annual Doors Open Milwaukee runs 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18, 2016. The website features the full list of participating buildings and ticketed tours. Don’t forget to tag your images #DoorsOpenMilwaukee on Twitter and Instagram and explore the hashtag throughout the weekend.
Are there any Doors Open sites you’re looking forward to visiting in 2016?
Feel free to leave them in the comments!
One of the best events in Milwaukee, Doors Open Milwaukee, takes place in September!
the U.S. Bank Building, one of many buildings open to visitors during Doors Open Milwaukee
The 2016 event is Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. It’s a rare opportunity to explore a wealth of really neat sites around the city, including churches, historical downtown buildings, theaters, local businesses, local breweries, and much more. I’ll have a full preview post later this month, but make sure to put it on your calendar now.
I love watching the torch glass artist at the Renaissance Faire.
Also, Labor Day weekend, September 3, 4, and 5, is the final weekend for the 2016 Bristol Renaissance Faire. You don’t want to miss it!
The greater Milwaukee area is home to dozens of fabulous farmers markets, including one of my personal favorites (and one of the biggest in the area), the West Allis Farmers Market. Many Milwaukee farmers markets operate through mid to late fall.
Beer Gardens
Milwaukee is home to four fabulous beer gardens, all of which operate through October. It’s not too late to enjoy a brew and a giant pretzel in a gorgeous park setting. The Landing at Hoyt Park features live music on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (see event calendar for times), and the South Shore Terrace features live music Wednesday evenings from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
[Disclaimer: I do not work for the city of Milwaukee. I am not paid to promote any of the events listed on this page. I’m simply a resident of southeast WI who loves Milwaukee and enjoys attending and generating exposure for events in Milwaukee.]
