The Locust Street Festival — oops, sorry, I mean the Locust Street Festival of Music and Art — is back!
Of the many events that claim to be “the kickoff to festival season in Milwaukee,” this one might be able to make the best case. It has time on its side, with this year’s celebration on May 31 being the 47th annual. It has multiple stages of music featuring dozens of artists. It has the necessary collection of food/drink vendors and local craftspeople/businesses selling their wares.
Add it all up, and you’ve got more than enough to fill the schedule, which will start once again at 11:30 a.m. Sunday with the Locust Street Beer Run. The 1.6-mile jaunt through Riverwest begins at the corner of Locust and Booth streets, and includes four beer stops: Nessun Dorma, Riverwest Pizza, Falcon Bowl and Seven Swans Crêperie.
If you’re a participant and haven’t grabbed your race packet yet, you can do that from 10-10:45 a.m. Sunday. If you’re a spectator, enjoy the athletic prowess on display.
Before the runners have time to catch their breath, the music starts filling the air and doesn’t stop until the festival’s close. You’ll find the artists spread across five different stages, all along Locust Street (of course).
Swarmm Events Stage
Located at Locust and Booth
- 11:30 a.m. — Beer Run kickoff
- 11:45 a.m. — Lovanova
- 1 p.m. — Diet Lite
- 3 p.m. — Dad Strength
- 5:30 p.m. — Surprise Guest
- 6 p.m. — Hipster Disco
Shriners Stage
Located at Locust and Pierce
- 11:45 a.m. — Indigo Dog
- 2:15 p.m. — The Blues Folks
- 4:45 p.m. — The Shuga Blu Band
Black Husky Brewing Stage
Located at Locust and Bremen
- 11:30 a.m. — Key Of Evil
- 12:45 p.m. — Living Room
- 2 p.m. — Bomber & Red
- 3:30 p.m. — Lost Orange Cat
- 5 p.m. — The MilBillies
- 6:30 p.m. — Wire & Nail
Lush Gourmet Popcorn Stage
Located at Locust and Bremen
- 11:30 a.m. — DJ L Boogie
- 2:30 p.m. — Ms. Erica & The Sound Production
- 4 p.m. — DJ Buttasauce
- 6 p.m. — DJ Mixx'Chelle
Falcon Bowl Stage
Located at Locust and Humboldt
- Noon — Heavy Bend
- 12:50 p.m. — dak duBois
- 1:30 p.m. — Courtesy
- 2 p.m. — Joseph Huber
- 2:50 p.m. — Emmitt James
- 3:30 p.m. — Max & The Fellow Travelers
- 4:10 p.m. — Old Pup
- 5 p.m. — Social Cig
- 5:40 p.m. — Wave Chapelle
- 6:25 p.m. — Fellow Kinsman
- 7:10 p.m. — Ladybird
A good chunk of the remaining real estate at the Locust Street Festival goes to the vendors, which this year includes darn near 100 different options between food/beverages and the various local organizations, artisans, small business and other folks. Check out the lists below and start planning how you’ll support all of the wonderful people who make this event what it is every year.
Food & drink vendors
- Birrieria La Tia Juana
- Carters Kitchen & Catering LLC
- Chillwaukee
- Cocina Filipina
- Covington Concessions
- Flip's Mini Donuts
- Immy's African Cuisine
- Juniors Smoked BBQ
- LemonadeLab
- Mr. Softee of Milwaukee
- Pedro's South American food
- Pig Tailz MKE
- Roll MKE
- Scardina's
- Tres Flores Funnel. Cakes
- WAN's Thai cuisine
- Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds
- Xavier's Crepes
- Yam's Made Lemonade
Other vendors
- 4Aces Mahogany Art
- 4th Dimension Sobriety
- Abby Home
- Africa Alive LLC
- Ana's Artsy Side LLC
- Artesania Minga LLC
- Asian Encounters
- Badgerstate Hemp Company
- Bayview Sports & Accessoires
- Beauty For Ashes
- Birdsong's Distribution LLC
- Bits and Bobs
- Black Essence Candles
- Blu Mountain Co
- Blue Dawn Candle Co
- Boho Designs by Katya
- Boom Chakra Laka
- Brewery Credit Union
- Confidential Goods
- Crowns of Deity LLC
- CTOAN Co.
- Der Hoffskeller Coffee
- Educators Credit Union
- Envisioned Writers Inc.
- Face Painters Ink
- Fox Croft Lane Pottery
- Geek Girl Grind
- Ghost Owl Studio
- Gruber Law Office
- Hands of Henna by Anita
- Hiawatha Woodworks
- Jason Hedman Art
- Jivana Wellness LLC
- Jushuna's Snack Shack
- Kalm Wellness Services
- L. Marie's Creations & More LLC
- Laughing Dawg Studio
- League of Women Voters
- Legacy Creative Solutions
- Lemongrass Art
- Logi's Creations & Tim's Turnings
- Mica Mica
- Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America
- MissMashedUp
- MJD Apiary llc
- MRM LLC
- Nobody's Bizznis Boutique
- Nostalgia Xicana Mexican Folk Art
- Novelty Me Plz
- Nudos Rosas
- Okay, DAD Printmaking
- Pallay craft inc
- Papyrus & Charms
- Para Siempre Permanent Jewlery
- Paul's Place
- PINdecent Exposure
- Polar Ghost
- Primtentions
- Puffin Pass
- Purple Penny Soap Company
- QT Shirts
- Shining Star Christian Schools
- Sole Salvation MKE LLC
- Strong Towns Milwaukee
- Tabal Chocolate
- Tatiana's Tiny Zoo
- TBR MKE
- The TwoBeadles
- Thom J. Ertl Designs
- Tie Dye by Papes
- Tinkershell Co.
- Twisted Cat Studio
- Twisted Rose Metal
- Unchained Confections
- Veterans for Peace
- Vintage Pieces Jewelry
- Vivent Health
- Wild Bloom Atelier
- WMSE
