Back in 1986, an event called “Milwaukee a la Carte at the Zoo” invited 30 restaurants to set up shop on the grounds so visitors could nosh on some local fare while checking out giraffes and whatnot. Almost exactly 40 years later, the name has changed slightly but the spirit is the same, as A La Carte at the Zoo gets ready to celebrate a big birthday Aug. 20-23.
Entertainment has been a part of the food-driven festivities since the beginning, with a press photo promising “comedy, music and dancing.” The first member of that trio has fallen away, but the other two will be in ready supply at this year’s event, which features a strong lineup on the marquee Miller Lite Caribou Stage.
Leading things off Aug. 20 is lovelytheband, the L.A.-based alt/indie-pop group that headlined Summerfest’s Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard in 2023. They first attracted attention with debut single “broken” and have gone on to release four studio albums, most recently their self-titled 2024 record.
Aug. 21 delivers a double hit of country-flavored tunes, starting with some star power in the form of jackrabbit, which is co-led by Dermot Mulroney and his brother Kieran. The siblings take their music seriously, resulting in Americana-tinged country with layered harmonies. Chris Lane follows them to the stage with a catalog that includes a pair of top 10 country albums and a collection of singles that just missed the peak of the country charts.
The one that really jumped out to the Radio Milwaukee team happens on the event’s final day, Aug. 22, when Grammy-winners Tank & The Bangas headline. The New Orleans group won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest and followed it up with a trilogy of albums that recently rounded out with the release of The Last Balloon.
Those are just the topliners, of course. A La Carte at the Zoo always offers a heavy dose of variety, including plenty of local standouts, and this year is no exception. The Hallelujah Ward, Hanna Simone, Alley Eyes, Allison Mahal, Zach Pietrini Band, dak duBois, Gego y Nony, De La Buena, Wave Chapelle, NilexNile and HYFIN’s own DJ Gemini Gilly will all be part of the four-day lineup, which you can find in full a little further down the page.
Then there’s the other, much more edible lineup. The zoo has 26 vendors on this year’s list, including six newcomers and two standouts that have earned the incredible distinction of being there since the beginning: Saz’s and MIL-WOK-EE. The full roster is just below, and more information on A La Carte at the Zoo is available on the event’s webpage.
- A la Crepes
- BBQ Belle
- Bear Garden
- BelAir Cantina
- Brew City Snowballs
- Bubble Waffle Shoppes
- Catalano Corn
- Cedar Crest Ice Cream Parlor
- Chillwaukee Coffee (NEW)
- Chillwaukee Pops
- Crust & Copper (NEW)
- C-viche
- Flip’s Mini Donuts (NEW)
- Fly By Night (NEW)
- Fresh & Safe (NEW)
- Funnel Cake Factory
- Hot Dog Grill
- Kings Catering (NEW)
- Leinie Lodge
- Lumpia City
- Milwaukee Pretzel Company
- MIL-WOK-EE (40th year)
- Po’ Manz Food
- Saz’s (40th year)
- Scrima’s Wood-Fired Pizza
- Shawarma House
- Snack Barn
- Taco Caja
- The Coop
- The Watering Hole (NEW)
- Thunder Bay Grille
- Tiki Bubble
- Tots on the Street
- Ultimate Confections Desserts featuring Suzy’s Cream Cheesecakes
- West End Snacks
- Wild Burger
- Woody’s Custard
- Wok in the Zoo
- Zoo Pride Root Beer Floats
A La Carte 2026 music lineup
Thursday, Aug. 20
Miller Lite Caribou Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Kid Boogie Down (family / youth hip-hop)
- 3 p.m. — Altered by Mom (indie rock / pop rock)
- 5 p.m. — The Hallelujah Ward (gospel / soul)
- 7 p.m. — lovelytheband (alternative pop / rock)
Gilbane Building Co. Flamingo Stage
- 11:15 a.m. — 90s Jake (acoustic rock / ’90s covers)
- 2:45 p.m. — Kal Bergendahl (Americana / folk)
- 4:45 p.m. — Hanna Simone (soul / singer-songwriter)
- 6:45 p.m. — Elephonic (electronic / funk)
North Shore Bank Zoofari Stage
- Noon — Los Mitoteros (Latin / world music)
- 2 p.m. — Alley Eyes (indie rock)
- 4 p.m. — Bellends (rock)
- 6 p.m. — 5 Card Studs (classic rock)
Lakeview Stage
- 1 p.m. — Laura Bomber Duo (folk / indie)
- 3 p.m. — Allison Mahal (folk / indie)
- 5 p.m. — Bill Stone Duo (acoustic / folk)
Mad City Windows and Baths Woody Stage
- 11:15 a.m. — Derek Sallmann (singer-songwriter)
- 3:15 p.m. — Chris Esenberg (singer-songwriter)
- 6:15 p.m. — Mission Accomplished (rock)
Wine Tent
- 11:30 a.m. — Donna Woodall (jazz / soul)
- 2:30 p.m. — Marcya Daneille (soul / R&B)
- 4:30 p.m. — Kaprice Maxwell (soul / R&B)
- 6:30 p.m. — Downtown Harrison (jazz / instrumental / musical impressionist)
Friday, Aug. 21
Miller Lite Caribou Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — School of Rock MKE (family / youth rock)
- 3 p.m. — DJ Doc B (classic oldies)
- 6 p.m. — jackrabbit. featuring Dermot Mulroney (Americana / country rock)
- 7:30 p.m. — Chris Lane (country / country-pop)
Gilbane Building Co. Flamingo Stage
- Noon — The Healing Band (reggae / roots)
- 2:45 p.m. — Zach Pietrini Band (Americana / country rock)
- 4:45 p.m. — Wonderful Bluffer (indie rock)
- 6:45 p.m. — The Mighty Ms. Erica Trio (blues / soul)
North Shore Bank Zoofari Stage
- Noon — SSAANN (indie pop / alternative)
- 2 p.m. — Modern Joey (rock / pop)
- 4 p.m. — The Racing Pulses (rock)
- 6 p.m. — Group of the Altos (avant-garde rock / folk / jazz)
Lakeview Stage
- 1 p.m. — Jon Rouse (folk / singer-songwriter)
- 5 p.m. — Joe Wray (folk / singer-songwriter)
Mad City Windows and Baths Woody Stage
- 11:15 a.m. — Tlalok Rodriguez (singer-songwriter / Latin folk)
- 3:15 p.m. — Keshena Armon (soul / singer-songwriter)
- 6:15 p.m. — The Consequence (rock)
Wine Tent
- 11:30 a.m. — Christopher’s Project (jazz / R&B)
- 2:30 p.m. — Smith & Binder Jazz (jazz / acoustic)
- 4:30 p.m. — Father Sky (folk / indie)
- 6:30 p.m. — Downtown Harrison (jazz / instrumental / musical impressionist)
Saturday, Aug. 22
Miller Lite Caribou Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Kid Boogie Down (family / youth hip-hop)
- 3 p.m. — Adi Armour (soul / R&B)
- 5 p.m. — Emmitt James (hip-hop / R&B)
- 7 p.m. — Tank and the Bangas (neo-soul / hip-hop / funk)
Gilbane Building Co. Flamingo Stage
- 11:15 a.m. — DJ Doc B (classic oldies)
- 2:45 p.m. — Cosmic Lovechild (soul / funk)
- 4:45 p.m. — Joe Jordan (soul / singer-songwriter)
- 6:45 p.m. — Another One (rock / alternative)
North Shore Bank Zoofari Stage
- Noon — Muv Gruv (jazz / funk)
- 2 p.m. — Shuga Blu (soul / R&B)
- 4 p.m. — Tony Holiday (blues)
- 6 p.m. — Wave Chapelle & NilexNile (hip-hop / R&B)
Lakeview Stage
- 1 p.m. — Patrick Van Bibber (folk / singer-songwriter)
- 3 p.m. — Rojo of Mambo Surfers (surf rock / acoustic)
- 5 p.m. — Evan Christian (jazz / guitar)
Mad City Windows and Baths Woody Stage
- 11:15 a.m. — Mueller & Hill (folk / acoustic duo)
- 3:15 p.m. — Kevin Kennedy (singer-songwriter)
- 6:15 p.m. — Mosh Wah Dance Party (dance party / electronic)
Wine Tent
- 11:30 a.m. — Cameron Webb (singer-songwriter / soul)
- 2:30 p.m. — Marcya Daneille (soul / R&B)
- 4:30 p.m. — Liv Held (folk / indie)
- 6:30 p.m. — Kaprice Maxwell (soul / R&B)
Sunday, Aug. 23
Miller Lite Caribou Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — DJ Gemini Gilly (Afrobeat)
- 2 p.m. — BLOOD (classic rock / tribute)
- 4 p.m. — Gego y Nony (reggaeton / Latin)
- 6 p.m. — De La Buena (Afro-Cuban & Latin jazz)
Gilbane Building Co. Flamingo Stage
- 11:15 a.m. — Modern Tigers (indie rock)
- 3 p.m. — Bodhicitta (jam band)
- 5 p.m. — V Funk (funk)
North Shore Bank Zoofari Stage
- 12:30 p.m. — dak duBois (folk / indie)
- 3 p.m. — Mol Sullivan (folk / indie)
- 5 p.m. — Outpacer (indie rock)
Lakeview Stage
- 1 p.m. — Laura Bomber Duo (folk / indie)
- 3 p.m. — Gabriel Harris (singer-songwriter)
- 5 p.m. — Noah James Hittner (folk / indie)
Mad City Windows and Baths Woody Stage
- 11:15 a.m. — 90s Jake (acoustic rock / ’90s covers)
- 3:15 p.m. — Nate Herlache (singer-songwriter)
- 5:15 p.m. — Mosh Wah Dance Party (dance party / electronic)
Wine Tent
- 11:30 a.m. — Cameron Webb (singer-songwriter / soul)
- 2:30 p.m. — Smith & Binder Jazz (jazz / acoustic)
- 4:30 p.m. — Father Sky (folk / indie)
