Explore the music scene in Milwaukee with your kids! Here are some free concerts to check out with your kids:
414 Live (Free!)
88.9 Performance Space
220 E. Pittsburgh Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53204
radiomilwaukee.com
To introduce your kids to live, local music, head to one of 88.9’s 414 Live concerts, held every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. It’s free and open to the public, and you can get your beer, wine, or coffee at Stone Creek Coffee.
Festival City Symphony
3480 W. Bradley Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53209
(414) 365-8861
festivalcitysymphony.org
Festival City Symphony offers Pajama Jamborees for kids, which are free and casual family-friendly classical concerts for all ages, held at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. They also offer Symphony Sundays, affordable symphony performances that are specifically open to families and held in the Past Theater.
Fox & Branch
Anodyne Coffee (224 W. Bruce St., Milwaukee, WI 53204)
(414) 763-1143
foxandbranch.com
Fox and Branch concerts are lively and fun for the whole family. The duo performs an eclectic mix of folk music that is catchy and entertaining for both kids and adults. The audience is encouraged to sing along and participate, and the concerts have a light hearted vibe. They perform free concerts at Anodyne Coffee in Walker’s Point on select dates throughout the year, and you’ll also find them in schools and libraries.
Gospel Brunch & MSO Mondays (Free!)
Various Colectivo locations
colectivocoffee.com
Uplift your spirit by attending Gospel Brunch, hosted at Colectivo on Prospect in the Back Room on select Sundays. The free concerts feature local gospel groups in quartet tradition. You can also head to various Colectivo locations on select Monday evenings for Milwaukee Symphony Mondays. These free concerts feature members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Check the Colectivo website for the latest Gospel Brunch and MSO Mondays schedule.
Ms Jen & the Jellyfish
milwaukeeaardvarks.com
Music for Aardvarks provides hands-on and interactive music classes for young kids ages 6 months to five years old and their parents at various locations throughout the northern suburbs. The classes are intimate and lively and last 45 minutes. Class activities include live music, sing-a-longs, free dances, and instrument jams with shakers, drums, tambourines, and more.
Aardvarks teachers Ms. Jen and Ms. Rachel created the dynamic “kindie rock” band Ms. Jen and the Jellyfish. They perform at area festivals and also do private parties and events.
Opera on the Go (Florentine Opera)
Visit Website
The Florentine Opera entertains and engages kids in librarie and various community venues. Find out more!
See also: Free Summer Concert Series
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
