Celebrate birthdays, our planet, the opening of a new attraction, and more! Here are our top picks for this weekend:
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MKE With Kids Birthday Bazaar
Beulah Brinton Community Center, 2555 S. Bay St., Milwaukee, WI 53207
Sunday, April 27, 2025, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Milwaukee With Kids is turning 12, and we want to celebrate with YOU! Join us for a free day of fun for families, featuring a Kid Boogie Down dance party, cupcakes, balloon twisting, face painting, and birthday party vendors from all around Milwaukee! Pre-registration is not required, but your RSVP does help us to plan and ensure we have enough cupcakes for everyone.
CELEBRATE EARTH DAY
Earth Day Celebration
Retzer Nature Center, S14 W28167 Madison St., Waukesha, WI 53188
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Bring the family for kid-friendly activities (inside and outside) focusing on how your actions matter and what you can do to keep our planet safe and clean. The hands-on Recycling Exhibit area will allow visitors to experience the complete route recyclable materials can take in our community and how you can help close the loop on this process.
NOTE: There will be shows available in the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium for $5 per person. Advance tickets for shows are recommended:
Art in the Green
Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215
April 26-27, 2025, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults $10; Children 3-12 $5; Children 2 & Under / Milwaukee Domes Alliance Members FREE
One of Milwaukee’s most popular art festivals brings two days of art, food, and fun to the Mitchell Park Domes. Discover woodwork, jewelry, paintings, ceramics, and many other mediums from more than two dozen regional and local artists. There will also be food vendors and live music throughout the Domes.
Party for the Planet River Clean Up
Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9 a.m.-Noon
Admission: FREE
This family-friendly clean up covers the area along the Hank Aaron State Trail around the Milwaukee County Zoo. As part of the 30th Annual Milwaukee River Cleanup, the largest in the city, Zoo organizers provide bags, gloves, supplies and complementary t-shirts — so volunteers can show up and clear the trail! Volunteers can register online.
ENJOY THE SHOW
Milwaukee Film Festival Kids’ Shorts
Various local movie theaters
April 26-27 and May 3-4, 2025
Admission: Adults $15; Seniors / Students / Educators / Military $14; Children 12 & Under $8
Short films for kids of all ages — just the right size! These collections of animated shorts are designed to delight and inspire young audiences, with age-appropriate themes ranging from silly to empowering. Get the full schedule here.
Annie
Uihlein Hall, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
April 25-27, 2025 (various showtimes)
Admission: $36-$130
Little Orphan Annie and her iconic story of hope, resilience, and optimism will light up the stage in a fresh new production directed by Jenn Thompson. Perfect for ages 5 and up, this family-friendly musical is the ultimate reminder that even when life’s hard knocks come around, “the sun will come out tomorrow.”
Jordy Nelson’s Milwaukee Tailgate With Inside the Huddle Live!
UWM Panther Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn, Milwaukee, WI 53203
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 3 p.m.
Admission: $10
Experience the energy of the 2025 NFL Draft at this one-of-a-kind event, featuring Green Bay Packers legends and XLV Champions, including the Packers’ all-time leading scorer Mason Crosby, three-time Pro Bowler Nick Collins, and long-time Packers’ wide receiver Jordy Nelson himself. Beginning at 5 p.m., the trio will unpack the Pack’s draft and share stories of their time together in Green Bay at a live taping of “Inside the Huddle,” followed by a Q&A with fans just like you!
But before that, when doors open at 3 p.m., you and your whole crew will enjoy a tailgate loaded with fun for the whole family, including a mini combine hosted by Journey House Packers Flag Football, an adaptive sports area, mascot appearances, and more!
GET ACTIVE
Hero Hustle
Estabrook Park, 4400 N. Estabrook Pkwy, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Sunday, April 27, 2025, 8 a.m.
Admission: $10-$40
Suit up for the Hero Hustle – the ultimate family fun run! Whether you’re zooming through the 5k course or taking on the 10k adventure, this event is all about unleashing your inner superhero. Grab your cape, rally your sidekicks, and race for fun, not speed! Costumes, family-friendly vibes, and plenty of surprises along the way make this a hero-filled day for all ages. Registration includes a custom bib, super hero cape, and an awesome 4-inch mask finisher medal!
The Kids Dash is a fun, untimed dash for kiddos ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, super hero cape, mask and a specifically crafted medal for the kids’ dash event! (If your child wants to run the kid’s dash, and doesn’t want the SWAG, they are welcome to run on race day for free!)
Grand Opening of Randy’s Thrill Hill
Bear Paw Adventure Park, 10006 7 Mile Road, Caledonia, WI 53108
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Admission: Sliding $15; Drone Show & Fireworks FREE
Head to Bear Paw Adventure Park in Caledonia for the grand opening of Randy’s Thrill Hill — the most thrilling slide attraction around on the largest manmade hill in the Midwest. This 250-foot-long slide, standing 70 feet tall with a 50-foot vertical drop, is a tribute to Randy Isaacson, the founder of Jellystone Park Caledonia and Bear Paw Adventure Park. Event highlights include a 650-drone show (the largest ever in Wisconsin!), fireworks, food trucks, sliding on the new Randy’s Thrill Hill, and more!
The slide opens at 9 a.m., a ribbon cutting ceremony takes place at 7:30 p.m., and the drones and fireworks start taking to the sky at 9 p.m.
Kids’ Disco on 88.9 FM Radio Milwaukee
Celebrate the start of the weekend and the end of the wiggles with Dori Zori and Kids’ Disco on 88.9 FM Radio Milwaukee (Saturdays, 9-10 a.m.)! Enjoy an hour long non-stop mix of music for the whole family to enjoy.
HANDS ON / INTERACTIVE
Streets Alive!
Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53233
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Admission: FREE with museum admission
The Streets of Old Milwaukee will bring history to life as docents interpret this beloved exhibit in period attire! Visitors can chat with a maid from the Pfister Hotel, a pharmacist, a toy store owner, and others from the early 1900s who will inhabit the exhibit, answering questions, telling stories, and providing insights about life here more than a century ago.
Robotics Showcase
Discovery World, 500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Admission: Adults $25; Children 3-17 / Seniors $21; Military / College Students $19; Members / Children 2 & Under FREE
Attention all tech enthusiasts! Join future automation experts as Waukesha County Technical College’s Automation Systems Technology students showcase their engineering, programming, and robotics skills. Get a chance to meet robotics specialists, learn about their latest projects, and even get hands-on experience with some of the robots.
FREE PICKS
Healthy Kids Day
Rite-Hite Family YMCA, 9250 N. Green Bay Rd.,, Brown Deer, WI 53209
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Enjoy fun activities that celebrate kids being kids. Families are welcome to take advantage of the great resources the Y offers. Explore something new, connect to your community, and have a good time — together.
Fox & Branch Family Folk Concert
Anodyne – Walkers Point, 224 W. Bruce St., Milwaukee, WI 53204
Sunday, April 27, 2025, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Admission: FREE
A Fox and Branch family show is all about audience participation. The kids get to sing, clap, dance and play rhythm instruments. Adults get to enjoy the music, clap and sing along. Some of the music will be familiar to many families, and some will be new, surprising and amusing children and adults alike. Material is drawn from American roots sources and world traditions.
Ready for More Family Fun?
Milwaukee is packed with even more exciting activities and hidden gems for you to explore with your family this season. Whether you’re looking for spontaneous outings or planning ahead, we’ve got you covered!
📅 Explore Our Events Calendar
From seasonal celebrations to ongoing attractions, our Events Calendar is your go-to guide for family-friendly happenings in and around Milwaukee. Discover new experiences every day, tailored just for you.
🌸 Free Spring Fun
Check out our 25 Free Things To Do With Kids This Spring to uncover free museums, natural playgrounds, easy hikes, streetcar rides, and more!
🎡 Don’t Miss Our Top Picks!
Looking for more must-visit spots? Dive into our guides on:
- Milwaukee’s Best Playgrounds – Discover the most fun and unique play areas for kids of all ages.
- Kid-Friendly Restaurants – Enjoy a meal where the whole family is welcome.
- Indoor Playgrounds – Perfect for those rainy or chilly days.
- Top Museums for Kids – Unleash your child’s curiosity with engaging exhibits.
- Free & Affordable Activities – Have a blast without breaking the bank.
📬 Join Our Community!
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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.
