myCrew Night in Bayside: A Free Family Event This May

If your kids have ever watched a garbage truck rumble down the street and begged to get a closer look, this is their moment. Bayside's myCrew Night is back for 2026, and it's one of the most unique — and completely free — family events on the North Shore calendar.

Mark your calendar for Monday, May 19, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Bayside Public Works facility. Whether you have a little one obsessed with big machines or a kid who loves earning stamps in an activity book, there's something here for everyone.

What Is myCrew Night?

myCrew Night is Bayside's annual community celebration of the people who keep the village running. Organized around the Department of Public Works, it gives families a behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, staff, and operations that most of us only see from the sidewalk.

It's hands-on, it's interactive, and it's the kind of civic experience that makes kids feel genuinely connected to the community they live in.

What to Expect at myCrew Night 2026

This year's event is packed with activities for kids and adults alike.

Climb inside real DPW equipment. Kids can get up close with the machines and vehicles that do the heavy lifting around the village — including actually operating the garbage truck. Yes, really.

Meet your DPW staff. This is a rare chance to put faces to the crews you see working in your neighborhood every week. The staff are enthusiastic about sharing what they do and love meeting the families they serve.

Connect with community partners and local businesses. Local organizations will be on hand to share resources and connect with residents.

Passport activity book with prizes. Kids can work through a passport book at the event, visiting different stations to earn stamps — and prizes. It's a great way to keep little ones engaged and moving throughout the evening.

New in 2026: Rock painting! This is a fun addition that goes beyond the event itself. Kids will paint rocks that will then be placed around Ellsworth Park as part of the Passport to Sustainability scavenger hunt. Your child's artwork becomes part of a community-wide activity that other families can discover on future park visits.

10th anniversary of the Public Works building. 2026 marks a decade since the current facility opened, so there's even more reason to come check out the space this year.

If you don't live in Bayside, this event is still worth the trip. There isn't anything quite like it on the North Shore — where else can your kid sit in a garbage truck cab, paint a rock for a community art project, and walk away with a prize, all in one Tuesday evening?

It's also a genuinely meaningful way to help kids understand where their community's services come from and who makes them possible. That's a lesson that sticks.

Event Details

What: myCrew Night When: Monday, May 19, 2026, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Where: Bayside Department of Public Works facility, Bayside, WI Cost: Free

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