Milwaukee North Shore Free Outdoor Concerts Guide (2025)

Sounds of Summer returns to Whitefish Bay on Saturday, August 16, 2025

Milwaukee’s North Shore communities come alive with free outdoor music all summer long. From weekly park concerts to festive street parties and family-friendly festivals, there’s something for everyone. Below is a comprehensive guide by community.

Shorewood

Summer Sounds Concert Series (Hubbard Park)

Dates/Times: Wednesday evenings, June 25 through July 30, 2025, 6:00–8:30 PM.

Location: Hubbard Park (3565 N. Morris Blvd, Shorewood, WI 53211) – a scenic riverside park accessible via the Oak Leaf Trail.

Music/Performers: The 2025 Summer Sounds series features an eclectic mix of blues, jazz, indie rock, funk, country, and acoustic favorites. This year’s lineup includes Third Coast Blues on June 25, J Ryan Trio on July 2, Pat McCurdy on July 9, Cold Soda Club on July 16, Ben Mulwana on July 23, and The WhiskeyBelles on July 30. Each performance offers a unique sound and family-friendly vibe, perfect for relaxing summer nights along the river.

Fourth of July at Atwater Park

Date/Time: Friday, July 4, 2025; evening concert typically 7:00 PM leading up to the 9:30 PM fireworks. Location: Atwater Park (4000 N. Lake Drive, Shorewood) – atop the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Music: Live patriotic and party music (often the Shorewood Concert Band or local rock bands) entertaining the crowd before the fireworks.

Lake Park Friends Music in the Park (Milwaukee/Shorewood)

Free summer concerts under the trees! 🎶 Enjoy live music every Monday and Wednesday night at Lake Park’s historic Summer Stage — from soulful headliners to kid-friendly favorites, July 7 through August 25.

Dates/Times: Mondays & Wednesdays, July 7 – August 25, 2025. Musical Mondays run 6:30 – 8 pm; Wonderful Wednesdays play 6:30 – 7:30 pm.
Location: Lake Park Summer Stage (2975 N Lake Park Rd., Milwaukee) — an Olmsted-designed gem just steps from the playground and Oak Leaf Trail.
Music: Mondays span Sudanese-American funk, New Orleans brass, Chicago blues, Americana, and Detroit soul with acts like Sinkane, Bonerama, Mississippi Heat, and the R&B Cadets. Wednesdays cater to families with interactive sets from Fox & Branch, Main Street Song & Dance Troupe, Yid Vicious, Little Miss Ann, Duke Otherwise, and Susan Salidor. All shows are free; July 23 – Aug 3 features the Traveling Beer Garden for on-site food and brews.

Whitefish Bay

Sounds of Summer (Street Festival)

Date/Time: Saturday, August 16, 2025, evening (music typically 6:00–10:00 PM). Location: Silver Spring Drive (closed to traffic between Hollywood and Santa Monica Blvd) in downtown Whitefish Bay. Music/Performers: Whitefish Bay’s own 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐡𝐧—a Season 10 𝑨𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑰𝒅𝒐𝒍 contestant—is set to bring the heat to Sounds of Summer 2025! With a high-energy band, big-time production, and all your favorite Top 40 Pop and Country hits, this is the show that’ll have you singing, dancing, and making memories all night long.

Ice Cream Social & Village Band Concert

Dates/Time: Wednesday, June 18, 2025, and Wednesday, August 6, 2025; approx. 6:30 PM (immediately following the end of the school day/session or early evening). Location: Old School House Park (5240 N. Marlborough Dr., next to the Whitefish Bay Public Library). Music/Performers: The Village Band of Whitefish Bay plays marches, show tunes, and classic band repertoire – a nostalgic, wholesome concert.

Whitefish Bay Fourth of July Celebration (Klode Park)

Date/Time: Friday, July 4, 2025; events 11:30 AM–10:00 PM (live music typically 1–4 PM and again 7 PM leading into 9:20 PM fireworks).
Location: Klode Park (5900 N. Lake Dr., Whitefish Bay).
Music/Performers: After the big 11:30 AM parade down Silver Spring, the day-long festival at Klode Park features live music. Afternoon music is often a community band or kids’ performers during the picnic hours, and an evening band (rock or pop covers) entertains before the fireworks.

Glendale

Sounds of Summer Concert Series (The Yard at BAYSHORE)

Dates/Times: Select Fridays — June 13, June 27, July 18, August 1, and August 15 — from 6:00–9:00 PM.

Location: The Yard at BAYSHORE (5800 N. Bayshore Dr, Glendale, WI) — an open-air community gathering space surrounded by shops and restaurants.

Music: A high-energy lineup of local favorites and genre-spanning tribute bands, including country from Wire and Nail (6/13), party hits by 5 Card Studs (6/27), 80s nostalgia from The First Wave (7/18), a Grateful Dead tribute by Another One (8/1), and disco grooves from VO5 (8/15). Grab a drink from Mallards Restaurant and enjoy the summer vibes.

Live @ The Oasis Free Concert Series

Dates/Times: Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM, from June 18 through August 6, 2025. (Concerts run weekly except around July 4 week – note the break between June 18 and July 9.)
Location: Richard E. Maslowski Community Park’s Johnson Controls Community Amphitheater (2200 W. Bender Rd., Glendale). This park, opened in 2017, has become Glendale’s go-to venue for outdoor music.
Music/Performers: A different genre each week. The 2025 lineup includes acts like King Solomon (reggae), Groove Therapy (funk/rock), a Kids’ dance party night with Kid Boogie Down, the ever-popular Eddie Butts Band (R&B/Motown), a Motown tribute, and a Country Night with the band Crossfire. Expect everything from soulful horns to rock guitar to kid-friendly pop tunes.

“Rhythm Nights” Jazz/R&B Concerts

Dates/Times: Select Thursdays and Saturdays throughout late summer. In 2025, these bonus concerts at Maslowski Park run on various dates in July, August, and early September (e.g. July 12, July 17, July 24, July 31; August 2, 7, 9, 14, 30; September 6, 11 – see Glendale’s calendar for exact schedule. Most start at 6:30 PM.
Location: Richard E. Maslowski Park Amphitheater (same as above).
Music/Performers: A focus on jazz, blues, and soul. These nights feature acclaimed local artists such as the Donna Woodall Group (smooth jazz/R&B), Cigarette Break (jazz-funk), Magic Fingaz (soul/R&B), Shonn Hinton (blues-rock), and others. It’s a great opportunity to relax to some soulful tunes under the stars.

Glendale’s 4th of July Concert & Fireworks

Date/Time: Friday, July 4, 2025. Glendale’s day-long Independence Day events include an evening celebration starting around 6:00 PM, with fireworks at dusk. Location: Kletzsch Park (6560 N. Milwaukee River Pkwy, Glendale) – the large county park where Glendale traditionally holds its fireworks. Music: A live band plays prior to the fireworks (in past years Glendale has featured the Generation Z band or a local rock/pop group for upbeat tunes). There’s also often a Glendale Community Band performance of patriotic music earlier in the evening.

Jazz & Soul Festival

Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025 (evening). Location: Richard E. Maslowski Community Park (Glendale) – at the “Oasis” amphitheater. Music: A one-night mini-festival celebrating jazz, blues, and soul music in the North Shore. Glendale’s Jazz & Soul Fest typically showcases multiple acts; for example, the 2024 fest featured a Latin Jazz band. In 2025 you can expect a mix of smooth jazz ensembles, soulful R&B singers, and possibly Latin or world-jazz influences. It’s a chance to hear top Milwaukee-area talent in these genres.

(Glendale also hosts Make Music Day on June 21, 2025, with free musical happenings around the city as part of the worldwide Make Music Day. Look for informal performances – for example, in past years there have been free mini-concerts at Bayshore’s outdoor plaza – all on June 21st.)

Bayside

Bayside Summer Beer Garden Series (with Live Music)

Dates/Times: Select Saturdays throughout summer 2025. Planned dates include May 24, June 21, July 12, and August 30, 2025 – each from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM. (An additional beer garden with music is scheduled during the Village’s Fall Fest on Sept. 20, but the main summer series runs May–August.) Location: Ellsworth Park (600 E. Ellsworth Ln, Bayside, WI) – the village’s central park behind Village Hall. Music/Performers: TBA

Fox Point

Rock the Fox Summer Concert Series

Dates/Times: Three Wednesday evenings: June 18, July 16, and August 13, 2025. Music runs 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM for each show. Location: Longacre Pavilion in Fox Point (7343 N. Longacre Rd, Fox Point, WI 53217). This is an open-air pavilion and lawn area in Longacre Park, a lovely green space just west of Lake Drive. Music/Performers: Rock the Fox features cover bands that bring a fun retro flair: June 18 – Mixtape: an ’80s/’90s cover band delivering nostalgic pop/rock hits (think MTV classics and sing-along anthems). July 16 – The Spiders (from Milwaukee).

Fox Point Farmers Market

Dates/Times: The Fox Point Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays from June 14 through October 11, 8 am–noon. Location: parking lot of North Shore Congregational Church (7330 N. Santa Monica Blvd.) Music/Performers: Kicking off opening day on June 14 are Maribelle Holmes and Steve Cohen, followed by local talents like Peter Thomas, Barb and Tom Webber, Doc Green, John Plankenhorn, and Julien Kozak throughout June and July. Later in the season, enjoy performances by Tracy Hannemann, RedcardMKE, Frogwater, Souvenirs, Milwaukee Hot Club, Carmen Nickerson & Kostia Efimov, and Keshena Armon. September brings Cory Coleman, Mambo Surfers, and the duo Holly Haebig & Jeff Bray. Dr. Bob will take the stage in early October, and the final market on October 11 will close out with live music and free hot cider and caramel apples courtesy of Log Cabin Orchards.

Fox Point Fourth of July Parade & Ice Cream Social

Date/Time: Friday, July 4, 2025, 9 AM parade with post-parade social until ~10:30 AM. Location: The parade runs through central Fox Point (starting at Village Hall and ending at Longacre Pavilion. Music: This is a morning patriotic celebration more than a concert, but it features fun music in the parade (think marching band tunes, maybe a fire truck siren or two, and kids decorating bikes to patriotic songs). At the end of the route, the Fox Point Foundation hosts an Ice Cream Social at Longacre Pavilion with recorded patriotic music playing in the background.

Brown Deer

Community Vibes Summer Concert Series (Village Park)
Dates/Times: Tuesday evenings June 18, July 16, and August 20 beginning at 6 PM. Location: Village Park (4920 W Green Brook Dr, Brown Deer, WI 53223) — a spacious community park ideal for lawn chairs, blankets, and family fun. Music/Performers: A lively lineup featuring Andrew Wayne & The Mud Creek Road (June 18), The Hot Reds (July 16), and Cigarette Break (August 20). Expect a blend of country, rock, and soulful tunes.

Mequon

Mequon residents can enjoy joint Mequon-Thiensville events just across the Milwaukee River in Thiensville’s Village Park. Here are the key free music events serving Mequon families:

Family Fun Before the 4th (Mequon-Thiensville)

Date/Time: Saturday, June 28, 2025. Parade at 10:30 AM; live music and festivities all afternoon and evening, culminating in a 9:30 PM fireworks show. Location: Thiensville Village Park (250 Elm St, Thiensville) – right on the river, essentially “downtown” for both Thiensville and Mequon. Music/Performers: This is a full-day festival. It kicks off with a big parade in the morning (no concert yet, but plenty of marching music). In the park, starting early afternoon, there are often local music acts on stage. The highlight is the evening concert: in 2025, the headliner is the Steve Beguhn Band (Steve is a former American Idol finalist and local favorite) playing from about 6:30 PM until the fireworks.

Mequon Public Market Tunes on the Patio

Dates: Various Fridays or weekends, June–August (check Mequon Public Market’s calendar). Time: Typically early evening, around 5:30–8:00 PM. Location: Mequon Public Market (6300 W. Mequon Rd, Mequon) – an outdoor patio area in the Spur 16 development. Music: The Public Market hosts free live music on the patio, usually featuring acoustic singer-songwriters, small jazz ensembles, or folk and indie bands. These are smaller-scale shows intended to enhance the dining atmosphere.

Blues & Brews at The Annex at Foxtown Brewery

Dates: Every Thursday. Time: 6–9 PM. Location: The Annex at Foxtown Brewery (6411 W. Mequon Rd, Mequon) – a cozy indoor/outdoor event space attached to Foxtown Brewery. Music: Blues & Brews features live regional blues acts each week, including Jon Mroz & His Bull Fiddle Four, Third Coast Blues Collective, Mississippi Leghounds, and Rockin’ Johnny Burgin. Expect soulful guitar, upbeat rhythms, and a relaxed, pub-style atmosphere.

Thiensville

Thiensville, though small, is a hub for North Shore music thanks to its easily accessible Village Park. In addition to the joint Family Fun Before the 4th (see Mequon section), Thiensville runs the Eats & Beats Concert Series and hosts other musical happenings:

Eats & Beats Summer Concert Series

Dates/Times: One Thursday evening per month all summer. The 2025 lineup is: May 22, June 19, July 17, August 21, and September 11, 2025, with music from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Location: Thiensville Village Park (250 Elm St, Thiensville) – at the park’s new stage by the Milwaukee River. Music/Performers: Top-tier Milwaukee-area bands, organized by Downtown Thiensville. Each concert has a distinct theme/genre:

Shully’s River Sounds (Live Music on the Riverwalk)

Dates: A few select Thursdays over summer (historically the first Thursday of June, and another in August and September – in 2025 likely June 5, August 7, and September 4). Time: Doors open 5:30 PM, music 6:00–9:00 PM. Location: Shully’s East Lawn (146 Green Bay Rd, Thiensville) – a beautiful grassy lawn along the Milwaukee River, behind Shully’s Cuisine (a catering venue). Music/Performers: Shully’s, a local family-run caterer, hosts this free concert series by the river each year. They typically feature well-known local bands: for example, past summers included the Eddie Butts Band (R&B/Motown), SuperFly (funk hits), Five Card Studs (’70s retro pop), and The WhiskeyBelles (country/Americana. The lineup for 2025 is expected to be similar – a variety of genres across the three dates. The setting is intimate and lively.

Bonus: How to See Summerfest 2025 for Free

Even though Summerfest’s 12‑day run happens on Milwaukee’s lakefront—not technically the North Shore—it’s the region’s signature music bash and pairs perfectly with your local outdoor concert calendar.  Here are the easiest, family‑friendly ways to score free tickets to Summerfest this year.