14 Things to Do in Milwaukee This Weekend: May 21-25

This article provides a guide to events in Milwaukee from May 21-25, highlighting the Milwaukee Asian Restaurant Week, a Memorial Day Field of Flags Remembrance Ceremony at Veterans Park, and a farewell reading series at Woodland Pattern. It also lists numerous other activities, including a book lovers' craft night, a hat-themed soiree, comedy trivia, a kids' clothing swap, and a native plant sale.

Featured Events 1. Milwaukee Asian Restaurant Week THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS You still have three days to make the most of this weeklong celebration of Milwaukee’s Asian dining scene. Multiple restaurants are marking AAPI Heritage Month with special deals. Organizing group ElevAsian offers an extensive list of local Asian restaurants complete with links to the menus. Check out the deals across Milwaukee and support Asian-owned businesses all weekend. 2. Field of Flags Remembrance Ceremony FRIDAY AT 11 A.M. | VETERANS PARK For Memorial Day, volunteers will be placing 27,316 flags in Veterans Park – one for every Wisconsin veteran killed in action since the Civil War. On Friday, you can see all the flags on display during this remembrance ceremony honoring the dead. If you miss the ceremony, the flags will still remain on display through Wednesday, May 27. 3. Reading: A Homecoming Farewell FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY | WOODLAND PATTERN Woodland Pattern has a new home. Before moving to the former Bindery location in Bay View, the bookstore and poetry destination will host its final program at its longtime Locust Street location this weekend. The three-day celebration kicks off with a Friday night event for former Woodland Pattern volunteer and reading series curator Soham Patel’s The Daughter Industry. Alongside Patel, Wisconsin Poet Laureate Brenda Cárdenas and former UW-Milwaukee professor Mauricio Kilwein Guevara will be reading as well. A full list of the readings and other events this weekend can be found online. This event is give-what-you-can admission. It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year More Events 4. Craft and Chapter Night THURSDAY FROM 6-9 P.M. | DEAD BIRD BREWING COMPANY MKE Books and Beers is hosting a chill night for book lovers at Dead Bird Brewing Company. Guests can craft book charms and friendship bracelets while watching rom-coms and enjoying happy hour. Bring your favorite book and meet some fellow readers Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8. 5. Big Hat Soiree THURSDAY FROM 6-9 P.M. | MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER The fanciest hat event of the year is back at the Marcus Center. Whether you have a signature fedora or you’ve been waiting to break out your Kentucky Derby hat again, all hats are welcome at this soiree. Tickets are available online for $88 each. 6. Trivia About Comedy with Rusty Drinkswell THURSDAY FROM 6-9 P.M. | THE LAUGHING TAP Join host Rusty Drinkswell for a night of comedy trivia this Thursday. The doors open at 6 p.m. and attendees can enjoy $1 off alcoholic beverages all night. Trivia starts at 7 p.m. and is free to attend. Team registration is recommended. Teams can consist of one to six people. 7. Spring Kids Clothing Swap THURSDAY AND FRIDAY FROM 12-5 P.M. | URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER – RIVERSIDE PARK It’s time for a closet cleanup Bring old children’s clothes to the Riverside Park Urban Ecology Center and swap them out for “new to you ” options. All kids sizes are welcome and should be presorted by size before arrival. 8. Riverside Park Native Plant Sale SATURDAY FROM 9 A.M.-1 P.M. | URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER – RIVERSIDE PARK Support the urban ecosystem this summer and plant some native flowers. The staff at the Prairie Future Seed Company can help shoppers choose the best plants for their yard. 9. Comedy Night of Champions SATURDAY FROM 8-10 P.M. | ZÓCALO FOOD PARK Milwaukee comics are coming together for this Comedy Night of Champions at Zócalo Food Park. Special guests, raffles and nonstop laughs will keep the night rolling. General admission is $23 and tickets can be purchased in advance. This event is 18+ only. 10. Morgan Park Picnic 2026 SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M.-6 P.M. | MORGAN PARK Milwaukee record and Busby’s are back with the second annual Morgan Park Picnic. This year there’s live music, punk rock yoga, local food vendors and more. Find a full list of performances and food vendors here. 11. Behind the Build: Works in Circulation SATURDAY FROM 1:30-3 P.M. | HOUSE OF RAD House of RAD is inviting everyone for this pop-up sale. The creative collective’s newest resident artist will be on site offering an opportunity for conversation about their process. The gallery will be open during the sale and this event is free to attend. You can reserve a spot here. 12. Move Like Malcolm Wellness Event SATURDAY FROM 2-4 P.M. | HAVENWOODS STATE FOREST Join Run Black & Green at the Havenwoods State Forest for a restorative wellness event celebrating Malcolm X. The event will kick off with food and a chance for introductions. A meditation sound bath, Black liberation workshop and nature walk/run will round out the day. This event is free to attend. You can reserve a spot here. 13. Beaded Belt Making at Webers SUNDAY AT 1-3 P.M. | WEBERS GREENHOUSE Get crafty with host Trinity Mason and make your own beaded belt. This class will take place among the plants at Webers Greenhouse and is open to crafters of every ability level. Tickets are $9 and include everything needed for the class. 14. Forest Home Cemetery’s 175th Anniversary MONDAY FROM 11 A.M.-2:30 P.M. | FOREST HOME CEMETERY Forest Home Cemetery is celebrating 175 years. In August of 1850, Orville Cadwell was the first person buried at the historic cemetery the first of now more than 100,000 . Forest Home will honor that history as well as the fallen soldiers buried there with a wreath-laying ceremony at its Garden of Honor, followed by stories from the cemetery told by historical re-enactors and a free Milwaukee history tour. There will be food available to purchase on-site.