BRAVA Magazine

Beer Church w/ Slip Jig
2026-06-07 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Minocqua Brewing Company, 2927 East Washington Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
For over ten years, Slipjig has delighted audiences with their exciting and heartfelt renditions of traditional music from the Celtic nations and Appalachia. Award-winning vocalist, songwriter and fiddler Ruthie McQuinn is joined by Michael Duffy on piano and bodhran and by Scott Pedersen on button accordion.

Skating Between Worlds: A Jewish Olympian’s Journey
2026-06-07 18:00 - 19:15 | Jewish Museum Milwaukee, 1360 N. Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Go beyond the podium with medal-winning Olympic speed skater Emery Lehman as he shares the story behind the speed.
In this personal program, Lehman reflects on the dedication and resilience required to compete at the highest level, while navigating the many layers of his Jewish identity. Through moments of triumph, challenge, and self-discovery, he explores how heritage, athletics, and personal values shape who we are.
Connected to the themes of 48 Jews: Layers of Identity, this talk invites us to consider how identity is expressed, perceived, and carried—on the ice and in everyday life.
Stay for a Q&A with Emery Lehman and continue the conversation.
EVENT DETAILS
DATE: Sunday, June 7, 2026
TIME: 6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Jewish Museum Milwaukee (1360 N. Prospect Avenue)
COST: $15 for members and students with a valid ID | $25 non-members
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Emery Lehman grew up in a suburb outside Chicago and began speed skating at nine years old as a way to become a better skater for hockey. Lehman stayed active in many sports throughout high school, including being a standout in both lacrosse and hockey while excelling in speedskating as a junior world champion in the 5,000m.
At age 17, Lehman competed in his first Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014. Lehman became the youngest male U.S. speedskater to make his Olympic debut in history, besting a record previously set by American speedskating legend Eric Heiden at the Olympic Winter Games Innsbruck 1976 by two days.
Lehman would make the U.S. speedskating team for the next two Winter Olympics, winning bronze in team pursuit at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.
He won his first world title in team pursuit at the 2025 ISU World Speedskating Championships, and Lehman and his teammates would set the world record later that year in that event at an ISU World Cup stop in Salt Lake City.
Off the ice, Lehman graduated from Marquette University with a degree in civil engineering and received his master’s degree in structural engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
Sponsored by the Steve Solochek Memorial Fund.
This event is free with museum admission.

Open Mic Hosted By Ken Stewart
2026-06-08 18:30 - 21:00 | Minocqua Brewing Company, 2927 East Washington Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Attention all musicians: We’ve got a stage, top notch sound equipment, and a host who loves sharing the stage with people who just need to get their creativity out. That’s why we are hosting an open mic!
Ken has a wealth of experience singing and playing guitar, and in organizing musical performances such as leading church bands and hosting open mics. His core genre is the great acoustic rock music of the 60s, 70s and 80s (think Beatles, Paul Simon, CSN, James Taylor, Winwood, Clapton). He also plays contemporary (think Jason Mraz, Rob Thomas) and original songs.
Fun fact: Ken met his wife Heidi at the open mic at The Minocqua Brewery’s original location back in 2016.
So come ready to share a song just to support other budding artists in Madison.

History Sandwiched In Summer 2026
2026-06-09 12:30 - 2026-08-11 13:30 | History Maker Space, 1 S. Pinckney Street, Madison, WI, 53703
Learn About the People, Places and Events that Shaped the Badger State
Wish there was a way to get a crash-course on the most unique aspects of Wisconsin history in one place? Look no further than History Sandwiched In, where scholars, historians, authors and community members from across the state join together to hold engaging discussions on wide-ranging historical topics of interest.
All History Sandwiched In events are free and open to the public. Capacity will be limited to 60 persons per talk. Advanced registration is recommended to ensure your spot.

Monona Grove Nursery School Summer Playgroups!
2026-06-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Monona Grove Nursery School, 4019 Hegg Ave, Madison, WI, 53716, United States
Join us this summer for casual drop-in playgroups open to everyone! Families with children under age 7 are invited to come play, connect, and have fun together—indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather. 🛝
Time: 9:00–11:00 AM
Cost: $5 per child
6/11, 6/30, 7/9, 7/21, 8/13, and 8/25
A board member or staff member will be onsite to open the building and help get things started. After that, the morning is all about free play, parent connection, and community fun. We hope to see you there on the dates listed above! 💜

Paul Briskey | To Draw a Line
2026-06-11 16:00 - 19:00 | Peace Lutheran Church, 701 S Century Ave, Waunakee, WI, 53597, United States
Waunakee artist Paul Briskey — trained at UW–Madison, shaped by a decade in Kuwait — brings new and recent work to Peace Gallery in Waunakee. Watercolors, works on paper, and non-objective pieces exploring line as language, identity, and homecoming. Portraits of the places we stop seeing because we’ve grown too familiar with them.

Gilda's Backyard BBQ
2026-06-11 17:30 - 20:30 | Gilda’s Club Madison, 7907 UW Health Court, Middleton, 53562, United States
Let’s Ignite Hope Together!
Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Gilda’s Club Wisconsin Backyard | 7907 UW Health Ct, Middleton, WI
Gather in Gilda’s backyard for an adult evening featuring lip-smacking BBQ fare provided by Blue Plate Catering, thirst-quenching adult beverages provided by Bailey’s Run Vineyard and The Lone Girl Brewing Company, and live music by Universal Sound.
Your support of Gilda’s Backyard BBQ directly supports Gilda’s Club Wisconsin’s mission to provide free emotional support, community, and hope for individuals and families touched by cancer in our community. Funds raised help sustain vital programs, such as support groups, healthy living programs, and educational programs that offer comfort, connection, and hope at every stage of the cancer journey.
Learn more about our programs and how your support makes a difference by visiting gildasclubwi.org.
Tickets are $75 each or $280 for four. We hope you will join us!
Interested in sponsoring Gilda’s Backyard BBQ? Learn more about sponsorships and special incentives in 2026 here. Contact Taylor Retondo, Events Director, at taylor@gildasclubwi.org to learn more.
Please Note: This is a 21+ (years of age) adult event. Per the City of Middleton, you must show your photo ID (regardless of your age) and receive a wristband if you will be consuming adult beverages.

Tiki Cocktail Class
2026-06-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison, WI, 53407, United States
Escape to the tropics for an evening of tiki-inspired cocktails and relaxed summer vibes at Garver Lounge. 🍹🌴
Join us on Wednesday, June 11 from 6–8 PM for an intimate Tiki Cocktail Class featuring tropical cocktails made with premium and local spirits. This hands-on class includes guided instruction, snacks, and take-home recipes and ingredients so you can recreate the drinks at home.
Each ticket for 2 includes:
– 5 cocktails
– Detailed instruction
– Small plates
– Recipe booklet
– A few take-home ingredients
$170 for 2 people ($85/person)
Limited to just 6 groups of 2 per class.
15% gratuity is included in ticket fees.

JT Spartz at Minocqua Brewing Company, Madison Taproom!
2026-06-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Minocqua Brewing Company – Madison Taproom, 2927 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI, 53704
JT Spartz plays all around Madison, sometimes solo and sometimes with a group called Dogtown Hollow, in the genre of Roots Rock Country Americana. JT is also a poet and essayist, so if you ask very nicely he may just share some extra-musical wisdom too!

Summer Breeze Block Party
2026-06-12 16:00 - 2026-06-29 20:00, 2026-06-13 16:00 - 20:00 | Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, 53704, United States
Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Garver Events are teaming up to throw a Summer Breeze block party! Join us for two nights filled with pop-up artmaking activities, classic lawn games, dance parties, and local food cart fare. Sugar Ave, the bike/pedestrian pathway linking the Gardens to Garver, will transform to a free neighborhood block party vibe featuring picnic tables, a variety of food carts, and live music hosted by Garver. Grab a bite, enjoy some live music, and then head into Olbrich Gardens to continue the party!
Support your public garden along with the featured local artists/musicians by paying a nominal admission fee at the Gardens’ entrance – then sip on a cocktail/mocktail as you stroll the Gardens with your sweetheart, play a round of bocce or badminton, encounter pop-up performers, and create botanically based art. The evening concludes with a curated story slam on the Great Lawn surrounded by the lush beauty of the Gardens. Come up soak up the sun, feel the warm summer breeze, and make some memories!

Garver Food Truck Friday 2026
2026-06-12 17:00 - 21:00 | Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison, WI, 53407, United States
Garver Food Truck Fridays is presented by Garver Events.
Enjoy FREE live music on the Garver Patio every Friday throughout the summer! Food Truck Fridays run weekly from May 22 through October 2, 2026 (excluding July 3 & 10).
Grab food and drinks from Garver’s onsite tenants, plus a rotating lineup of food trucks serving right on the patio while you take in live music from a featured local artist each week.
Food service begins at 5 PM, with live music starting at 6 PM. Vendors change weekly, so there’s always something new to try!
Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. No carry-ins. Full bar available onsite. New this year: fish fry from the Garver Lounge!
In case of inclement weather, music will move indoors to the Garver Lounge.

Middleton Pride 2026
2026-06-13 | Downtown Middleton, WI, 1821 Parmenter St, Middleton, WI, 53562, Select a Country:
Join The Good Neighbor City for its annual Middleton Pride Festival on Saturday, June 13.
This is a family-friendly celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the Good Neighbor city.
In 2025, the festival included two Drag Story Hours (from both Kings and Queens), performances from local school ensembles and home-grown DJ Stu, and nearly 30 vendors, area organizations, and Queer-affirming businesses. Expect a similar lineup in 2026 as well as more than enough crafts, games, and love to go around! Stay tuned for exact details as the event gets closer.
Food, Drinks & More:
Middleton has a dozen restaurants within walking distance of Stone Horse Green, feel free to grab lunch and bring it over and enjoy on a blanket or one of the bistro tables. Bring your own blankets and folding chairs, if you like. You can also bring alcohol that is in non-glass containers, such as one of the hundreds of canned beers for sale at Longtable Beer Cafe just across the street.

Centennial Festival Weekend
2026-06-13 - 2026-06-14 | Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State Street, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
Following the conclusion of our 25/26 subscription season, join us for our Centennial Festival Weekend “A Community Gift and Dream — for the Love of Music” on June 13-14, 2026. During this free, two-day festival celebration, MSO musicians and diverse community groups will perform on a rotating schedule throughout various spaces in Overture Center for the Arts. This will also be performances on the mainstage in Overture Hall which include a Family Concert and an Overture Concert Organ Concert on Saturday as well as a Madison Symphony Orchestra Concert on Sunday. We will also have food vendors that will be in Overture Lobby each day from 9:30-4:30 p.m.
All performances will be presented free-of-charge to the public — a gift to the city of Madison and surrounding areas for their support of the MSO now and into the future.

Bubble Run – Madison
2026-06-13 08:00 - 11:00 | Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI, WI, 53713, United States
Free Registration to the Madison 2026 Bubble Run Is Still Available!
Get ready, Madison – it’s time to run, walk, dance, and make a splash! The Bubble Run is heading back to town for another unforgettable day of foam-filled fun. This one-of-a-kind 5K combines fitness and festivity, sending participants through colorful bubble bogs and clouds of foam that guarantee smiles from start to finish. It’s non-competitive and untimed making it perfect for all ages to participate!
Join us at Alliant Energy Center on June 13, 2026, for this family-friendly event where runners, walkers, and strollers are all welcome. Dress comfortably, bring your crew, and get ready to cross the finish line in every color of the rainbow—covered in bubbles and memories you’ll never forget!
🎈 Perfect for families, friends, and fun-loving runners
👟 All ages and fitness levels welcome
🫧 Expect laughter, music, and mountains of foam
🎟️ Registration is open now – spots fill up fast!
Get your tickets now at https://bubblerun.com/locations/bubble-run/madison

Core and Pelvic Floor Connection: Building Stronger Foundations
2026-06-13 08:30 - 09:30 | Ether Wellness, 25 N Pinckney St. Ste 310, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
Reconnect to your core, breath, posture, and pelvic floor through intentional movement designed to help you feel more supported from the inside out. This session focuses on stability, body awareness, and creating a stronger foundation for everyday life.
As part of the Women’s Wellness Series, Core Connection offers its own individual experience while tying into the monthly theme: ⭐️Prep for Success ⭐️
What is the Women’s Wellness Series?
Ether Wellness opens its doors every Saturday from 8:30-9:30am, with the exception of this event, for our Women’s Wellness Series: a rotating blend of movement, reflection, education, and restorative practices designed to support your whole self.
Each session offers a chance to reset, reconnect, and nourish your mind, body, and energy in community. Whether you’re seeking strength, grounding, clarity, or calm, these gatherings give you a meaningful space to grow and feel supported.

Madison Black History Walking Tours
2026-06-13 13:00 - 14:45, 2026-06-18 17:00 - 18:45 | History Maker Space, 1 S. Pinckney Street, Madison, WI, 53703
How Black Communities Shaped Madison Through Time
In the years following the Civil War and into the 20th century, Madison was a growing and dynamic city. Working and living within this changing environment were Black residents who established a vibrant community around the East Dayton-North Blount-East Johnson Streets in downtown Madison—and in doing so, left a lasting and historic mark on the Badger State.
During the Madison Black History Walking Tour—which starts at East Dayton & North Blount and ends at the Capitol Square—you’ll learn firsthand about the individuals, families, and organizations that formed the bedrock of this community and left a powerful legacy for future generations.

High Strung Trio @ Minocqua Brewing taproom in Madison
2026-06-13 15:15 - 17:45 | Madison Taproom, Minoqua Brewing Company, 2927 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Make sure to put this one in your calendars! High Strung Trio puts on a great show, perfect to pair with a beer or two. High Strung is a trio sampling from the different kinds of music within the genre of Americana. Our sets include bluegrass, the blues, folk and country. We incorporate both old-time and contemporary tunes into our shows. We use guitars, harmonica, baritone ukulele, and a dulcimer-like instrument called the strumstick to power warm vocals and tight harmonies.

Brats and Bloodys at Working Draft Beer Company
2026-06-14 12:00 - 17:00 | Working Draft Beer Company, 1129 East Wilson Street, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
We’re doing our Brats and Bloodys shindig on the second Sunday of each month. What’s Brats and Bloodys you ask?
We’ll be serving Jenifer Street Market brats cooked in WDBC beer and house-made Bloody Marys.
We’ll have a full bloody fixin’s bar, including house made pickles, cheese cubes, meat sticks, green olives, onions, celery sticks, brussels sprouts, asparagus, limes, lemons, and more. Build your own 🙂
And you know there will be WDBC beer chasers.
So come hungry and thirsty!
Happens on the following Dates:
Mar 29, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Apr 12, 2026, 12:00pm to 3:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
May 10, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Jun 14, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Jul 12, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Aug 9, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Sep 6, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Oct 11, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Nov 8, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Dec 13, 2026, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)

Sunset Games at San Damiano Park
2026-06-14 16:00 - 20:00 | San Damiano, 4123 Monona Drive, Monona, WI, 53716, United States
Sunset at San Damiano Park is one of THE BEST in Dane County. Join us and add a spectacular backdrop to your Sunday evening. The 2nd Sunday of each month, May through October, join us for a peaceful evening on the shores of Lake Monona. Enjoy dinner from the food cart or bring your own. Partake in free lawn games (think bags, bocce, croquet, and giant Jenga) with family and friends. Relax with live music as you take it all in. A different food cart option and live music each month will enhance the enjoyment of this time of day.

Black Earth Children's Museum Free Art Week
2026-06-15 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Black Earth Children’s Museum, 1131 Mills Street, Black Earth, WI, 53515, United States
Come join us for our free Art Week, sponsored by Kohler Foundation, a fun week of family activities at Black Earth Children’s Museum. We have a fun week of hands-on interaction where visiting local artists that will inspire children and families through daily demos and followed by free open art-making sessions focused on exploration and the creative process.
We will have free activities and events every day for the whole family to enjoy. We will end the week with our free famous family Color Run and a visit from the Kona Ice Truck. Running has never been more fun or colorful!
• Meet Heidi from Center Ground Studio, who will demonstrate wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques with clay. Create your own tactile works of art. .Monday June 15, 10am- 12pm
• Meet Nancy, who teach tape art. A fun and easy way to show your creative talent. Tuesday, June 16, 10am- 12pm
• Meet Central Midwest Ballet Academy, who will give a short dance demonstration, teach kids some dance steps, and bring traditional ballet costumes for kids to try on. Wednesday, June 17, 10am-12pm
• Meet Gary, he will draw caricatures that make everyone smile. Thursday, June 18, 10am-12pm
• Meet Krystal, a children’s singer and songwriter. She will perform on various instruments while engaging the audience to sing along. Children can contribute using simple instruments to create their own music. Friday, June 19, 10am- 12pm

Classic Movie: Bringing Up Baby
2026-06-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Hillside Theater, Taliesin, Spring Green, 5481 County Road C, Spring Green, WI, 53588, United States
Experience a classic movie in a historic space! Screwball sparks fly when Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn let loose in one of the fastest and funniest films ever made—a high-wire act of invention that took American screen comedy to new heights of absurdity. Hoping to procure a million-dollar endowment from a wealthy society matron for his museum, a hapless paleontologist (Grant) finds himself entangled with a dizzy heiress (Hepburn) as the manic misadventures pile up—a missing dinosaur bone, a leopard on the loose, and plenty of gender-bending mayhem among them.
First shown at Taliesin in 1956. This film is presented in partnership with the River Valley Film Club.

Samba Night at Working Draft Beer Company
2026-06-18 17:00 - 21:00 | Working Draft Beer Company, 1129 East Wilson Street, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
Join us at Working Draft Beer Co for a night of samba music and tasty food. Saideira Pagode will be bringing their Brazilian rhythms and we’ll have fresh, authentic Brazilian food as well!
Food service starts at 5 (and it goes pretty quickly!) and the Samba will fill the taproom from 7-9 pm. And of course, the WDBC taps will be flowing from 3-10 pm.
We do Samba Night the third Thursday of each month.
Working Draft Beer plus Brazilian food plus Brazilian music? Sim por favor!
Happens on the following Dates:
Apr 16, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
May 21, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Jun 18, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Jul 16, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Aug 20, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Sep 17, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Oct 15, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Nov 19, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)
Dec 17, 2026, 5:00pm to 9:00pm Timezone: Central Time (US & Canada)

Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival
2026-06-19 - 2026-06-27 | San Damiano, 4123 Monona Drive, Monona, WI, 53716, United States
Plan your visit for a weeklong lakeside festival of live wood sculpting, Indigenous culture and global artists in Monona, WI.
Make plans to experience the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival, returning June 19–27, 2026, for a unique weeklong celebration of art, culture and community at San Damiano Park in Monona, Wisconsin.
Set along the shores of Lake Monona, this free, open-air festival invites you to watch 13 international artists create large-scale wood sculptures live on-site. It’s a rare opportunity to see the creative process up close and connect directly with artists from around the world.
As the first international wood sculpture festival in the United States dedicated to an Indigenous artist, the event honors Ho-Chunk sculptor Harry Whitehorse. Held on ancestral Ho-Chunk land known as Teejope, the festival highlights Indigenous perspectives while fostering cultural exchange and community connection.
Beyond the carving, visitors can enjoy international food and cultural and educational experiences in a relaxed, lakeside setting. Whether you stop by for a few hours or plan a weekend getaway, it’s an experience unlike any other.
Start planning your visit at harrywhitehorse.com/festival and discover what makes this event truly unlike any other.

Behind the Scenes Tour
2026-06-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Pendarvis Historic Site, 114 Shake Rag Street, Mineral Point, WI, 53565, United States
The Story of the Couple Who Saved Pendarvis
Go behind the scenes at Pendarvis and learn more about the fascinating lives of the couple who first preserved it. Learn about the relationship between rescuers Bob and Edgar, their plans for the site and little-known details about their secret benefactor. Please note this tour is not accessible without traversing several stairways, uneven paths and hilly ground.
