The 16th annual Bronzeville Week has returned to the Harambee and Halyard Park neighborhoods with a kickoff event on Saturday, Aug. 1, and ending on Saturday, Aug 8.
Milwaukee’s Bronzeville has a storied past, from thriving commerce to resilience in the face of disinvestment to its present-day status as a hub of culture, art and education.
“‘Bronzeville’ speaks to a time when there was not only Black arts and entertainment, but also Black businesses,” said Ald. Milele Coggs at a press conference about the week-long event on Thursday, July 30.
To celebrate the vibrancy of the historic district, organizers are bringing back all the favorite events of years past, including pancake breakfasts, a 5K for healthy birth outcomes, and a concert series. This year’s Bronzeville Week will also feature natural hair workshops, theatrical performances and fashion shows.
Coggs founded the festival alongside her former legislative aide, Akuwa Dantzler, who is now deceased, and a few other close friends and government workers. This year, Coggs invited younger voices to help organize the week and curate events that appeal to all ages.
The youngest organizer is Coggs’ 17-year-old daughter, Kayle Phillips, who helped organize Rooted ‘N Natural − an event about natural hair that will take place on Wednesday, Aug 5. Another younger organizer is Kennedy Harris, who helped put together the Bronzeville Fashion Show, which will take place on Thursday, Aug. 6.
What to expect each day
Saturday, Aug. 1.
In true Bronzeville Week fashion, the event will begin with the annual HaRUNbee 5K walk/run along North King Drive. Created by Tonda Thompson, HaRUNbee was designed to bring attention to the disparities in maternal healthcare for Black mothers and to promote healthy birth outcomes.
Anyone who participates can go at their own pace. In the past, participants walked with strollers or sometimes strolled alongside friends and family, while others ran the entire stretch. Registration for the event begins at 6 a.m., and the run-walk will begin at 7:30 a.m.
Standard registration for adults is $34.43, youth is $12.48 to include a t-shirt, otherwise entry is free. Seniors, 55 years and older, is $17.96.
Later in the evening, the Royal Rhythm Experience will celebrate the first day of Bronzeville Week at Summer of ’85, 2113 N. King Dr. The event will offer a night of music and dancing. The doors open at 5 p.m., and it runs until 9 p.m. According to the Bronzeville Week schedule, the first 20 people in line for the event get in free. Otherwise, tickets are $35 per person.
Sunday, Aug. 2.
The Bronzeville Cultural Arts Festival
The Bronzeville Cultural Arts Festival will feature many musical performances, like Kiez Vantosh, E-Z Flo and Ms. Lotus Fankh, and educational interviews with figures like Michelle Luckett Pitts and Dr. Brandon Robinson. Performances and speakers will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival’s main stage will be at corner of North Fifth Street and West North Avenue. The full festival will stretch along North Avenue from North King Drive to Seventh Street.
Monday, Aug. 3.
Bronzeville Lunch and Learn
The Bronzeville Lunch and Learn at Rise and Grind Cafe, 2737 N. King Dr., will cover accessible housing resources for home rehab or repairs. The panel discussion begins at noon.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
In the evening, America’s Black Holocaust Museum, 401 W. North Ave., is hosting Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: How Halyard Park and Historic Bronzeville Laid the Foundation That We Are Building Today. The reception begins at 5 p.m., and the program starts at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Building Bronzeville
Building Bronzeville, at the Bronzeville Kitchen and Lounge, 2053 N. King Dr., will be a panel discussion with Milwaukee developers about projects in the works, the future and the past. The event runs from noon to about 1 p.m.
Taco Tuesday and Games
Summer of ’85 is hosting a Taco Tuesday night, with trivia, chess, bingo, dominoes, and, of course, tacos. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Business Breakfast
Breakfast will be served by the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District. Attendees will hear important updates about the King Drive corridor and have the chance to voice their opinions on the area’s future. The event will be held at America’s Black Holocaust Museum. Breakfast is free, but an RSVP is required in advance.
Rooted ‘N Natural
Rooted ‘N Natural, a natural hair workshop with demonstrations of various natural stylings, food and music. The event aims to be a space for healing, learning, and improving confidence, and will take place at Allah Mode, 1942 N. King Dr., from noon to 4 p.m.
Line Dancing
Looking to shake a leg? Back again from 2025 is Line Dancing with Lady Jai Janay on Garfield Avenue between North King Drive and Vel R. Phillips Avenue. Anyone who does not know how to line dance can set those worries aside. There will be instructions tailored for all ages and skill levels. Boogie with neighbors from 4 p.m. to about 6 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 6.
Cool Aid and Canvasses
Sipping a cool beverage while painting something fun on canvas is usually an activity reserved for those 21 and older, but for Bronzeville Week, kids can come out for Cool Aid and Canvasses. This kid-friendly painting session is a chance for youngsters to show their artistic side over a sugary drink at the Milwaukee Public Library King Drive Branch, 2901 N. King Dr. The event begins at noon, and seating is limited.
D5 Night Out
The Milwaukee Police District 5 is hosting its annual Night Out at James W. Beckum Park, 901 Brown St., and Carver Park, 911 Brown St., as a way of connecting with the community it serves. The event will feature basketball and attractions like a petting zoo. Festivities begin at 3 p.m. and run until about 7 p.m.
Trolley Tours
America’s Black Holocaust Museum will host a series of trolley rides, led by a historian, that highlight the district’s complicated yet powerful past. The tour begins at the museum, and the first tour starts at 3:30 p.m. The second tour begins at 5 p.m. There is limited seating for each tour.
Bronzeville Fashion Show
The museum will also host the Bronzeville Fashion Show, hosted by Kennedy Harris. This event is one of several pitched by young residents who wanted to bring in new ideas for community engagement. Doors open for the festivities at 7 p.m., and it runs until 9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 7.
Lit in Bronzeville
The Salute Society is hosting a “community movement experience” at 2372 N. King Dr. The event, hosted by Kayla Tatum, is for families and residents to work toward collective wellness. It will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bronzeville Sleepover for Education
The 12th annual Sleepover for Education is on its way, and organizers are accepting school supply donations. Bronzeville Week is co-hosting the event alongside Electa Chapter 7, the Starlighters, the Knights of Pythagoras, the Blazing Star Lodge No. 4, and the Peace for Change Alliance. The event will take place at the corner of North King Drive and West North Avenue, in front of Pete’s Fruit Market, 2323 North King Drive, and will run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 8.
Pancakes and Poetry
Pancakes and Poetry is back again, and this year it will be hosted by Mario the Poet at Rise and Grind Cafe. The event is centered on good food and good poetry. The event begins at 9:30 a.m.
Bronzeville Farmer’s Market
The Bronzeville Farmer’s Market, hosted by 414loral at 1739 N. King Dr., will feature produce, art, and a variety of goods for purchase. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and run until about 1 p.m.
Local Legends Softball Game
Ray Hill, executive director of the King Drive Business Improvement District, and Gee Smith, owner of Gee’s Clippers, will be the team captains for the Local Legends Softball Game. Attendees can arrive at Carver Park to play. The event begins at noon and runs to about 2 p.m.
Together We Dream
The Bronzeville Art Walk, titled “Together We Dream,” will showcase art around Bronzeville and will be hosted by LaDasia Bryant. The walk will begin at the Salute Society, 3272 N. King Dr., at 4 p.m. and last until about 7 p.m.
Hight Hearts
This one-act theatrical performance written by Dr. Nathan Clark will be showcased at Allah Mode. The performance is an introspection on perseverance, identity and empowerment through the actions of the women followed in the narrative. The show begins at 6:30 p.m.
To learn more about this year’s Bronzeville Week, visit the official website through the City of Milwaukee.
Everett Eaton covers Harambee for the Journal Sentinel’s Neighborhood Dispatch. Contact: eeaton@usatodayco.com.
Neighborhood Dispatch reporting is supported by Bader Philanthropies, Zilber Foundation, Journal Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: “JS Community Journalism”) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bronzeville Week is here, what to expect and events to check out
Reporting by Everett Eaton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Everett Eaton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
