Last year, local public art nonprofit Joy Engine gave the Milwaukee summer a jolt of unexpected fun with a series of so-called ArtBlaze beach parties. The free all-ages shindigs on Bradford and South Shore beaches featured local music, local vendors, and—most notably—local 30-foot inflatable fluorescent cephalopod tentacles created by FuzzPop Workshop. More than 5,000 people showed up. There were s’mores. It was a blast.
And guess what? ArtBlaze will return! On Tuesday, Joy Engine announced the dates of three new ArtBlaze parties for 2025: Thursday, July 24; Thursday, August 7; and Thursday, August 21. All parties will take place at the newly revamped McKinley Beach, and will run from 4 – 9:30 p.m.
“When considering where to host ArtBlaze this year, we went with McKinley Beach because of its central location so everyone can feel welcome at this celebration of local art and summer fun,” says Steph Salvia, Joy Engine’s Executive Director, in a press release. “McKinley Beach also feels so new and exciting after its three-year renovation.”
Like last year’s parties, the 2025 ArtBlaze blowouts will feature local music, local vendors, and plenty of s’mores. Oh, and some new inflatables from FuzzPop!
“At the center of each ArtBlaze party will be new, ginormous temporary inflatable ‘HydroBloom’ sculptures by FuzzPop Workshop and UW-Milwaukee Architecture students,” reads a press release. “The HydroBloom sculptures will stretch nearly 1,000 feet and stand 25′ tall with enchanting loops and curls that sprawl from sand to water, forming an open space to gather and play. If walking or dancing by, your movements will be noticed by the HydroBloom’s bioluminescent membrane and will awaken and respond in pulses of color that ripple into the lake. This site-specific art piece will blur the boundary between land and water, human and myth, reality and dream.”
Hell yeah. We’re all about blurring the boundary between land and water, human and myth, reality and dream, especially when it comes complete with s’mores. (Check out FuzzPop’s current inflatable creation at Summerfest!)
Here are the lineups for the 2025 parties. See you at McKinley Beach with those HydroBlooms, Milwaukee!
Thursday, July 24; 4 – 9:30 p.m. @ McKinley Beach
4 p.m. Tlalok
5 p.m. Embody Yoga
6 p.m. TBD
7 p.m. The Quilz
8 p.m. Silent Disco
Thursday, August 7; 4 – 9:30 p.m. @ McKinley Beach
4 p.m. Alison Mahal
5 p.m. Mke.Me Crew
6 p.m. *aya
7 p.m. Danyc MKE
8:15 p.m. TBD
Thursday, August 21; 4 – 9:30 p.m. @ McKinley Beach
4 p.m. DJ Luke Warm
5 p.m. TBD
6:15 p.m. NilexNile
7:15 p.m. Warped
8 p.m. Gemini Gilly
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