Since 2022, MKE Outdoor Indoor Exchange (3044 S. Delaware Ave., 414-935-2903) has specialized in selling and consigning outdoor gear with the three-pronged approach of “reduce-reuse-repair.” With the region’s peak hiking, camping, and outdoor recreation season on the horizon, the Bay View retailer is cutting out all the stops by shutting down a block of Delaware Ave. (near the New York Ave. and Oklahoma Ave. intersections) for an all-out celebration.
On Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, the annual Gear Gala will bring dozens of vendors and local organizations to the parcel of pavement in front of MKE Outdoor Indoor Exchange with the goal of “unifying outdoor voices of Milwaukee, WI and beyond.” From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, you can shop and interact with the following vendors and groups:
Beyond the businesses and other orgs that will be present, the event will feature live performances from a wide-ranging smattering of area musicians. Here are the “Gear Gala Bands” taking part in the festivities, as well as their set times.
There will also be raffles taking place both days. MKE Outdoor Indoor Exchange’s Gear Gala is free to attend, but donations for musicians (either cash or via Venmo sent to @mkeoutdoorindoor) are appreciated. If you’re looking to stock up on outdoor goods for the summer in a sustainable way and/or get an early start on festival season, head to the Gear Gala next weekend.