In case you missed it, the Great Milwaukee Summer is back! Approximately 8,000 festivals, music series, and fairs are set to take over the city this summer. And one of those music series, the long-running and wildly popular Jazz In The Park, just dropped its 2025 lineup.
Like years past, Jazz In The Park will set up shop in downtown’s Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St., on Thursday nights from 6-9 p.m. Unlike previous years, the series will be switching to an every-other-Thursday format (plus an extra week off on July 17 on account of Bastille Days). Another adjustment Jazz In The Park will be making in 2025 is expanding its musical offerings beyond the jazz genre.
“This year, we’re introducing a fresh format that blends together a broader mix of music, local talent, and marketplace experiences,” says East Town Association Executive Director Eddie Sturkey. “We’re eager to grow alongside our city while keeping the spirit of community at the heart of everything we do.”
Speaking of the “marketplace experiences,” East Town Association will be featuring a wide range of art and handcrafted goods from local vendors at each Jazz In The Park installment for the first time in the series’ history. People interested in becoming a vendor can apply HERE. Okay, without further ado, here’s the 2025 Jazz In The Park lineup!
June 5
Salsa in the City: Orquesta Ayala Salsa Band with special guest Mezclando Dance Company
June 19
Smooth Summer Grooves: Christopher’s Project
July 3
Stars, Stripes & Strings: Chris Haise Band with special guest Brady Lee
July 31
Avant Groove: The Claudettes
August 14
Soulful Summer: Respect! A Tribute to The Queen of Soul
August 28
Pride in the Park: Betsy Ade & The Well-Known Strangers with special guest Our Voice Milwaukee
September 11
Halfway to Mardi Gras: The Hot and Dirty Brass Band
September 25
Jazz Goes Dead… Again: Another One
Jazz In The Park “Side Stage Experiences” will once again return for the 2025 season. They include a reserved picnic table in a private area beside the stage. Reservations—which can accommodate up to six people—include “a bottle of wine, a charcuterie board from Lupi & Iris, a selection of desserts, and access to a private restroom.” Each Side Stage Experience package (which are limited to just five for each concert) is $100 and they can be purchased HERE.