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Monday, June 2, 2014

Milwaukee's 2014 Lakefront Festival of Art

The Lakefront Festival of Art, which is a yearly fundraising event held in support of the Milwaukee Art Museum, returns again in 2014 for another celebration of art, food, and music. The festival, which dates back to 1963 and typically draws in an attendance of nearly 30,000 people over the course of the three day event, will run from June 20th to 22nd at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The museum is located at 700 North Art Museum Drive and festival hours will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

This year's festival, which will feature more than 180 artists from around the world, will include works based in a number of mediums like ceramic, wood, glass, and metal. Fiber (including fiber fashions) is bound to be another popular medium at this year's festival, as will paint and pastel-based art, plus digital, print, and photographic works. Jewelry, sculpture, and mixed media pieces (both two dimensional and three dimensional) will also be on display throughout the course of the festival.

While at the Lakefront Festival of Art, be sure to check out the main stage where several musicians are scheduled to perform throughout the weekend. The various performers span a range of musical genres including jazz, folkgrass, pop/rock, classical, Latin, and soul among others. For a special treat, head on over to the main stage at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the Fiber Arts Fashion Show. The show will feature fiber art fashions that were uniquely crafted by artists participating in the festival.

The festival will also feature a stage in the children's area of the grounds with live music, dance, and theatrical performances specifically tailored to a child audience. A number of children's entertainers will also be roaming around the area, so keep an eye out for the various face painters, magicians, and jugglers on site. By visiting the Children's Art Tent, children will also be able to flex their creative muscles while creating their very own one of a kind work of art.

Many on-location vendors will be happy to serve you, should you find yourself looking for a bite to eat or craving a refreshing beverage while at the festival. Milwaukee Magazine, in particular, will be sponsoring a wine garden where guests can partake in a wide selection of premium wines and cheeses while enjoying a read-through of Milwaukee Magazine's latest issues. The Blue Moon Brewing Company will also be on the grounds with samplings from a number of their microbrews including Pine in the Neck, Tongue Thai-ed, and Chimp from their Graffiti collection.

To help raise additional money to support the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Lakefront Festival of Art will also be holding a silent auction where you can bid on numerous pieces that have been donated by the festival's chosen artists. Bids can be made online prior to the event as well as throughout the festival weekend until the auction closes on Sunday. Festival attendance is not required to participate in the silent auction.

The "at the gate" ticket price for the Lakefront Festival of Art is $17 for general admission. Seniors (aged 65 and over) and students with a valid ID can purchase tickets at a discounted price of $14 each, whereas members of the Milwaukee Art Museum will be granted admission to the festival for $10. Three day passes are also available for $25. To save $5 off the cost of general admission, simply show your Pick n' Save Fresh Perks card at the gate and donate a non-perishable food item to their Feeding Families Food Drive.

Advance tickets to the event can be purchased for $10, either online or at one of over 60 ticket locations in the greater Milwaukee area. To view a full list of available ticket outlets or to purchase advance tickets online, please visit the ticket information page of the Milwaukee Art Museum's website at http://lfoa.mam.org/buy-tickets. All Lakefront Festival of Art tickets include free all-access admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Free admission to the festival is available for both children aged 12 and under and Wisconsin K-12 teachers with a valid school ID or pay stub. Active members of the military, reservists, and military spouses are also welcome to enjoy the festival free of charge. Simply present your valid military identification card during admission to be granted free access to the event.

For anyone planning to drive to the Lakefront Festival of Art, please note that the underground parking lot at the museum will be closed during the festival, but an alternative parking location has been chosen nearby. Official festival parking, which costs $10, will be at the CPS lot located across from the Summerfest main gate. Entrances to the lot can be found at 691 East Chicago Street and 265 North Harbor Drive. A complementary shuttle service will be on location to transport visitors to and from the festival grounds.

The Lakefront Festival of Art is so much more than just art. It's also great music and tasty food surrounded by an inviting family-friendly atmosphere. Not only that, but it's also helping to raise funds for a great cause – supporting the Milwaukee Art Museum and its extensive collections of art. This fun-filled festival is unlike any other and a prime example for how fundraising events should be held. So, why not head on over to the Milwaukee Art Museum between June 20th and 22nd to show your support and to see what the festival has to offer for yourself?

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