Art, culture and commerce will be celebrated during the annual Bronzeville Week.
Now in its 15th year, the weeklong celebration of Black culture and community begins Aug. 2 and runs through Aug. 9.
“Bronzeville Week is my favorite time of year,” said Alderwoman Milele Coggs, who created and hosts the festival.
It’s packed with events and activities for all ages and tastes — and has grown over the years, attracting celebrity appearances.
Coggs said more businesses and sponsors have gotten involved, too, as there’s been an increase in visitors traveling specifically to Milwaukee to attend it.
“We are doing something great,” Coggs said. “And people are beginning to take notice.”
Mayor Cavalier Johnson praised Coggs’ vision and commitment to the event. The Bronzeville neighborhood, he said, has played and continues to play a vital role in Milwaukee’s culture and economic growth.
“This community has been a hub for entrepreneurship, for civic engagement, for the arts — representing the heart of Black culture and leadership in Milwaukee …,” Johnson said. “This week gives us a chance to recognize that legacy.”
The investment occurring here shows the neighborhood’s resiliency, pride and possibilities, he said. Bronzeville has been touted as a destination to visit by National Geographic and the New York Times.
“This is the new hotspot in Milwaukee,” Johnson said.
Kicking off the events is the HaRUNbee 5K Run/Walk for Healthy Birth Outcomes on Saturday, Aug. 2. The 10-year-old fan favorite aims to raise awareness about how to prevent unhealthy birth outcomes and about infant mortality, which disproportionately affects communities of color in Milwaukee.
Other returning events include the Bronzeville Cultural & Arts Festival on Sunday, Aug. 3; the Bronzeville Sleepover for Education on Friday, Aug. 8; and the Crowned in Color Bronzeville Art Walk on Saturday, Aug. 9.
New this year are the Bronzeville Good Neighbor Block Party on Wednesday, Aug. 6, and several artist talks. Nigerian-American actor-singer Olurotimi “Rotimi” Akinosho of TV shows “Power” and “The Chi” will host the “From Script to Screen: An Acting” workshop on Friday, Aug. 8. Actor, spoken-word artist, comedian and star of TV show “Chicago P.D.” LaRoyce Hawkins will participate in a Q&A on Saturday, Aug. 9.
The week of activities includes panel discussions, author talks, self-care and wellness events, art projects and urban line dancing, where festival-goers can pop that fan. They can express their artistic side on Sunday, Aug. 3, as artist Lena Ramirez will collaborate with the community to paint and decorate towering wooden letters that spell out BRONZEVILLE along West North Avenue near North Fifth Street.
“This week is about us,” said Raynetta Hill, Executive Director of the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District, one of the event’s cosponsors.
“Come for the art. Come for the food. Come for the history. Come for the business. Come for the networking. I promise you, you’ll leave inspired by the people and the place that makes King Drive in Bronzeville so special.”
Here’s what to know about Bronzeville Week:
When and where is Bronzeville Week 2025?
The 15th annual Bronzeville Week runs from Saturday, Aug. 2 to Saturday, Aug. 9. Activities will take place in the Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District, bordered between West Garfield Avenue and West Center Street, and between North King Drive and North Seventh Street. Hours and events vary by day.
Why is Bronzeville Week celebrated?
Bronzeville was the historic core of Milwaukee’s Black community, where many settled in the early 20th century as part of the Great Migration North from the oppressive South. The moniker is used to describe the concentrated area in cities like Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, where Black people lived and thrived.
The area was the hub for Black culture, business and music, especially Milwaukee’s jazz scene. Major clubs lined West Walnut Street, which hosted famous acts like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday, and local greats like Bunky Green and Willie Pickens, according to the website Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. The area is undergoing a resurgence with new housing developments, restaurants and cultural institutions like the Bronzeville Center for the Arts making it home.
Are activities for Bronzeville Week free?
Most Bronzeville Week activities are free and open to the public, while some require advance registration. Admission to America’s Black Holocaust Museum on Thursday, Aug. 7, is free all day. Several events throughout the week will be held virtually or offer a virtual participation option. All virtual events can be viewed at www.facebook.com/BronzevilleWeek.
How do you register for the HaRUNbee 5K Run/Walk?
To register as a runner, walker or a group for the Saturday, Aug. 2 event, put on by the National Coalition For Healthy Black Families, visit www.nchbfinc.org/harunbee5k. On-site registration begins at 6 a.m. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact Tonda Thompson at info@harunbee.com or call 414-617-7033.
How do you register for the artist talks?
“From Script to Screen: An Acting Workshop” with actor-singer Olurotimi “Rotimi” Akinosho runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, 2212 N. Phillips Ave. You can register at tinyurl.com/48jbh3m2.
“An Intimate Evening with LaRoyce Hawkins” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Rise & Grind Café, 2737 N. King Drive. You can register at tinyurl.com/yc2aznnz.
Here are a few highlights of Bronzeville Week events
- Saturday, Aug. 2: Sample area eateries with Brunch in Bronzeville from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participating restaurants include Rise & Grind Café, 2737 N. King Drive; Mi Casa Su Café, 1835 N. King Drive; and Pepperpot, 2215 N. King Drive.
- Sunday, Aug. 3: Enjoy vendors, fun and food with the Bronzeville Cultural & Arts Festival, featuring three stages of live entertainment and a Kids Zone, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on West North Avenue between North King Drive and North Seventh Street.
- Monday, Aug. 4: Author Ebony Haynes holds a virtual book talk at 10 a.m. about her latest work, “Dear Black Girl I See You.”
- Tuesday, Aug. 5: Cool Aid and Canvass is a fun, interactive, kid-friendly paint session at noon at the King Drive Commons Gallery and Studio, 2775 N. King Drive.
- Thursday, Aug. 7: America’s Black Holocaust Museum, 401 W. North Ave., will host the Bronzeville Business Breakfast from 8:30 to 11 a.m. You can register at www.historickingdrive.com/breakfast
- Saturday, Aug. 9: You can enjoy pancakes and poetry with Mario the Poet at 9:30 a.m. at Rise & Grind Café, 2737 N. King Drive.
Here’s the full Bronzeville Week schedule of events
La Risa Lynch is a community affairs reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Email her at llynch@gannett.com