Save the date: Sat. October 3, 2026
An autumn block party uplifting the intersections of music, community causes & seasonal treats
What’s Beet Street?
Beet Street is a one-day annual outdoor fall festival celebrating music, food, art, and community causes. The family-friendly celebration takes place in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood on the 2400 block of S. Wentworth Avenue between Cactus Club and Goodkind. On the first Saturday of October our quiet tree-lined street will transform into a bustling array of artists and small independent businesses, nonprofit/community organization tables, and all-ages activities. The block is bookended with local food trucks and a large stage showcasing local, national, and international musicians. This event strives to be a departure from a street party and roots itself as an opportunity for attendees to connect with community organizations and local causes. Neighborhood groups, environmental justice organizers, art collectives, community health clinics, harm reduction advocates, abolitionists, voter registrants, LGBTQ+ resources—all have a presence! Each table aims to engage intergenerational audiences with interactive educational materials. Beet Street is the celebratory culmination of our year-round Cactus+ programming: uplifting the intersections of intergenerational art and community building.
We welcome musicians from around the world to perform
Memorable Beet Street sets include Os Mutantes, Habibi, Frankie & The Witch Fingers, Dummy, Ninajirachi, La Goony Chonga, Snõõper, Sessa, OSHUN, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Fat Tony, Congo Gospel Music Band, Kaina, Pixel Grip, Cabeza de Chivo, SKODI and Ric Wilson.
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Community organizations line the streets
Bay View neighborhood groups, environmental justice organizers, art collectives, community health clinics, harm reduction advocates, abolitionists, voter registrants, LGBTQ+ resources—all have a presence! Each table aims to engage intergenerational audiences with educational materials. We uplift the intersections of art and movement building. WMSE 91.7 DJs spin records all day inside of Cactus.
2026 lineup:
- AART (African American Round Table)
- ACLU
- Bay View Neighborhood Association
- Crisis Resource Center
- Girls Rock
- Grilled Cheese Grant
- Independence First
- Literacy Services of Wisconsin
- Milwaukee Freedom Fund
- Milwaukee Harm Reduction Collective
- Milwaukee Trans & Queer Depot
- Milwaukee Turners
- Milwaukee Public Library
- Milwaukee Riverkeeper
- National DIY
- Outpost Natural Foods Co-op
- Queer Zine Archive Project
- Party for Socialism & Liberation (PSL)
- Planned Parenthood
- Plastic Free MKE
- Story Cart (at the UWM Center for 21st Century Studies)
- Teens Grow Greens
- WMSE
- Wisconsin Bike Fed
- Wisconsin Abortion Fund
- Cactus+ Community Resilience
Outstanding vendors for everyone
Vendors include a punk rock rummage sale, maker market, face painting, activity stations, a juried pie contest “The Great Midwestern Pie Championship” at Palomino, local farmers, and screen-printing station.
- DK Nutz Community Art – stamp art activity station
- Tooth & Nail Studio – ceramic activity station
- Alive & Fine express booth – kids costumes
- Aura Iris – aura photo booth
- Blacksmith Preston Edwards
- BearBear – risograph printers
- Doom Town & Country
- Glassworker Chris Saunders
- Hattie Grimm bird portraits
- Ixtlan Books
- Ladasia Bryant facepainting
- La Tiendita Vintage
- Punk Rock Rummage
- Truth Lizard
- WHABR We Have Always Been Relate – BIPOC land collective
Food vendors onsite will include:
- Frida’s Cocina
- Goodkind
- Honeypie Bakeshop
- The Corn Man
- Twisted Plants
And the return of the Great Midwestern Pie Championship!
Sponsors
Beet Street would not be possible without the support of our sponsoring partners. Our extraordinary media sponsors: Milwaukee Record and 91.7 WMSE; Presenting Sponsor: Educators Credit Union Lead Sponsors: Outpost Natural Foods, Visit Milwaukee; Community Sponsors: Koss, 3 Sheeps Brewing, La Gritona, Lakefront Brewery, Modelo, Cream City Foundation, Wynk, Joy Engine, Gruber Law, Years NA Beer, Anodyne, City of Milwaukee Arts Board, and Stagewater.
