By Mary Boyle

Brenda Peterson was around 7 years old when her family moved to Port Washington; it was also when she first saw and felt who she now refers to as "the peeps" – spirits, guides, and angels who she sometimes feels around her, and occasionally  actually sees.

"I was always an empath – I feel what other people are feeling – but then it became something more."

When she was a teenager, she was able to shut out the communications for a time; she just wanted to be "normal."  Then, shortly after graduating from Port Washington High School, she developed an intense craving for spiritual knowledge, becoming a Reiki Master, reading books, joining groups, and developing her abilities; however, not many people knew about her skill set since, for most of her adult life, she worked with non-profits and kept her other talents mostly to herself.  Finally, seven years ago, she decided it was time to embrace her gifts as a medium, as well as focusing on her art; in fact, she even found a way to combine the two.

People who knew her from the non-profit world were often shocked when they learned about her career change.  "One guy actually started laughing ​– he thought I was joking," Peterson laughed.  In fact, helping people connect with their loved ones, guide them on their journeys, or even develop their own intuitive abilities is something that Peterson takes quite seriously.  Through her website, clients can register for art classes that help to develop their creativity and intuition, purchase Peterson's art, or book an intuitive reading, reiki session or a mentorship session, among other opportunities. 

"I love to feel that curiosity building in clients," Peterson shared, "That's my favorite; when I feel the heart and spirit open; when they feel the love they didn't know was there."  

Peterson hadn't planned on writing a book about her experiences as an intuitive but, during the pandemic, she sat down and began to write, and the words just poured out of her.  The book, Marvelous Mystical Messages, brings attention to all of the different ways "the peeps" communicate, which often depends on who the message is for.  "They communicate how you would know them," Peterson explained, meaning that they use language or images that mean something to the person the message is intended for, but it may not make any sense to Peterson or anyone else.  Sometimes the message feels like her conscience talking, but sometimes they communicate in pictures that appear in her mind.  Interestingly, they never seem to use names.  

People have been coming to Peterson for the past six years, during transitions in life when they need help getting balanced, or often after the death of a loved one.  Peterson feels that regular visits with a medium are very heathy.  "We get facials and massages, but what are we doing for our spirit?" she asks.  Peterson considers herself a very spiritual person, but not a religious person; however, if she had a religion, it would be love.  

In telling the stories of the people she has delivered messages to, Peterson hopes to open readers up to the possibility that they may be able to develop the same gift or, if nothing else, to bring them to the realization that they are not alone; that there are loved ones, guides and angels looking after them and that they can learn to notice the signs of their presence if they are willing to.  

There are several upcoming events as part of the book launch for Marvelous Mystical Messages, including an Intuitive Reading and Book Signing at Eclectic Avenue in Port Washington on October 20th, a Book Signing at Art of Joy in Cedarburg on October 29th, and an Intuitive Reading and Book Signing at Village Point Commons in Grafton on October 30th.  Peterson is a participating artist on the Studio Art Tour, where her book will also be available, and her art can be found at the Grafton Arts Mill Roastery, the Cedarburg Art Museum and Cedarburg Cultural Center, Eclectic Avenue in Port Washington, and Sheboygan Visual Artists and Book Maven in Sheboygan.

Above all, Peterson considers herself a messenger, and the overall message that she brings is love.  "We're all brothers and sisters; we're all made of energy," Peterson said.  "Once people leave this place, there are no issues, they're pure love."

To learn more about Brenda Peterson, go to: https://brendapetersonllc.com/​

Fall is here, and that means it's time to get your pumpkins and apples!  Luckily, finding a humble pumpkin patch, or a sweet-smelling orchard in Oz is not too difficult a task.

One of the best ways is to let the farmers come to you at one of the area's Farmers Markets: Port Washington and Cedarburg on Saturday, Saukville on Sunday and Thiensville on Tuesday.  Of course, if you're looking for a farm to visit, we have plenty of those, too:

Cedarburg Creek Farm has just about every pumpkin hunting experience you could hope for: a kid's straw bale, a corn maze, and much more fall fun, close to home. Add in no admission fees and FREE Hay Wagon Rides, and they are THE place for affordable family fun.  Cedar Creek Farm is located at 649 Hwy. 60 in Cedarburg and opens for the season on September 17th.

Appleland in Fredonia has apples, of course, and a stunning variety of them, at that, but they also have pumpkins to pick or already picked, and an assortment of jams, bakery, caramel apples, cider, and more in their market store.  Free wagon rides on the weekends.  Appleland is located at 4177 Highway 57 in Fredonia.

Buechler Farms offers a fun family fall experience on the weekends, beginning September 30th with their three day Fall Festival, which coincides with more events celebrating Belgium's Centennial, including a Water Lantern Release, and more.  The farm is located at 587 South Royal Ave in Belgium.   Regular pumpkin season will continue every weekend in October.

Creekside Valley Farm opens for their season on Saturday, September 17th, with a pumpkin patch, hay maze, petting zoo, fall decor, pedal tractors, and more.  Find them at 13101 N Wauwatosa in Mequon, open daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Nieman Markets, located at 14335 N. Wauwatosa Rd. in Mequon, has apple picking, a corn maze, pumpkins, a petting zoo, a market, and more.  

Barthel's Fruit Farm is synonymous with apple picking.   Located at 12246 N Farmdale Rd. in Mequon, the barn has plenty of already picked pumpkins and gourds, or you can go to the field to pick your own.   Barthel's apples are also available at Outpost in Mequon.  Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily, Barthel's offers homemade bakery as well as a Beer Garden (weather permitting) from noon-6 Fridays through Sundays.

If you're willing to venture a bit out of Oz, there are a few places worth the trip:

Spieker's Pumpkin Farm in Random Lake features a massive corn maze, hay rides, and an incredible variety of pumpkins and gourds, as well as a petting zoo, and more.  Find it at N1181 Hwy. 57 in Random Lake.

Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm and Market in West Bend has quite the exotic petting zoo, and a haunted corn field, a totally unstaged and hair-raising adventure through 8 plus creepy houses and 3/4 miles of narrow trails in tall, dense corn, on narrow confined trails.  Not exactly family fun with young children, but possibly a great outing with your teenagers or adult friends.  Find Meadowbrook at  2970 Mile View Road in West Bend.

​Happy picking!!

By Mary Boyle

Every Summer, I write an article about Shakespeare in the Park that always includes American Players Theatre; but, APT is so much more than Shakespeare in the Park.  With its 1,089 seat outdoor theater known as The Hill situated in the beautiful driftless region of Spring Green, Wisconsin, APT is the second largest outdoor theater in the country, after The Muny of St. Louis.  This is where Wisconsin's finest actors come to play in the woods, and where you will see some of the best live theatre in the state.  Whether you are a theatre fanatic or just looking for a nearby weekend getaway, a visit to Spring Green and APT is just the ticket.

Devoted to the classics, APT always has at least one or two works by the Bard.  This season, they take on the rarely staged LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST and Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, HAMLET.  Being a bit of a rabid Shakespeare fan, myself, I made sure to see these two productions.  With the Regency period being all the rage, and being a Jane Austen fan, I also had to see SENSE & SENSIBILITY.  Finally, just for pure fun, I chose THE RIVALS.  The only disappointment from my weekend was that the rain caused me to miss the second half of S&S, and though LLL was interrupted by the weather, it was worth the hour wait to see the rest.  From casting to costumes to set design, APT is at the top of their game.

I was particularly excited to see Love's Labour's Lost, as I have never had the opportunity; in fact, it's been two decades since APT has done it.  Directed by Brenda DeVita, the production is brilliantly set in the 1950's at the "University" of Navarre, where a group of steadfast male students solemly vow to apply themselves to their studies so loyally that they swear off even the presence of any females for the next three years.  This, of course, is just before an evenly matched group of determined ladies show up on the University's doorstep, resulting in the expected hijinks.  This one is perfection, but I would be remiss if I didn't note Josh Krause as Dull, the Constable, who steals the show, as he so often does.  While watching this wonderfully funny and witty production, you will wonder why this particular tale isn't staged more often, but you will find your answer at the end.  See it, anyway, and hurry – Love's Labour's Lost only runs through October 2nd .

Then, just when you think you couldn't possibly see a better version of Hamlet than the filmed National Theatre production starring Benedict Cumberbatch, APT shows up.  The ghost king is formidable and terrifying, Horatio is cast as a woman, and Nate Burger plays the role of Hamlet so brilliantly, it is a joy to behold.  Directed by James DeVita, this is another very strong cast, but I particularly loved Chiké Johnson's take on Polonius.  The stark, gritty set design and lighting by Takeshi Kata and Jason Fassl truly makes the production.  Sure, you may have seen Hamlet a few times, but you've never seen one like this.  You have until October 8th, and I can't think of a better ghost story to kick off your October with.

Who doesn't love Jane Austen?!  When Mr. Dashwood passes, Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters are quite destitute after being thrown out of their own home in Sussex by their Uncle John and his horrible wife, Fanny.  As they adjust to their new, and much poorer, life in Devonshire, their new neighbor, Mrs. Jennings, makes it her mission to get the young ladies married off.  Directed by Marti Lyons, Sense & Sensibility is sweet, funny and, dare I say, terribly romantic. Marcus Truschinski as Colonel Brandon could not be any more awkward and heartbreaking.  Fans of Austen, the Regency era, or hopeless romantics, this one's for you; you have until October 9th.  

Now, what can I say about The Rivals?  This one reminds me of last season's Rough Crossing, with Josh Krause in a very similar role with hysterical results; at any rate, The Rivals is three hours of clever, laugh-out-loud fun. Directed by Aaron Posner and written in 1775 by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the great Irish satirist, poet, playwright and owner of Drury Lane, the rivals are all of the men who are trying to win the hand of one Miss Lydia Languish, who can't possibly wed Captain Jack Abolute, the man her Aunt Malaprop wishes her to wed, but insists on marrying Ensign Beverly, a man of no means, wealth or name and with whom she's infatuated with.  The funny thing is, they're the same man.  The highlight of this show is James Ridge, who is in his comedic element as Sir Lucious O'Trigger (seriously, watch for the little Irish jigs he throws in – it's priceless!).  This one only runs through September 17th, so you really need to get on it.

Also at The Hill this season is Lorraine Hansberry's classic, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, which runs through October 7th.  American Players Theatre is also home to an intimate indoor theater called The Touchstone, where you can see THE BROTHERS SIZE by Tarell Alvin McCraney, THE RIVER BRIDE by Marisela Treviño Orta, THE MOORS by Jen Siverman, and STONES IN HIS POCKETS by Marie Jones, which ends the season on November 20th.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: americanplayers.org/ or call the Box Office at 608-588-2361.

Know Before You Go

• American Players Theatre is not the place to wear your heels and a dress. The climb to The Hill is through the woods along a gravel path; it is best to wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather, as even the parking lot is gravel and can get wet and muddy, as can the path to the indoor Touchstone Theater.  There is a shuttle available for those who cannot make the walk. 
• Unless it really starts to rain, the show will go on, or may only be delayed for awhile; it is best to bring a raincoat and umbrella if there is any rain expected, though they do sell ponchos at the gift shop. 
• There are picnic areas available, should you care to bring a luncheon, or order a picnic before you go.  The Hill and Touchstone has concession stands with a good variety of drinks and snacks, as well as some pre-made sandwiches, and the downhill concession stand has made-to-order sandwiches and wine for your group.  

What to do in Spring Green
Spring Green is the home of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, as well as the iconic Wisconsin attraction, House on the Rock.  Spring Green, itself, is an adorable little main street community with some lovely shops and restaurants; I highly recommend making a stop at Arcadia Books and the Last Leaf Public House.  There are also two State Parks nearby: Tower Hill and Governor Dodge.  

For the history buffs, you can see two State Historical Sites just a bit further south down 151: in historic Mineral Point you can see Pendarvis, and you will find the First Capitol in Belmont.  There's also historic Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, where you can check out the trollway and visit the nearby Cave of the Mounds.

​

By Mary Boyle

For the past 17 years, Aaron Rossmiller and Kat Chronis have been running at least one version of Lakeside Music & Naturals – a venture that has combined both of their interests in one business: one part music store (offering instruments for sale, lessons, repairs & appraisals) and one part natural childrens store/boutique  (offering everything from wooden toy instruments to fair trade jewelry and clothing, to personal care products made with natural ingredients).  Music, though, is what has tied it all together, from the concerts they attend on a regular basis to the Music Together classes for young children that Kat has been offering for the past several years.

After the couple opened their first store in Sheboygan in 2005, they spent several years trying to find the right location in Ozaukee County, beginning at the Cedar Creek Settlement and then trying two different locations in Grafton, but they couldn't find the right fit.  Interestingly, it was another mutual love that brought them to Port Washington: coffee.  A manager at the Smith Bros. Coffee House, who regularly hosted live music and was a customer of theirs, told them about a space opening up across the street.  Regular visits to Smith Bros. saw them through the growth of their store, Kat's music classes for children, the birth of their second child, hours of Kat's grad school work, adopting a new puppy, and the opening of a third store in Manitowoc.  Then, Smith Bros. closed in September of 2021.

"Downtown traffic dropped after Smith Bros. left," Kat said.  "You did not have the people walking through like you once did."

With their convenient coffee supply gone and reduced traffic to their store, the couple decided to start yet another venture: a coffee shop of their own inside Lakeside Music & Naturals.  The name, Banjo's Brews Coffee, comes from the rescue pup they adopted, whom they aptly named Banjo Kazoo.  They sourced their fair trade organic coffee from local Milwaukee roasters, Colectivo (the same coffee roaster Smith Bros. used) and Aaron, himself, has not only built the counters and set up the kitchen, but he's also the one making their bakery.

Music remains the theme, even for the coffee shop.  The menu offers "Classicals" (such as a cappucino, latte or Americano) or "Melodies" (such as fruit smoothies or frozen lemonade); drink specials are named with musical inspiration, such as this week's "blackbird," a frozen blackberry lemonade slushie that is delightful and refreshing.  Regular live music is something the couple really hopes to add to the Banjo's Brews schedule, along with soups and sandwiches, come fall.  The focus of the menu will be plant-based and cater to vegetarians, vegans, and those with other dietary restrictions.

Although the opening took a bit longer than they'd expected, it came just in the nick of time: Kat is due with the couple's third child on September 11th and is about to start her final year of grad school, which will make her a family nurse practitioner when she's done.  If anybody needs coffee, it's these people.  For now, they're working out the kinks, continuing to work on the space, and planning for their Grand Opening, which will take place on Saturday, August 27th from noon to 4 p.m., where they'll be offering delicious bakery for both people and their dogs, as well as live music from 2-4 p.m. from the students of Annette Meyer Studio in Grafton.  Ten percent of the bakery and drink proceeds from the day will go to the Ozaukee Campus of the Wisconsin Humane Society.

For more information about Lakeside Music & Naturals and all they have to offer, go to ​www.lakesidemusicstore.com/.  To keep up with what's happening at Banjo's Brews, go to ​www.facebook.com/banjosbrewscoffee.

Mary Boyle

Jacqui Fulcomer is known for growing things.  Her and her partner, Dan Bertram, own Willoway Farm in Fredonia, which began as a traditional produce CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) operation and evolved to include Jacqui’s Waggle Dance Flowers, a flower CSA that offers a variety of weekly bouquets throughout the growing season, as well as a number of opportunities on their farm, including weddings, photo and painting sessions, workshops, and even camping.  More recently, though, Jacqui has been working on growing something entirely new: a passion for preserving the Village of Waubeka.  And, just like everything else Jacqui grows, she really wants to share it with everyone.

Given Jacqui’s interest in Waubeka, one would think she grew up here, but she is in fact from New Jersey. She met Dan in Whitefish, Montana while they were both employed at the same restaurant, and the two quickly discovered a common love of nature and the outdoors.  After several years of working on various farms and learning about sustainable agriculture, the couple found the farm of their dreams while visiting Dan’s family, who happen to reside in Fredonia, and the two have been growing their farm and their family since 2006. 

Like many of the communities in Ozaukee, Fredonia houses a couple of unincorporated villages, and it didn’t take long for Jacqui to discover and fall in love with Waubeka: a quaint and often overlooked area of Ozaukee with a number of charming historic cream city brick, frame, and field stone structures, intersected by the Milwaukee River.  Waubeka’s known claim to fame is being the birthplace of Flag Day.  Each year on the second Sunday of June, thousands of people visit the historic Stony Hill School, where a young teacher named Bernard J. Cigrand started the first Flag Day celebration, and attend the Flag Day parade down Waubeka’s main street.  However, as Jacqui learned, the Stony Hill School and the story of Flag Day are not the whole of Waubeka’s history or appeal.
 
Waubeka was a very industrial town in the mid to late 1800’s, according to an article in the Port Pilot from 1976.  The community had a doctor, dentist, general store, two tailor shops, a drug store, two cigar shops, a saw mill, a casket shop, a slaughterhouse and meat market, saloons, a large mill used for feed and the manufacturing of flour, and a button factory which, prior, was a furniture shop run by a Mr. Kendall (a box flume from the mill supplied water power for running the machinery).  There were three blacksmith shops, a millinery shop, a pump factory, a cooper shop that made wooden barrels and cisterns, and a photograph gallery operated by a Miss Paulus.  Perhaps most notably, there was the Klessig Cheese Factory and the Cooley Cheese Box Factory, which employed a large number of young men and boys in the community.  Then, in the 1870’s, the railroad was routed through the east side of Fredonia, causing Waubeka’s decline.
 
While Cedarburg and Port Washington are considered the historic areas of Ozaukee County, their buildings often needed to undergo extensive renovation to unearth their original look after decades of modernization.   Waubeka, meanwhile, has essentially been frozen in time, with many of its structures unchanged from its industrial heyday.  Unfortunately, not all of the structures have weathered time well; without a collaborative effort to preserve them, Waubeka could easily lose its quaint and authentic character. 

In 2018, the Klessig Cheese Factory was for sale and Jacqui and Dan, along with Dan’s brother, Greg, and a few of their friends, formed the Klessig Riverside Group and purchased the property with the hope of restoring the historical integrity of the building and kickstarting the preservation of Waubeka.  The more research Jacqui did on the property, the more enamored she became of Waubeka’s history, and the more determined she became to save it.

“I have grown quite fond of the Waubeka history and admire its founders,” said Jacqui.  “Dan and I, and our friends, find the properties in Waubeka charming and want to see it flourish for generations to come.”

When the neighboring Bidinger Blacksmith House became available, another group called the Bidingers Haus, LLC, also consisting of Jacqui, Dan, Greg, and some friends, was formed.  The trouble is, both structures are near the Milwaukee River and considered to be in a flood plain; therefore, there is a cap on the amount of money that can be invested into the structures – basically, enough to stabilize them, but not enough to restore them.  However, should the area be named a State Historic District and the buildings listed in the district, the cap is removed.  Furthermore, buildings in a State Historic District are eligible for state and federal income tax credits for rehabilitation, as well as for federal grants and the use of the state’s Historic Building Code, which may help to facilitate the rehabilitation.

Jacqui and Dan raised some funds by selling Christmas trees the past two winters on their properties in Waubeka and were able to hire Preserve, LLC, a historic preservation consulting firm, to help begin the process, which consists of identifying which structures are recommended to be included in the district and putting together a step-by-step plan, which begins with getting the community on board.  To that end, Jacqui has arranged a public meeting at Boots Q ‘n Boogie (the former Waubeka Fire Hall) on Wednesday, August 17th from 5-7 p.m. to size up interest.  Preserve, LLC will be present at the meeting, as well as Jason Tish, the Preservation Education Coordinator from the Wisconsin Historical Registration Office, to present the proposed district and to answer any questions from members of the community.

Some members of the community have already reached out to help.  Local artist, Katie Musloff, donated a drawing based on a photo from June 7, 1895, of the Singer Society’s 25th anniversary parade, a primarily German glee club that built the Singers Hall in Waubeka in 1871, held song festivals, and even established a German theatre program in the community.  Some of the notable members were Julius Klessig, the Founder of Klessig Cheese Factory, as well as several other Klessig family members, M.T. Neuens, and Nicholas Cigrand, the father of Bernard Cigrand – names that are familiar to anyone who resides in the community.

Should there be enough interest, the next step will be to create a non-profit Waubeka Historic District Support Association, which will make it easier to raise the funds needed to obtain the listing on the State Register.  Creating a non-profit, Jacqui estimates, will cost around $900, while getting the historic district can cost over $20,000.  To help defray the cost of the meeting, Jacqui will be selling flowers at the event.  For anyone who would like to support the project, but cannot attend the meeting, Jacqui invites them to purchase flowers ahead of the event for pick up at the Klessig Cheese Factory porch (N5412 Cigrand Dr.); any flowers that are not picked up will be delivered to Forest Haven Assisted Living in Fredonia for their residents to enjoy.

For more information about the Waubeka Historic District or to purchase flowers, contact Jacqui at klessigriversidegroup@gmail.com.  To learn more about the State Register of Historic Places, visit https://www.WisconsinHistory.org/Records/Article/CS4330.  To learn more about Waubeka’s historic buildings, walk the Chief Waubeka Historical Trail created by the National Flag Day Foundation.
​

There's nothing quite as Americana as the 4th of July in the small town communities of Oz.  Looking for a celebration near you?  Look no further!

Thiensville Family Fun Before the 4th is a nearly all-day event, and a great day for the whole family!  On Saturday, June 25th, the massive parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Follow it to the Village Park, where free ice-cream, live music, and a variety of events await, followed by fireworks at dusk.

Fun Before The 4th in Fredonia will happen at Fredonia's Fireman's Park at 3:30 p.m. where food, fun, free ice cream and music awaits, with fireworks at dusk.

​Grafton's Holidaze  Grafton's Holidaze returns with a parade downtown at 11 a.m., followed by a celebration at Lime Kiln Park from 5-10 p.m., with live music and fireworks at dusk! 

Rotary Music Festival in Cedarburg  The Drum Corps International Tour will return to Cedarburg's CHS Athletic Field on Sunday, July 3, at 7:30 p.m. for the 22nd Annual Rotary Music Festival, featuring drum and bugle corps.

Freistadt Fourth  It doesn't get any more Americana than Trinity Freistadt's 4th of July Parade and Picnic!  Spend your day enjoying one of Ozaukee County's best kept secrets, beginning with an outdoor worship service at 10 a.m. (weather permitting) followed by a picnic, a tour of the Trinity Historical Grounds, and the very German music of the Alte Kameraden Band and dancing by the Pommersche Tanzdeel Dancers.  The parade begins at  1 p.m. parade, followed by a flag raising, with the picnic continuing until 4 p.m.

Port Washington  Port has a Community Picnic at Veterans Memorial Park from 11-2 and a Pool Party at the Waterpark from 1-4; plus, the Amercan Legion, across from the park, is hosting a Patriotic Summer Celebration from noon-5, complete with a Patriotic Pet Costume Contest!  The day ends with fireworks at dusk on the lakefront.

Saukville  Saukville's parade begins at 1 p.m. on the 4th, going through downtown and ending at Grady Park for a picnic, music and games from noon-5.   The fun then moves to Peninsula Park, where there will be more music, games, and food from 5 p.m. until dusk, and fireworks are at dusk.

Cedarburg  Cedarburg's 4th of July Hometown Celebration boasts the largest parade in Ozaukee (roughly 2 hours long!), which begins at Fireman's Park at 10 a.m., and heads south along Washington Ave., making its way to Cedar Creek Park, where a picnic, music,  and activities can be found until 9:30 p.m., when the fireworks begin.

Happy Independence Day, Ozaukee!

One of the best parts of summertime in Ozaukee County is the plethora of outdoor concerts to attend.  From Summer Sounds to Gathering on the Green, there's something for everyone.  Here's the 2022 lineup:

Summer Sounds in Cedarburg  Summer Sounds kicks off Friday, June 17th, at Cedar Creek Park and continues every Friday through August 19th.  Each concert begins 6:30 p.m., and there is plenty of food and drink available on site, as well as a playground for the kids nearby.  Bring a blanket or chairs, find your spot, and plan on an evening of fun!

Live at the Triangle in Saukville's Veteran's Park will return with 6 free concerts this summer on Wednesday evenings from 7-9:30 p.m., beginning June 22nd and running through August 24th.  Food and beverages are available for purchase on site.

Belgium Summer Nights LIVE  Belgium's Community Park will feature live music and family fun for all.  Food and drinks are available for purchase, and sign up for kickball!  Join them on Friday, June 3rd and Friday, July 22nd from 6-9 p.m.

Shully's River Sounds in Thiensville will have free concerts on the first Thursday of June, August and September from 5:30-9 p.m., rain or shine, with some delicious food available, made (of course!) by Shully's.  Bring your own chairs; no carry-ins.  

Gathering on the Green at Mequon's Rotary Park returns Thursday, July 7th with Bruce in the USA, Friday, July 8th with Roots & Boots, Saturday, July 9th with Night Ranger and 38 Special and Sunday, July 10th with Danny Gokey.  

the baaree  Thiensville's Nepalese restaurant, the cheel, still runs their outdoor beer garden, the baaree, located at 105 S. Main St., while beginning construction on the restaurant.  The baaree has amazing live music all summer long, along with great food and drinks.

Beanies Summer Rock the Patio concert series happens every Sunday evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m. through Labor Day weekend.  Grab a famous Beanies Margarita, relax, and listen to some great tunes near the lake in downtown Port Washington!

The Cedarburg Art Museum Beer Garden will have live music and food Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:30 p.m. beginning on June 9th and through September 15th, as well as during Strawberry Festival and Wine & Harvest Festival.

The Mequon Public Market/Spur 16 Summer Patio Music Series has some great live music planned for their outdoor patio over the summer!  Keep an eye on their website for more details.

Oz has several places to catch live music year round, just hit on their links to see who's playing next!  

The Stagecoach Inn's Five20 Pub in downtown Cedarburg
Rebellion Brewing Co., right on Cedar Creek in downtown Cedarburg
The Bridge in Grafton
Boot Q 'n Boogie in Waubeka

If you don't mind the drive, Sheboygan has the amazing Levitt AMP Sheboygan Music Series kicks off on Thursday, June 23rd, with most of the music starting at 6 p.m., but check their lineup for details.  The Series also incorporates the Midsummer Festival of the Arts on Saturday and Sunday, July 16th and 17th, on the JMK Arts Center Festival Green.

Also not too far from Oz, the Homegrown Music Festival returns to Regner Park in West Bend on Sunday, July 10th from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., with a great lineup of Wisconsin bands.  Parking is free, and a $10 donation is recommended.

To stay informed about all of the great live music happening in and around Oz, make sure to stay tuned to the Ozaukee Living Local Events Page, and subscribe to our Friday Newsletter​!  Am I missing a series or place to catch live music in Oz?  Let me know!​