Summer is time for the family road trip! Follow Kids Activities Blog and Julie Blair and her family as they travel 8 states in 30 days for the ultimate road trip story ¦
Sometimes the best road trip experiences happen when you fail to arrive at your destination.
We headed out this morning with my friend Shannon and her family to try a series of Lake Michigan playgrounds in Milwaukee when we were literally stopped in our tracks by one wackiest parades we’ve ever seen.
Nearly every street in the city’s Bayview neighborhood was barricaded for the South Shore Water Frolics Parade which we happened upon when trying to cross a main artery.
(The locals were referring to the event simply as “the Frolics,” as though it is quite famous. Turns out, it is. The parade started in 1948 and is the longest in Milwaukee County–2.5 miles. It’s part of a three-day event culminating in fireworks and attended by more than 70,000 people.)
Homemade soapbox bumper cars whizzed down the boulevard, samba dancers in Las Vegas-style headdresses shimmied forth, a rock band with a drummer dressed as an Easter bunny raged on the back of a flatbed truck.
One of my favorite groups were the Shiners. They peddled a bicycle fashioned for maybe 25 grandpas. When the crew couldn’t managed an incline, a “pusher” truck literally shoved them forward.
We waved to Miss Wisconsin. We blew kisses to Miss Polish Heritage. (At least I think that was her title. Her convertible was speedy.)
The crowd was great, too: Dudes covered in tattoos, new-age moms, grandmothers watching grandkids, teenagers with green hair. They all raised their Red Solo cups in solidarity and good fun.
Lucky for you, the Frolics isn’t the only festival: Milwaukee plays host to different types of festivals nearly all summer long. Simply Google “Milwaukee” and “summer festivals” and you’ll find something interesting happening while you’re here.
And after enduring nine months of winter on the shores of Lake Michigan, I can see why they’re celebrating.
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