Grant Park📅 Sunday, July 27, 2025
Thank you for joining Shakespeare in the Park at Grant Park!
2025 marks our 2nd summer performing in this hidden gem, where we were warmly welcomed by the Friends of Grant Park. Grant Park is long and fairly narrow, with many beautiful spots to explore—but we’ve staked our claim on a quiet glade near a pond that’s not a regular stop on any map. Shakespeare in the Park hereby claims this grove, so let’s get you there. Details will be updated as more information becomes available. To make sure you don’t miss any updates — especially last-minute changes — we highly recommend that you register or make a reservation. So, without further “Much Ado”... |
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Grant Park Shakespeare in the Park Schedule:
1:00 PM
🕐 Concessions and PLAY’s activities will pause during performances.
1:00 PM
- Audience seating area opens
- Claim your spot with a lawn chair or blanket
- Concessions open (subject to availability)
- Very light refreshments for a suggested donation
- The PLAY’s the Thing tent opens with drop-in, hands-on games like Shakespeare in the Park's original "The Bard Game"
- Unless otherwise noted, activities from1:00 to 2:00 are easy to pop in and out of any time. No need to arrive at the top of the hour.
- Much Ado About Nothing – Puppet Edition
- A 60-minute puppet performance full of wit, quick changes and over the top enjoyment. - click here for more about the shows
- Puppet performances aren't crafted specifically for kids but they'll enjoy the show too.
- A 60-minute puppet performance full of wit, quick changes and over the top enjoyment. - click here for more about the shows
- The PLAY’s the Thing moves from their tent and takes the stage with special events, demo's, workshops and more - click here for more information
- The activity on tap for Grant Park is Weird Science: A Day in the Life of a Renaissance Housewife
- Early Music Now performance
- Live Renaissance-era music, 30–35 minutes
- The Taming of the Shrew
- A 50-minute Shakespearean battle of the sexes featuring a small-but-mighty cast playing all the characters - click here for more about the shows
🕐 Concessions and PLAY’s activities will pause during performances.
🚗 Getting There – Location & Directions
Grant Park
South Milwaukee, WI 53172
(GPS coordinates for the performance area: approx. 42.9187, -87.8478)
Grant Park is a long, scenic park along Lake Michigan in South Milwaukee. Our tucked-away performance grove is located near the Tennis Court Parking Lot, just south of the courts and north of the central playground. With help from our hosts, the Friends of Grant Park (fogp.org), we’ll guide you the rest of the way once you’re in the park.
Suggested Arrival Time:
Grant Park attendance last summer was excellent! To play it safe and snag a great spot for your lawn chair, we recommend arriving about one hour before show time. Come early to picnic and enjoy The PLAY’s the Thing activities!
🚗 Driving Directions
From the South:
Enter Grant Park at 100 Hawthorne Ave, near the Grant Park Golf Clubhouse. Follow Grant Park Drive northward through the park until you reach the Tennis Court Parking Lot (GPS: 42.91985, -87.84935). Our performance area is just south of this lot.
From the North:
Do not use 100 Hawthorne Ave—it leads you to the south end of the park.
Instead, use “Grant Park South Milwaukee” or enter the park from the main entrance at Lake Drive and Park Avenue.
From there, continue past the 7 Bridges parking area and Area 5 until you reach the Tennis Court Parking Lot. This is the closest parking to our performance space.
(Note: The Grant Park Beer Garden is not open during our event weekend.)
🅿️ Parking
🚶 Walking from Parking
♿ ADA Drop-Off
ADA drop-off is suggested directly on Grant Park Drive near the performance meadow.
There is no dedicated paved loop—please pull to the curb, use hazard lights, and allow extra time for drop-off. Terrain is uneven but walkable with assistance.
🗺️ For a map, visit the Main Shakespeare in the Park Map (Google Map)
Grant Park
South Milwaukee, WI 53172
(GPS coordinates for the performance area: approx. 42.9187, -87.8478)
Grant Park is a long, scenic park along Lake Michigan in South Milwaukee. Our tucked-away performance grove is located near the Tennis Court Parking Lot, just south of the courts and north of the central playground. With help from our hosts, the Friends of Grant Park (fogp.org), we’ll guide you the rest of the way once you’re in the park.
Suggested Arrival Time:
Grant Park attendance last summer was excellent! To play it safe and snag a great spot for your lawn chair, we recommend arriving about one hour before show time. Come early to picnic and enjoy The PLAY’s the Thing activities!
🚗 Driving Directions
From the South:
Enter Grant Park at 100 Hawthorne Ave, near the Grant Park Golf Clubhouse. Follow Grant Park Drive northward through the park until you reach the Tennis Court Parking Lot (GPS: 42.91985, -87.84935). Our performance area is just south of this lot.
From the North:
Do not use 100 Hawthorne Ave—it leads you to the south end of the park.
Instead, use “Grant Park South Milwaukee” or enter the park from the main entrance at Lake Drive and Park Avenue.
From there, continue past the 7 Bridges parking area and Area 5 until you reach the Tennis Court Parking Lot. This is the closest parking to our performance space.
(Note: The Grant Park Beer Garden is not open during our event weekend.)
🅿️ Parking
- Tennis Court Parking Lot (north of the performance space)
- Playground Parking Lot (south of the performance space) – GPS: 42.91772, -87.84596
🚶 Walking from Parking
- From the Tennis Court Lot, walk south along the grassy berm beside Grant Park Drive. The performance space is tucked behind a tree line near a small pond.
- From the Playground Lot, follow the park road or footpaths north toward the pond and meadow.
♿ ADA Drop-Off
ADA drop-off is suggested directly on Grant Park Drive near the performance meadow.
There is no dedicated paved loop—please pull to the curb, use hazard lights, and allow extra time for drop-off. Terrain is uneven but walkable with assistance.
🗺️ For a map, visit the Main Shakespeare in the Park Map (Google Map)
🧺 What to Expect / We're here to Help – Comfort & Amenities
🎟️ Box Office / House / Information Tent:
Located near the street edge of the performance space—likely the first tent you'll see as you approach from either direction.
☀️ Sun/Shade:
Our shady glen is surrounded by trees, providing plenty of cool shade throughout the day.
🚻 Restrooms:
A standard-size portable restroom will be available near the performance space.
🧺 Picnics:
Very welcome!
There are no picnic tables in the glen itself, but there’s plenty of space to lay down a blanket or relax in lawn chairs.
♿ ADA Accessibility:
🍿 Concessions:
Optimist Theatre will have light snacks and water available by donation
🐾 Pets:
Well-behaved pets are welcome!
More Information:
For more details about What to Bring, Weather, Registration, Reservations, and more, click the gold image below to return to the main Shakespeare in the Park page.
🎟️ Box Office / House / Information Tent:
Located near the street edge of the performance space—likely the first tent you'll see as you approach from either direction.
- If you have a reservation, check in here for help locating your designated space. 👉 [More about Reservations is on the main Shakespeare in the Park 2025 page]
☀️ Sun/Shade:
Our shady glen is surrounded by trees, providing plenty of cool shade throughout the day.
- Still, we recommend bringing sun protection, especially for transitions or breaks in the tree cover.
🚻 Restrooms:
A standard-size portable restroom will be available near the performance space.
🧺 Picnics:
Very welcome!
There are no picnic tables in the glen itself, but there’s plenty of space to lay down a blanket or relax in lawn chairs.
- We encourage respectful, low-waste picnicking in this peaceful natural setting.
- Alcohol is not permitted in Milwaukee County Parks
♿ ADA Accessibility:
- Curbside drop-off is available on Grant Park Drive
- No dedicated pavement, but the walk is short and the terrain is uneven but navigable with assistance
🍿 Concessions:
Optimist Theatre will have light snacks and water available by donation
- Tent opens around 1:00 PM and closes during performances
🐾 Pets:
Well-behaved pets are welcome!
- Please choose a spot near the edge in case your pet needs a break.
More Information:
For more details about What to Bring, Weather, Registration, Reservations, and more, click the gold image below to return to the main Shakespeare in the Park page.
🌟 Fun Facts about Grant Park
- Milwaukee County’s oldest park: Grant Park was established in 1910, making it the first county park, and by 1926 it had grown to nearly 400 acres.
- Seven Bridges Trail: This scenic loop includes 10 bridges, despite its name, and has been praised by Midwest Living as one of Wisconsin’s best fall hikes.
- Diverse natural habitats: The park features varied ecosystems—lake shore, bluffs, forests, grasslands, and river corridors—making it a hotspot for wildlife and a BioBlitz find of numerous rare species.
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Is Grant Park your park?
Download a Flyer and help spread the word! Choose the version that works best for you:
Flyers are available for all the parks as well. Please visit the Shakespeare in the Park 2025 page for additional downloads. Added as they become available. |
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