Lincoln Park

📅 Sunday, August 10, 2025

Thank you for joining Shakespeare in the Park at Lincoln Park! Since our first summer here in 2021, Friends of Lincoln Park have affectionately dubbed our performance space “Shakespeare’s Meadow.” 2025 marks our fifth season in one of our very favorite parks.

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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Lincoln Park Shakespeare in the Park Schedule:

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.

2:00 PM

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.

3:15 PM

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 Lincoln Park is Time Bandits: Grace O’Malley’s Pirate School: Swordplay and Sea Shanties

4:10 PM

Early Music Now performance
- Live Renaissance-era music, 30–35 minutes

5:00 PM

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

Park Address:
1301 W Hampton Ave, Glendale, WI (Use this address to navigate to the Blatz Pavilion parking lot.)

Driving Directions:
Use the address for the Blatz Pavilion: 1301 W Hampton Ave, Glendale, WI
Primary Parking Lot:
Large lot closest to the performance space
📍 GPS: 43.10464, -87.92817
Look for Shakespeare in the Park signage to guide you from the lot to the performance site (it’s not visible from the lot).
Secondary Parking Lot:
Near the baseball diamond
📍 GPS: 43.10095, -87.92631
Follow the path north from the lot to reach the show.

Suggested arrival time at Lincoln Park: 30 minutes before either showtime

Note: This is the first time we’re presenting two very different types of shows in one day at Lincoln Park. Arrive early to stake out a good spot and the enjoy the pre-show fun with "The PLAY's the Thing".

Finding the performance site within the park:
Performance Area: Shakespeare’s Meadow — a shady hillside meadow southeast of the Blatz Pavilion and east of the David F. Schultz Aquatic Center
📍 GPS Coordinates: 43.10246, -87.92675

Look for Shakespeare in the Park signs of various sizes near the edge of the parking lot and follow them.

Walking Guidance: Performances at Lincoln Park are behind the Blatz Pavilion.

For most visitors: Use the stairs accessible to the north side of the Blatz Pavilion and take you around behind the building. Follow the pathway. You'll arrive at the performance location soon.
For ADA access: take the paved sidewalk around the south side of the water park to avoid stairs
(More detailed ADA guidance that's specific to Lincoln Park is coming soon.)

🗺️ For a map, visit the Main Shakespeare in the Park Map (Google Map)

🧺 What to Expect / We're here to Help – Comfort & Amenities

The Box Office / House / Information tent will be open at least one hour before the first performance and will be located on the edge of Shakespeare's Meadow, close to the pathway.

If you have a reservation, check in at this tent and they will help you find the space that's been pre-selected for you.
More information about reservations is on the Shakespeare in the Park 2025 page. Scroll down to The Essentials and click the link to details.

☀️ Sun/Shade: The stage is placed in the shadiest part of the meadow, but the direction of the sun shifts between performances.

🚻 Restrooms: A standard sized portable restroom will be available at the performance area.

Picnics:
Highly encouraged!
You're more than welcome to picnic before, during and after performances and activities!

There are no picnic tables available at Lincoln Park however there's plenty of open grassy areas to put down a blanket.

♿ ADA Accessibility

Accessible Parking: Available in the main Blatz Pavilion lot
Accessible Pathways: Paved sidewalk from lot to performance area (no stairs required). The walk is a bit long so plan extra time.
Accessible Restrooms: Not available. A standard-sized portable restroom will be available.
Seating Notes: Audience seating is on grass. Portable chairs or picnic blankets are recommended.

🍿 Concessions
Optimist Theatre concessions will be available at this location. The concessions tent will open around 1:00 pm and be closed during performances.

Very light snacks will be offered for a suggested donation.

🚫 Alcohol is not permitted in Milwaukee County Parks.

🐾 Pets are welcome in Milwaukee County Parks!
Pets are welcome in Milwaukee County Parks! We love having well-behaved pets at our shows.

We recommend choosing a spot that allows for an easy exit in case your pet needs a break.

Service animals are always welcome.

More Information:
For more information about What to Bring, Weather, Registering, and much more, click the golden image below to return to the main Shakespeare in the Park 2025 page.

🌟 Fun Facts – Lincoln Park

One of Milwaukee’s largest parks

Spanning approximately 310 acres, Lincoln Park is among the most expansive—featuring a golf course, aquatic center, athletic fields, bike trails, and natural green spaces along the Milwaukee River

Once farmland and village lands

Before city annexation in 1929, the Lincoln Park area was a mix of farms and hamlets—most notably "Schwartzburg"—bordered by burgeoning industrial towns like North Milwaukee and Glendale

German-Russian heritage

In the early 20th century, Lincoln Park became home to many German-Russian immigrants, who worked in local industry and shaped the residential character of the area by 1920

River cleanup revitalization

The Milwaukee River running through the park was historically contaminated, but thanks to the then newly formed Friends of Lincoln Park, a Great Lakes Legacy Act and other restoration efforts, the river and adjacent parkland have been significantly cleaned up and restored

Is Lincoln Park your park?

Download a Flyer and help spread the word! Choose the version that works best for you:

Print-Ready PDF – High-resolution, ideal for printing and posting
Web-Friendly PDF – Optimized for sharing online or by email

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.