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🪑 What to Bring to Shakespeare in the Park
#1 Most Important Item to Bring… Your Lawn Chair
Optimist Theatre’s production crew shows up 3 to 4 hours before the first performance to set everything up. We bring the whole works: a van packed with stage decks, a sound system, generator, tents, tables, and boxes (we call them “bumblebee boxes”) full of show gear.
But you?
All you need to bring is a lawn chair.
Shakespeare in the Park is a BYOLC-or-B event — Bring Your Own Lawn Chair or Blanket.
Aside from our reserved seating (which you can absolutely have — [see our Reservations details]), everything is free and first-come, first-served. So if you want a good view, a lawn chair is your best friend.
But you?
All you need to bring is a lawn chair.
Shakespeare in the Park is a BYOLC-or-B event — Bring Your Own Lawn Chair or Blanket.
Aside from our reserved seating (which you can absolutely have — [see our Reservations details]), everything is free and first-come, first-served. So if you want a good view, a lawn chair is your best friend.
Lawn Chair Q&A
🕒 When can I claim my spot?
As soon as the crew has marked off the performance area (usually about 1 hour before the first show starts), you're welcome to claim your place on the lawn.
Click here to see the typical daily schedule but we suggest you also check the schedule for the park where you'll be attending - just in case)
Some parks fill faster than others — we’ll share tips on the individual park pages. But honestly, with games, music, and pre-show activities, coming early is just more fun anyway.
📍 Where should I sit? Anywhere that’s not already claimed or marked as a reserved space is fair game.
If you’re sensitive to volume, you might want to avoid sitting right in front of the speaker.
📏 How much space should I take up? A typical audience space is about 3' x 3' — enough for your chair and your knees.
🔁 Can I leave my chair between shows? Yes! If you’re planning to stay for both shows, you can leave your chair where it is after the first one — no need to move it for the second.
🧺 Thinking about using a blanket instead? Blankets are great — especially if you arrive early.
🎭 Wrapping it up:
As soon as the crew has marked off the performance area (usually about 1 hour before the first show starts), you're welcome to claim your place on the lawn.
Click here to see the typical daily schedule but we suggest you also check the schedule for the park where you'll be attending - just in case)
Some parks fill faster than others — we’ll share tips on the individual park pages. But honestly, with games, music, and pre-show activities, coming early is just more fun anyway.
📍 Where should I sit? Anywhere that’s not already claimed or marked as a reserved space is fair game.
If you’re sensitive to volume, you might want to avoid sitting right in front of the speaker.
📏 How much space should I take up? A typical audience space is about 3' x 3' — enough for your chair and your knees.
🔁 Can I leave my chair between shows? Yes! If you’re planning to stay for both shows, you can leave your chair where it is after the first one — no need to move it for the second.
🧺 Thinking about using a blanket instead? Blankets are great — especially if you arrive early.
- If you want a ground seat, grab a front row spot so you're not staring at the backs of chairs.
- We don’t pre-block front row space just for blankets because, honestly, not many people choose to sit on the ground for 45 to 90 minutes.
🎭 Wrapping it up:
- A lawn chair is all you need.
- A blanket is a bonus.
- And an open mind, a snack, and maybe some sunscreen? Even better. We'll talk about that more later...
🌦️ What Else to Bring? Weather Whatnot
Now that we’ve belabored lawn chairs and blankets, it’s all about your comfort.
Our shows are outdoors. In summer. So that means it might be hot, cold, rainy, beautiful — or all of those things within a few hours.
Honestly, the only thing we haven’t had during Shakespeare in the Park is snow.
(And now that I’ve said that… well, we’ll see.)
Check the forecast before you head out — and pack accordingly. We will too.
☀️ If it’s hot…
🧊 If it’s chilly…
🌱 All weather...
💡 For more info on how we handle weather-related changes,
👉 [check out our Weather page ➤] (link will be added as soon as the page is ready!)
Now that we’ve belabored lawn chairs and blankets, it’s all about your comfort.
Our shows are outdoors. In summer. So that means it might be hot, cold, rainy, beautiful — or all of those things within a few hours.
Honestly, the only thing we haven’t had during Shakespeare in the Park is snow.
(And now that I’ve said that… well, we’ll see.)
Check the forecast before you head out — and pack accordingly. We will too.
☀️ If it’s hot…
- Sunscreen, a reasonably sized hat, and bug spray
(Bug spray may not cool you off, but hot weather often brings bugs.)
Don’t worry if you forget — we usually keep extra sunscreen and bug spray on hand. - What’s a “reasonable-sized” hat?
If you sat behind it… could you still see the show? If not, it’s too big. - Water
Concessions aren't guaranteed, and some parks are far from corner stores. Bring your own water — just in case. - No umbrellas in the audience seating area.
They block the view for everyone behind you. - No pop-up tents in the audience area either (unless you're far off to the side and they don’t require stakes).
(Side note: we may experiment with stage-area pop-up tents for shade. But we’re trained professionals — meaning: it’s genuinely funny to watch four crew members chasing sun angles with a tent.)
🧊 If it’s chilly…
- Bring a blanket.
We usually have a few extras, but best to be prepared.
🌱 All weather...
- Wear shoes that can handle uneven ground.
Grassy fields, sloped hillsides, and dirt paths are all part of the fun.
💡 For more info on how we handle weather-related changes,
👉 [check out our Weather page ➤] (link will be added as soon as the page is ready!)
🧺 What Else to Bring? Comestibles & Consumables
🍽️ Picnics and snacks and beverages — oh my!A picnic, some snacks, more snacks, and maybe enough to share.
(Note to self: Never write snack advice before lunch.)
Anyway — circling back to the point…
Picnics have always been encouraged at Shakespeare in the Park. And now, with a full afternoon of performances and activities, there’s even more reason to bring a feast.
🕒 When can you picnic? We arrive 3 to 4 hours before the first performance to begin setup.
You’re welcome to settle in and picnic once we start unloading — just be aware that if you set up too close to the stage area, there’s a slim chance we might need to shift you.
📍 Where can you picnic? Anywhere you like — including the audience seating area.
Just keep in mind:
❓ What can you bring? Anything you like — except alcohol.
Most of our performances take place in county parks, and they follow a strict no-alcohol policy.
🍪 Will there be concessions? Maybe. Possibly. Probably. Let’s say: don’t count on it, but be pleasantly surprised if you spot a concession tent.
If we do have concessions:
🚚 Why no food trucks?Trust us, we’ve tried. But unless a food truck can be absolutely sure they’ll hit a certain minimum in sales, it’s tough for them to commit.
🍽️ Picnics and snacks and beverages — oh my!A picnic, some snacks, more snacks, and maybe enough to share.
(Note to self: Never write snack advice before lunch.)
Anyway — circling back to the point…
Picnics have always been encouraged at Shakespeare in the Park. And now, with a full afternoon of performances and activities, there’s even more reason to bring a feast.
🕒 When can you picnic? We arrive 3 to 4 hours before the first performance to begin setup.
You’re welcome to settle in and picnic once we start unloading — just be aware that if you set up too close to the stage area, there’s a slim chance we might need to shift you.
- Most people arrive to picnic around 1 hour before the first show but you do you.
📍 Where can you picnic? Anywhere you like — including the audience seating area.
Just keep in mind:
- No tables in the seating area, please
- Keep your picnic footprint to about 3' x 3'
(That’s the same as one chair space. If your setup spreads beyond that, we’ll kindly ask you to condense as more guests arrive.)
❓ What can you bring? Anything you like — except alcohol.
Most of our performances take place in county parks, and they follow a strict no-alcohol policy.
🍪 Will there be concessions? Maybe. Possibly. Probably. Let’s say: don’t count on it, but be pleasantly surprised if you spot a concession tent.
If we do have concessions:
- They’ll offer light snacks like chips or cookies
- They’ll open around 1:00 PM and close during performances
- And yes — bring cash (just in case)
🚚 Why no food trucks?Trust us, we’ve tried. But unless a food truck can be absolutely sure they’ll hit a certain minimum in sales, it’s tough for them to commit.
- Maybe someday we’ll reach that level — until then, your picnic is the MVP.
⏳ What Else to Bring? Time. Your Gift to Yourself.
⏰ Does anyone really know what time it is? (Well… our stage manager does. But still.)
Time.
Come early and check out The PLAY’s the Thing tent — filled with drop-in games and activities.
Most are designed for grown-ups, but we’ve got all-ages frivolity too.
There might even be a workshop or a spontaneous demo.
Time.
Shakespeare in the Park is more than a show — it’s an afternoon and early evening of shared experience.
Give yourself time to enjoy it all.
Time.
To explore and choose your audience space.
Not all parks fill quickly, but some do — and we’ll try to share what we know on each park’s page.
Time.
To chat. To breathe.
To enjoy the outdoors with your fellow theatre-goers.
You never know who you’ll meet.
Time.
To experience the neighborhood.
Twelve show days in twelve different Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Say hello to your city.
Time.
Bring it.
It’s the one thing you can give yourself that makes everything better.
⏰ Does anyone really know what time it is? (Well… our stage manager does. But still.)
Time.
Come early and check out The PLAY’s the Thing tent — filled with drop-in games and activities.
Most are designed for grown-ups, but we’ve got all-ages frivolity too.
There might even be a workshop or a spontaneous demo.
Time.
Shakespeare in the Park is more than a show — it’s an afternoon and early evening of shared experience.
Give yourself time to enjoy it all.
Time.
To explore and choose your audience space.
Not all parks fill quickly, but some do — and we’ll try to share what we know on each park’s page.
Time.
To chat. To breathe.
To enjoy the outdoors with your fellow theatre-goers.
You never know who you’ll meet.
Time.
To experience the neighborhood.
Twelve show days in twelve different Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Say hello to your city.
Time.
Bring it.
It’s the one thing you can give yourself that makes everything better.
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