Fun 101

SPRING/SUMMER 2021 FUN 101:
101 Things to See & Do in the Kenosha Area for $10 & Under (Many are FREE!)

Learn about these and more local attractions, restaurants, and shops to support in-person or online at the website you are on now: VisitKenosha.com. Please be respectful of the safety guidelines that individual venues are setting; be patient. Be sure to check the VisitKenosha.com Event Calendar often as events continue to be added.

Prices, events, and other information reflected are subject to change. Prices do not include tax or gratuity. Retail purchases, as well as food and beverage prices vary based on selection.

Published online April 2021.

A product of Visit Kenosha. Visit Kenosha has been producing the FUN 101 list since 2010. It’s updated twice a year – for the fall/winter and spring/summer months.

1. Summertime is music to our ears. One of the area’s most distinguishing characteristics is that so many FREE outdoor concert series are offered.
2. Watch the sun rise over Lake Michigan. FREE 
3. Enjoy a round of golf at Brighton Dale Links or Petrifying Springs Golf Course.  Ask about the 9-hole walking Super Twilight rate of $10. 
4. Enjoy the Sculpture Walk, which runs along the harbor and features a dozen works of art. FREE   
5. View our Great Lake from the 1866 Southport Lighthouse. There are 72 steps to the top! A new season of tours opens in May. $10 & under
6. Enjoy our online Kenosha Area Activity Book. It’s for all ages and includes trivia, coloring, puzzles, photo quizzes, and other activities – all related to Kenosha. FREE 
7. The Wilmot Flea Market takes place on Sundays, April 18 - October 10 (excluding August 15 and 22) at the Kenosha County Fairgrounds. $2 & under
8. Lounge on a beach. Kenosha has five beaches on the Lake Michigan shore! FREE
9. Play at Kenosha’s inclusive, 100% accessible playground: The Dream Playground at Petzke Park. FREE 
10. Come see our castle! Enjoy one-of-a-kind photo spots at Mars Cheese Castle. FREE 
11. The Transparent Watercolor Society of America 45th Annual National Juried Exhibition is on display May 1 - July 31 at the Kenosha Public Museum. FREE
12. Looking for outdoor dining? You have many choices – including the Garden of Eatin’ at The Coffee Pot. Try the Homemade Corned Beef Hash! $10
13. Bring your pooch to play at one of our many off-leash dog parks. FREE to $5 depending on park 
14. Kenosha Public Market offers in-person and online shopping. The market takes place each Saturday. KPM2GO is the weekly virtual shopping portal - with pickup on Saturdays. FREE admission
15. Walk, bike, or drive through Kenosha’s four historic districts. The birthplace of Orson Welles is in the Library Park district. FREE  
16. The Kenosha History Center presents the Library Park Historic District Walking Tour on the second Saturday of each month, May - October. $10 
17. Play disc golf at Fox River Park, Lincoln Park, Silver Lake Park, or UW-Parkside. FREE, bring your own disc
18. There are more than 130 miles of bike trails in Kenosha County, including the Kenosha County Bike Trail, the Pike Bike Trail, and mountain bike trails at Silver Lake Park. FREE   
19. Bring your classic car and lawn chair to Bristol 45 Diner’s cruise nights. The nights are held May through September, first and third Monday of the month (and fifth Monday if there is one). FREE
20. Kenosha HarborMarket’s 2021 outdoor season begins on May 8. Visit and shop on Saturdays through October 30. FREE admission
21. Did you know that Simmons Island Beach has portable mobility mats set out on the sand in the summer months to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers? FREE
22. Be mesmerized and wowed by an Aquanut Water Show! The choreographed water ski show team performs on Lake Mary, most Wednesdays and Saturdays, May 29 - September 4. FREE
23. Root for the home team! The Kenosha Kingfish play baseball in the collegiate Northwoods League at the 101-year-old Simmons Field. $8+ 
24. Jerry Smith Produce & Pumpkin Farm knows how to grow produce AND fun family activities. The Country Store opens in June.
25. Stroll on the lakeside promenade and watch the leisure and fishing boats traveling in and out of the harbor! FREE   
26. Go Fish! Fish anywhere in Wisconsin without a license on Free Fishing Weekend, June 5-6. FREE 
27. Enjoy our Wisconsin Harbor Town from the seasonal rooftop bar at Apis Restaurant. You can see the lake! Apis opened in 2020. 
28. See what artists and crafters have been busy making! The Good Old Summertime Art Fair is June 6; presented by the Friends of the Kenosha Art Association. FREE admission
29. Stop by the Petrifying Springs Biergarten, Kenosha’s first authentic, German beer garden located inside Kenosha’s oldest county park. It offers family-friendly activities. Food and beverage prices vary, FREE admission
30. On June 19, the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the Kenosha Expo Health & Home Show. The outdoor, family-friendly event will be held at the Kenosha YMCA. FREE admission
31. Get in your 10,000 steps! There are five miles of hiking trails at Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park. FREE   
32. Come often to capture Lake Michigan’s many moods with your phone (or camera). You’ll get great Instagram photos! #KenoshaFun FREE
33. Ride an authentic Electric Streetcar to restaurants, shops, museums, historic districts, lakefront events, and more. $1 & under for one loop
34. Have you seen Anderson Arts Center – an art gallery in a 1920s mansion on the Lake Michigan shore – since its $4.3 million preservation and modernization project in 2019? FREE
35. Enjoy Ice Cream with a side of Popcorn. Or is it Popcorn with a side of Ice Cream? Either way, check out Sandy’s Popper! The popcorn is made in-house in small batches.
36. Have a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board? Experience the Lake Michigan Water Trail or Fox River Water Trail! FREE access
37. Beer and Wine, Pasta and Sauce, Cheese and Sausage. Whatever you need, Tenuta’s Delicatessen & Liquors has it! 
38. There’s nothing like a locally owned coffee shop/café with a great view! Come see how Harborside Common Grounds got its name!
39. Enjoy geocaching throughout Kenosha County! It’s an outdoor scavenger hunt using GPS coordinates. FREE
40. Shop for deals at Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets. 
41. Visit Big Star Drive-In for a hamburger and a milkshake under the neon lights. A carhop brings your order to you! Single Hamburger $1.15, Small Shake $2.80
42. Bring the kiddos to see the dinos at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. FREE
43. Find Elsie Mae’s Bakery & Cannery products at Tenuta’s Delicatessen & Liquors, as well as at Elsie Mae’s “little red pie wagon” in Downtown Kenosha.
44. The legendary Brat Stop serves up great food and drinks, along with concerts, family friendly trivia nights, and karaoke in the beer garden on select nights.
45. Looking for some plant-based options? The Daily Dose Cafe has many vegetarian and vegan options. 
46. Bring a little art and take a little art! The Little Lemon Street Gallery is a creative spinoff from the popular Little Free Library endeavor. FREE
47. Learn about Lake Michigan shipwrecks and more local maritime history at the seasonal Southport Light Station Museum. FREE 
48. Did you miss the news last year? PUBLIC Craft Brewing Co. is now at an expanded location. The larger space allows the craft brewery to operate a restaurant and increase its brewing capacity.
49. Take a break in Wolfenbuttel Park, which is named after Kenosha’s sister city in Germany. Enjoy the flower gardens and the large pergola. Oh – and Lake Michigan, too! FREE
50. Studio Moonfall is offering printable coloring pages online. FREE  
51. Sit, relax, and paint at Alpaca Art Pottery Painting. In addition to their normal hours, watch for pop up painting events – with special deals – on Friday evenings.
52. Are you a fan of Spam? It’s available at Franks Diner - including as its very own sandwich!
53. Stop by Pollard Gallery, which is part gift shop and part art gallery. You’ll find Kenosha-inspired gifts!
54. Watch bicycle races at the Washington Park Velodrome. Built in 1927, it’s the nation’s oldest operating velodrome. FREE 
55. A resident of the Union Park Arts District, ArtWorks features a rotating gallery of original art. Pencil aficionados will appreciate the Pencillarium, which is in the same building. FREE to browse
56. A wide selection of indoor and outdoor plants and herbs can be found at Equinox botanical boutique.
57. We all scream for ice cream! Let your whole family pick their favorite pint of ice cream and fill your freezer with goodness from Scoops Ice Cream & Candy.
58. Enjoy a cocktail and great views at The Crow's Nest, the seasonal rooftop bar at The Stella Hotel & Ballroom. You’ll see gorgeous sunsets!
59. Take a pic of one of Kenosha’s most recognized landmarks: the North Pier Lighthouse, home to the Kenosha Lighthouse Studio. FREE   
60. Drive by and say hi to the Abraham Lincoln statue in Library Park. FREE  
61. Enjoy Mama P’s HoHo Cakes from Lou Perrine’s. The delicious cakes come in a variety of flavors. $5 per slice    
62. Take a hike at Bristol Woods Park. There are over four miles of trails through woodland, prairie, and wetland habitats. FREE
63. Learn about locally excavated mammoths at the Kenosha Public Museum. FREE
64. Enjoy refreshing drinks, tasty food, a stunning harbor view, and live music on select evenings at The Lakeside Deck. This seasonal feature is at Wyndham Garden – Kenosha Harborside.
65. Celebrate Independence Day in Kenosha! The Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade is June 27 with fireworks on July 4. FREE
66. Enjoy live entertainment at Fusion, a 21+ intimate performance space showcasing local and regional talent.
67. Go beachcombing! People love to search for sea/beach glass on our Lake Michigan beaches. There’s even a Facebook group for Lake Michigan Sea Glass Collectors. FREE
68. The Kenosha Public Library offers a variety of entertaining and educational resources in-person and online. FREE  
69. Kenoshans love their car shows and cruise-ins. The Kenosha Car Club Cruise-In takes place June 27. Donations will be accepted for Stars and Stripes Honor Flight of Wisconsin. FREE
70. Submit your best pix – taken at public locations in Kenosha County – to our Picture Your Kenosha Photo Contest. FREE  
71. Hot Dogs are a summertime classic, and Trolley Dogs serves them up the way you like! We love a classic Chicago Style or the Johnny Bravo version with bacon and cheese.    
72. See the impressive and educational 360-degree movie “Seeing the Elephant” at The Civil War Museum. $9 & under 
73. Rustic Road Brewing Company’s patio is self-service and dog friendly. Craft beer, food, live music, and open mic nights are inside.
74. Experience the 1950s with carhop service at The Spot Drive-In. We highly recommend their famous Double Cheeseburgers and Root Beer Whirls.   
75. Enjoy good old family fun at Bristol Progress Days, July 9-11. The event includes live music, kids’ games, a candy parade, fireworks, and much more. FREE admission
76. Bring your young kids to Play Space, a family-owned indoor facility designed to provide open play for children crawling to 6 years old. $9 per child
77. Give a positive review online for your favorite local business or attraction. FREE  
78. Meet the makers and purchase original art at Kenosha ArtMarket in the Union Park Arts District, on the third Sunday of the month, July through October. FREE admission
79. Go birding in your backyard or at a local park. FREE  
80. Enjoy a self-guided tour of area gardens! Kenosha’s Secret Garden Walk is July 10. $10
81. The Kenosha County Fair hosts its Centennial Celebration August 18-22. Experience fun for the whole family with live music, truck and tractor pulls, a demolition derby, and much more. $10 & under
82. The Kenosha Public Museum's Wednesday morning program for preschoolers - Museum Munchkins - Live Streams on Facebook at 9:30 a.m. with a different theme each week. FREE  
83. Enjoy live music, hand-crafted beers, a beer garden, and a taproom at R'Noggin Brewing Co., a small family brewery. 
84. While on the walking trails at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum, explore a 12-acre arboretum, the woodlands of the Pike River Valley, prairies, and gardens. FREE
85. Come show off your car and see what Downtown Kenosha has to offer. The annual Kenosha Classic Cruise-In is September 4. Donations of non-perishable food will be collected for the Salvation Army. FREE
86. The Southern Wisconsin All Airborne Chapter Car Show is September 5 at Petrifying Springs Park. Funds are raised for severely wounded veterans. FREE to spectators
87. Go fly a kite! Kennedy Park provides a great open space along Lake Michigan to gather the family and fly kites! FREE
88. If you have the opportunity to attend a concert at the Sesquicentennial Bandshell in Pennoyer Park while you’re in town, be sure you do so. With Lake Michigan beside you, the setting is special! Most concerts FREE
89. Stop and smell the roses! Visit the Warren J. Taylor sunken flower garden at Lincoln Park. FREE
90. Enjoy our public art! From murals on the sides of our shops to mosaics outside of our galleries, local and regional artists have been hard at work the last few years to make our community extra beautiful. FREE
91. When at a Wisconsin supper club, such as HobNob, one must enjoy a Brandy Old Fashioned! Enjoy yours on the patio overlooking Lake Michigan.
92. Nature lovers will appreciate Chiwaukee Prairie, a wetland of international importance. FREE
93. Have a brew at Kenosha Brewing Co., which features local craft beer, a full bar, and a full dining menu. The building has a long brewing history. 
94. At Fox River Park, see a statue that honors the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps. From 1934 through 1937, 300 men of the CCC worked on the park. FREE
95. Pull out your picnic basket and blanket and enjoy a relaxing picnic in a park.
96. Looking for virtual fun? The Dinosaur Discovery Museum, Kenosha Public Museum, and The Civil War Museum offer online programming and family activities to do at home. There are many FREE options.
97. Make it a date! Walk hand-in-hand with your special someone on the boardwalk at Simmons Island Beach. FREE
98. Union Park Tavern is where you’ll find great libations, food, and musical entertainment, as well as a beautiful beer garden.
99. Hunt for painted rocks! If you find one, re-hide it as a random act of kindness! The Facebook group Kenosha Rocks! has more details about this fun activity that’s done in many communities. FREE
100. Find quirky, spirited gifts to lift someone’s spirts at To & From Gift Shop.
101. Follow Visit Kenosha on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest updates! FREE