Welcome to the creative crossroads of the East Side Milwaukee. The East Side Business Improvement District is responsible for the management, promotion, and staffing for the commercial area.
Welcome to the creative crossroads of the East Side Milwaukee. The East Side Business Improvement District is responsible for the management, promotion, and staffing for the commercial area.
Welcome to the creative crossroads of the East Side Milwaukee. The East Side Business Improvement District is responsible for the management, promotion, and staffing for the commercial area.
Welcome to the creative crossroads of the East Side Milwaukee. The East Side Business Improvement District is responsible for the management, promotion, and staffing for the commercial area.
Welcome to the creative crossroads of the East Side Milwaukee. The East Side Business Improvement District is responsible for the management, promotion, and staffing for the commercial area.
Welcome to the creative crossroads of the East Side Milwaukee. The East Side Business Improvement District is responsible for the management, promotion, and staffing for the commercial area.
Summer Soulstice 2026 Brings Music, Community, and Summer Energy to Milwaukee's East Side
On Saturday, June 13, thousands of people filled the streets of the East Side for another unforgettable Summer Soulstice Music Festival. The neighborhood came alive with live music, art, delicious food, shopping, and the kind of community energy that makes Summer Soulstice one of Milwaukee's favorite summer traditions.
Photo by Milwaukee Record
All photos featured in this recap are courtesy of Milwaukee Record.
What a way to kick off summer!
On Saturday, June 13, thousands of people filled the streets of Milwaukee's East Side for another unforgettable Summer Soulstice Music Festival. From noon to midnight, the neighborhood came alive with live music, local art, delicious food, shopping, and the kind of community energy that makes Summer Soulstice one of Milwaukee's favorite summer traditions.
Something around every corner.
Across five stages, festivalgoers discovered new artists, cheered on returning favorites, and danced the day away. The New Land Black Cat Alley Stage once again transformed the alley into a packed open-air dance floor with Club Ritual's all-day DJ takeover, while performances by artists including Los Mitoteros, Bomber & Red, Emmitt James, Wave X Nile, BLAX, Asaka the Renegade, Mural Hall, and Dead Soldiers kept crowds moving throughout the neighborhood.
Beyond the music, visitors explored dozens of local artists, makers, businesses, and community organizations lining the festival streets. Food trucks, outdoor bars, and neighborhood restaurants kept everyone fueled as festivalgoers wandered from stage to stage, discovering something new around every corner. The Kind Oasis Lot added even more to the day's festivities with additional live music, food vendors, and World Cup matches on the big screen.
Events That Bring People Together
Events like Summer Soulstice are only possible because of the incredible support of our sponsors. A heartfelt thank you to our presenting sponsors, Miller Lite and Educators Credit Union, for helping make this year's festival possible.
We're also grateful to our stage sponsors: New Land Enterprises, Red Bull, OnMilwaukee, 91.7 WMSE, Milwaukee Record, Gruber Law Offices, Smokin' Jack's BBQ, and Kawa Ramen and Sushi. Their support helped bring five unique stages of music to life across the East Side.
And thank you to our additional sponsors and partners whose support helped make the festival possible: Overlook on Prospect, Contour Apartments, Edge on North, MKE Film, Vintage, Von Trier, Hooligans, and Nosotros Tequila. We appreciate your continued investment in the East Side and the community that makes Summer Soulstice so special.
It wouldn't be Summer Soulstice without you!
Finally, thank you to the hundreds of musicians, artists, vendors, volunteers, East Side businesses, neighborhood partners, and everyone who joined us to celebrate. Whether you came for your favorite band, discovered a new local artist, grabbed dinner from a food truck, danced in Black Cat Alley, or just spent the day enjoying the neighborhood, you helped make
Two years ago, Ryan Laessig stepped into the role of Executive Director of the East Side BID. Somehow, in just two years, he’s managed to squeeze a whole lot of ideas, events, murals, new businesses, bike rides, plaza parties and ambitious neighborhood projects into the mix.
Congratulations to our Executive Director, Ryan Laessig, on an incredible first year leading the East Side Business Improvement District! From his first introduction in Fall 2024 to now, Ryan has brought fresh energy, community focus, and creative vision to the vibrant arts hub of the East Side.
I’d like to extend a warm welcome to several new businesses that have opened their doors in the last few months. I'm also excited to announce a couple of other businesses that I know will be coming to the East Side.
Ryan Laessig - Executive Director of the East Side Business Improvement District #20
Interested in having an event in Black Cat Alley? Have questions about graffiti removal? Want to know when the next upcoming BID meeting will occur? Please fill out the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
