A 2023 guide to all of Green Bay area's outdoor summer concert series

Oct 25, 2023

GREEN BAY - To say the summer calendar is packed with outdoor music is an understatement.

You'll find a reason to throw the lawn chair in the car and soak up some tunes in a park, at a vineyard, in a beer garden, along the Fox River, in a garden or right in the middle of the street most any day or night of the week from now through Labor Day and beyond. Summertime in Wisconsin flies by, so make some time to take in live music from artists performing on not just stages, but on a front porch and even aboard a pontoon.

Most of the offerings are free, but some require paid admission or advance tickets. Food and drink are always part of the equation, but carry-in rules vary greatly, so check websites before loading up the cooler or a picnic basket.

When/where: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays at Klipstine Park, 900 Anderson Drive, Ashwaubenon. Concessions sold on site by community groups. Picnic tables available or bring a chair or blanket. Rain site: Ashwaubenon Community Center. Cost: Free

When/where: 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays at Josten Park, 2280 Town Hall Road, Bellevue. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Concessions on site. Cost: Free.

When/where: 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Vickery Village Pavilion, Suamico. Rain or shine. No carry-ins; food, wine, beer, mixed drinks sold by Chives Restaurant. Parking behind Four Way and Spork. Cost: Free.

When/where: 7 p.m. (a change from 7:30 p.m. in years past) every Wednesday from June 14 through Aug. 16 at St. James Park on Monroe Avenue in downtown Green Bay. It's the 120th season for the 40-member band. Greg Sauve directs. Rain date is Thursdays. Cost: Free.

When/where: 4-6:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive Sundays at Leicht Memorial Park, downtown Green Bay. It will be the first of three years of the series, to promote equity and inclusivity through music in an underused public space, thanks to a $90,000 Levitt AMP Grant Award secured by On Broadway Inc. Cost: Free.

When/where: 6-8 p.m. on six Thursday nights at six different bar patios and beer gardens. Hosted by Shipyard District Inc. Cost: Free.

When/where: 6-9 p.m. every Thursday through September at Captain's Walk Winery, 345 S. Adams St., Green Bay. Musicians perform on the front porch. Limited lawn furniture available; listeners encouraged to bring their own chair. Wine and hard cider available for purchase. Cost: Free.

When/where: 6-9:30 p.m. Fridays on CityDeck, downtown Green Bay. Some seating available but good idea to bring a lawn chair. Food and drink for sale from Hagemeister Park. Cost: Free.

When/where: 2-5 p.m. one Sunday a month on South Washington Street, downtown Green Bay. Purchase takeout food from nearby restaurants and dine outside. Outdoor seating available or bring your own lawn chair. Family games. Cost: Free.

When/where: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursdays at Whitney Park, 800 Main St., Green Bay. Food trucks on site. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Cost: Free.

When/where: 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays along the Fox River at St. Norbert College, De Pere. Named one of the 10 best outdoor concert series in the country in 2023. Picnicking begins at 5 p.m. Carry in your own picnic or purchase sandwiches, snacks and drinks from Phil's inside Campus Center. Thompson Marina docks open. Parking in the lots off Third Street. Weather cancellation updates at snc.edu/go/kotf. Cost: Free.

When/where: 5-9 p.m. on fourth Friday of the month on Michael J. Walsh Plaza, on James Street between Wisconsin Street and Broadway, De Pere. Outdoor dining seating, food vendor, craft beers, hard seltzers and other beverages. Cost: Free.

When/where: 4:30-8:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Voyageur Park, De Pere. Food trucks, craft beer, hard seltzer and family games and entertainment. Proceeds benefit De Pere parks. Cost: Free.

When/where: 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Voyageur Park, De Pere. Ken Petersen directs. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Cost: Free.

When/where: 5-10 p.m. one Saturday each month July through September and 5-9 p.m. October, each at a different Broadway District location. Open-air marketplace features local artisans, interactive art demonstrations, life-size games, food.

When/where: 7-10 p.m. Fridays and select other nights outside at Badger State Brewing Co., 990 Tony Canadeo Run, Ashwaubenon. Food trucks 5-9 p.m. Cost: Free.

When/where: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fridays on Hy-Vee Plaza in the Titletown District, Green Bay. Order lunch from one of the Titletown restaurants. No carry-ins. Cost: Free.

When/where: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays on the 46 Below patio in the Titletown District, Green Bay. Lunchtime acoustic performances. Food available for purchase from 46 Below. No carry-ins.

When/where: 7:30-8:30 p.m. July 15 and Aug. 18 on Hy-Vee Plaza in Titletown District. Concerts by national acts still to be announced. Last year's concerts featured Tai Verdes, Hunter Hayes and 3OH!3.

Cost: Free

When/where: 6 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 31 at LedgeStone Vineyards & Gnarly Cedar Brewing, 6381 Wisconsin 57, Greenleaf. No alcoholic carry-ins: water, non-alcoholic drinks and light snack carry-ins allowed. Beer, wine and food sold on site. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket for lawn seating. (For information on free jazz music 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, visit the LedgeStone site.)

Cost: $10 and up, depending on the act and whether your choose lawn seating or reserved table patio seating. Order tickets in advance at ledgestonevineyards.xyz.

When/where: 7-9 p.m. Fridays at Billie Kress Amphitheater in Schneider Family Grand Garden at Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Road. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Bring your own lawn chair, blanket or picnic basket. No beverage carry-ins. Beverages sold on site, along with light concessions.

Cost: $35 and up adults, $10 ages 3-17. Advance tickets encouraged at gbbg.org. Advance sales end 24 hours before the concert. Tickets $10 more at the gate.

When/where: 6-8 p.m. Thursdays at Billie Kress Amphitheater in Schneider Family Grand Garden at Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Road. Bring your own picnic basket, lawn chair or blanket. No beverage carry-ins. Beverages sold on site, along with light concessions.

Cost: Free to GBBG members, $26 family (two adults and children 17 and younger in the household or grandchildren), $13 adult, $11 ages 62 and older, military and students with school ID, $5 ages 3-17.

When/where: 5-8:30 p.m. June 21 at Heritage Hill State Historical Park, 2640 S. Webster Ave., Allouez. Rain or shine. No food or drink carry-ins. Food trucks and bar on site. Bring a lawn chair or blanket; limited park seating. All buildings and playground will be open. This is the only Music on the Green concert of the season.

Cost: $5 members, $7 adults, $2 children

When/where: Three fundraising concerts in there different cities to benefit The Canary Fund, the nonprofit foundation established to honor Jim Rivett of Green Bay.

Cost: Prices vary by concert; purchase at thecanaryfund.org.

Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @KendraMeinert.