2026 Lincoln Creek Week Celebration

FREE FAMILY FUN! Join us in our annual community celebration of Milwaukee’s Lincoln Creek with an entire week full of free, fun, and family-friendly activities! You’ll be joining community partners working together to reimagine the Lincoln Creek Greenway as a beautiful, welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.

There’ll be a kickoff event in McGovern Park on Saturday, June 20, from noon to 3 pm and a closing celebration in Lincoln Park on Saturday, June 27, from noon to 3 pm. Both events feature free food, free activities, resources, and prize giveaways. During the week there will be many recreational and educational activities, including paddling, biking, and hiking, and no prior experience is needed to participate! Milwaukee’s hidden gem, Havenwoods State Forest, will have exciting educational opportunities for kids to explore the outdoors.

Check this webpage regularly, as the list of events throughout Lincoln Creek Week will grow as we get closer to the opening event. If you would like to add an event to the Calendar, use this form.

Please note that some events require registration or have physical or age restrictions.

All events are free and open to the public. Join us!

EVENTS CALENDAR

Saturday, June 20:
- Kickoff Celebration in McGovern Park
  Noon to 3 pm, McGovern Park, 4500 W. Custer Ave.
  Free food, free activities, resources, and prize giveaways
- Community Fishing Clinic
  Noon – 3 pm, McGovern Park lagoon
  Always wanted to fish but don’t know where to start? Join Milwaukee Riverkeeper for a fishing clinic. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and participants ages 16+ need a valid fishing license.
- Bird Walk with Lake Michigan Bird Observatory
- 7:30 – 9 am, McGovern Park, 4500 W. Custer Ave.
  (Register for Bird Walk here.)
- Lincoln Creek Bike & Hike
  10 am. Meet in Lincoln Park, 5000 N. Green Bay Ave., and bike to McGovern for kickoff.
  Led by Red, Bike & Green MKE. (Click here for registration and more info.)
- Battling invasive Species in Havenwoods
  Noon – 1 pm, Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St. It’s also Invasive Species Awareness Week. Join us at Havenwoods for this presentation.
- Invasive Species Removal
1 – 3 pm, Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St.
After the presentation, take part in this hands-on experience.
Sunday, June 21:
- Lincoln Creek and Water in Islam
  11 a.m – 1 pm, 5135 N. Teutonia Ave.
  Bring a water-related photo and be prepared to share what it means to you. Presenter: Sr. Huda Alkaff, founder and director, Wisconsin Green Muslims, with Milwaukee Islamic Dawah Center.
Monday, June 22:
- Snack & Chat: Let’s Talk Water!
  5 – 6:30 pm, McGovern Park,
  5400 N. 51st Blvd. Meet at 51st Blvd. parking lot
  Enjoy food from Cousins Subs and join us for a fun, hands-on way to learn how water moves through our neighborhoods.
Tuesday, June 23:
- Frogs, Turtles and Dragonflies – Oh, My!
  10 – 11:30 am, Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St.
  A family-friendly exploration of Havenwoods pond life.
Wednesday, June 24:
McGovern Park Older Adults Walk, 9 – 10 am, 4629 W. Silver Spring Dr. (McGovern Park north parking lot)
Join the McGovern Park Older Adults Walking Club for a gently-paced 1-mile loop. Participants of all ages and abilities welcome. Sponsored by MilWALKee Walks and Wisconsin Bike Fed.
Learn to Kayak
10 am – 2 pm, Lincoln Park Boat Landing, 4950 N. Milwaukee River Parkway. [Map Link]
Four, 0ne hour sessions (Registration required. Click here.)

Thursday, June 25:

- Healing Plants Hike in Hopkins Hollow
  1 pm to 2:30 pm. Hopkins Hollow, 4410 N. Hopkins St.
  Led by Master Naturalist Mars Patterson.
  (Sign up and get more info here.)
- Learn to Identify Aquatic Invasive Species
  6 – 7 pm, Lincoln Park Canoe Launch, 4952 N. Milwaukee River Parkway.
  Learn how invasive species affect the Milwaukee River and how you can help protect local waters.
Friday, June 26:
- Lincoln Creek Habitat Hike
  6 – 7:30 pm, Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St.
  Take an evening stroll to look for wildlife that calls Lincoln Creek home.
Saturday, June 27:
- Lincoln Creek Week Closing Celebration: RFCNA’s 11th Annual Community Cookout
  Noon – 3 pm, Lincoln Park, Picnic Site 3, 5000 N. Milwaukee River Parkway [Map-Link]
  Free food, lots of free activities, resources, and prize giveaways
  Hosted by Residents for Change Neighborhood Association in partnership with Friends of Lincoln Park. In addition to food, fun and prize giveaways, the event will include the following:
  - Intro to Canoeing with Urban Ecology Center, 12:30 pm (Click here to get info and register.)
  - Community Fishing Clinic, noon – 3 pm, Lincoln Park boat launch
    Always wanted to fish but don’t know where to start? Join Milwaukee Riverkeeper for a fishing clinic. Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and participants ages 16+ must have a valid fishing license.
  - Crosswalk Action, Hampton and Green Bay avenues, 1 to 2 pm
    Join MilWALKee Walks and Wisconsin Bike Fed to help to raise awareness about pedestrian rights and remind drivers to slow down and yield to pedestrians. (Registration suggested here.)
- Stewardship Saturday at Havenwoods
  9 – 11:00 am, 6141 N. Hopkins St.
  Help staff remove invasive plants and clean up trash.
- Animal Feeding
  1:30 – 2:30 pm, Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St.
  Watch turtles and snakes enjoy lunch up close during this fun and fascinating animal feeding experience.