We Are Water 2026

Celebrate the joy, beauty, and power of water at We Are Water, our annual community gathering at McKinley Beach.
The Milwaukee Hittaz drum line kicks off the event with a lively procession featuring the community-created “living river” from the Juneteenth parade.
Meet local artists, make a sturgeon puppet, try your hand at printmaking, build sand castles, identify fossils, enjoy complimentary snacks – including Purple Door Ice Cream while supplies last – and learn simple ways to help care for our rivers, lakes, and neighborhoods. Everyone will join together in a parade with the drum line, then go onto the beach for a community parachute float to close the evening.
For people discovering Milwaukee Water Commons for the first time and those who have been part of the community for years, We Are Water is a chance to celebrate the connections that water creates and the shared responsibility we all have to protect it.
The event is free and everyone is welcome.