Saturday, October 10, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Weather forces cancellation of Saturday's Party on the Pavement
According to a news release from DRC, the decision was made after consulting staff, entertainment and production partners, and reviewing weather alerts and forecasts.
"The combination of the current weather alerts, potential thunderstorms and lightning, and the inability to safely provide the entertainment and overall event experience we promised ultimately made this the responsible decision," the release said. "The safety of our vendors, entertainers, downtown businesses, staff and thousands of attendees has to come first."
DRC said that all vendors will receive full refunds of their vendor fees.
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Party on the Pavement set for Saturday
Ryan Patterson
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The 23rd annual Party on the Pavement Street Festival will return to Downtown Racine on Saturday, Sept. 19. |
RACINE — The 23rd annual Party on the Pavement will take place from noon-7 p.m. Saturday in Downtown Racine.
The 12-block street festival, recognized as the Best in State by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, according to a news release, includes several blocks downtown being closed to vehicle traffic.
Admission is free.
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Twelve blocks of Downtown Racine will host the 23rd annual Party on the Pavement on Sept. 19. Submitted |
There will be many food, drink and shopping options available to buy.
Music at several stages will take place throughout the day, with genres including blues, rock, jazz and R&B.
A new event is live wrestling, which is scheduled to take place from 2-5 p.m. at the intersection of Main and Sixth Streets.
Sweatshop Movement will perform hip-hop and breakdance battles at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Sixth Street.
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Party on the Pavement attendees enjoy the festivities on Main Street in 2023. The 23rd annual event will take place from noon-7 p.m. Saturday in Downtown Racine. |
The Division BMX Stunt Team is set to perform at the intersection of College Avenue and Sixth Street at 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Mini-German Fest at Sixth Street and Park Avenue will feature live Bavarian music, bratwurst, pretzels, schnitzel and German beers.
There will also be a classic car show on Sam Johnson Parkway, disc golf, axe throwing and a mechanical bull.
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Monday, August 10, 2026
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Saturday, July 4, 2026
City installs audible traffic signals, updates traffic signal timing Downtown
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — The city on Wednesday completed the installation of audible traffic signals at six intersections and implemented new traffic signal timing along Main Street between State and Seventh streets.
In a news release, the city said the two measures will improve pedestrian safety and encourage slower vehicle speeds through Downtown Racine.
The audible pedestrian signals provide locator tones and audible walk indications to assist pedestrians who are blind or have low vision in crossing the street safely, according to the city.
The updated traffic signal timing is designed to calm traffic by encouraging drivers to travel at a slower and more consistent speed. Because of the timing of the lights, drivers who try to accelerate between intersections to avoid a red light will encounter longer waits at the next signal, the city said.
The city evaluated several options in response to downtown businesses' and community stakeholders' concerns about vehicle speeds on Main Street. One alternative would have rerouted State Highway 32 off Main Street, which was estimated to cost more than $1.5 million and, according to the city, would not have directly addressed speeding concerns.
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The Racine Department of Public Works installed new signage at intersections with the audible pedestrian signals, such as this one at Fourth and Main. |
Previously, driving between State and Seventh streets during peak traffic periods took an average of 83 seconds. With the new traffic signal timing, the trip will take about 50 seconds longer on average, which the city said will create a safer environment for pedestrians and reduce incentives to speed through downtown. Traffic analysis found the revised timing would increase travel through the corridor to about two minutes while maintaining acceptable traffic operations.
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Downtown Racine offers free music Fridays and Saturdays this summer
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Incorruptibles performs in 2025. The band will be back in concert in Racine during the Music on the Monument concert series in Downtown Racine on Aug. 28. |
RACINE — The Downtown Racine Corporation has announced the return of two outdoor concert series: Music on the Monument on Fridays and Saturday Sounds on the Square on Saturdays.
They will offer free live music at Monument Square every Friday and Saturday through Aug. 29, with performances from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Seating is available, as well as room for dancing, a beer garden and food vendors.
The Friday Music on the Monument schedule includes:
- July 3: Ivy Ford Band (5-8 p.m. during First Friday)
- July 10: Rust Belt
- July 17: Kyle Young Band
- July 24: Walking Birds
- July 31: Identity Crisis
- Aug. 7: All The Kings Men (5-8 p.m. during First Friday)
- Aug. 14: Mean Jake
- Aug. 21: Route 66 Belle City Band
- Aug. 28: Incorruptibles
- Sept. 4: Alexandra Smith (5-8 p.m. during First Friday)
Saturday Sounds on the Square will include:
- June 27: Jill Plaisted Band
- July 11: Scarlet Curve
- July 18: Mathew Haeffel Trio
- July 25: Ghosts in the Gravel
- Aug. 1: Saturday June Band
- Aug. 8: Infusion
- Aug. 15: Easy-Flo
- Aug. 22: Lori Lewis
- Aug. 29: Would You Kindly
In the event of severe weather, concerts may be canceled without a makeup date. Weather updates will be posted on the Downtown Racine social media pages.
Parking is available at the McMynn Ramp, Lake Avenue Ramp, Shoop Ramp, Gaslight Point Ramp, and Festival Hall Ramp. All ramps offer all-day parking for $4.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Thursday, April 30, 2026
First Fridays kick off in downtown Racine on May 1
RACINE -- The Downtown Racine Corporation's First Fridays kick off on May 1 with a Creative Crawl, a citywide celebration of art, creativity and community.
There will be hands-on activities, artist demonstrations, local author readings, pop-up exhibits and more from 4-9 p.m. throughout Downtown Racine.
Racine Art Museum, 441 Main St., will feature:
- A live set by DJ Unknown (5-8 p.m.).
- Interactive art stations for kids & adults (4-8 p.m.).
- Art Treasure Hunt with prizes.
- Meet the Artist: Amanda Browder (6:30 p.m. talk).
- Live Urban Sketching with Patti Fallon.
- Outdoor public art/postcard painting station.
- Artist demos throughout downtown featuring RAM artists.
Live art and hands-on experiences will include these venues:
- Revelyn Soul: Watch artist Erin Krembs create felted beads & animal sculptures.
- The New Café: Create beaded wind chimes with Pop-Up Adventures.
- Stitched: Fiber art demo with Sherrye Smith + explore Racine’s newest fiber arts hub.
- Art Metals Studio: Father/daughter duo showcasing painting/metalwork collaboration.
The Hotel Verdant, 500 Main St., is offering:
- A rare behind-the-scenes look at a private guest floor.
- Creative cocktail specials at Marguerite.
- A paper floral art demonstration with Laura Gillespie.
Among other highlights will be:
- Busia’s XOXO, 210 3rd St.: Hands-on cookie icing station.
- Photographic Design: Opening reception for the "Windows of the World" exhibit.
- Racine Art Guild, 419 6th St., Spring Juried Show.
- COP House: Student-made jewelry from repurposed materials.
- Over Our Head Players: Interactive puppet “Joke Booth.”
- Public art installations and demos throughout downtown.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Marshmallow Peeps masterpieces take over Racine Art Museum
Adrienne Davis
Monster brides, camping trips, and even classic '90s cartoons − all made from Peeps marshmallow candy − each earned awards during the 17th edition of the candy-inspired art competition at the Racine Art Museum.
The annual exhibition at the Racine Art Museum showcases work from artists who incorporate or represent the iconic candy. The exhibition runs through April 18 at the museum, 441 Main St., in downtown Racine.
The Golden PEEPS Awards, held March 31, served as the exhibition’s opening reception, honoring artists as they walked an orange carpet.
“Each year, we are presented with truly exceptional artwork submissions, which makes selecting award winners incredibly difficult,” RAM Assistant Curator Katelyn Mitchell said in a news release. "It’s always wonderful to see artists transform this unusual material into something novel.”
Mitchell said judges consider creativity, presentation and the use of Peeps marshmallow candy as art media or inspiration.
Awards in multiple categories were presented to artists during the show, who demonstrated clever and skilled use of Peeps marshmallow candy.
Julie Palmer of Racine won first 'PEEP' in the adult division for the Happy Birthday, PEEP Jr. art display − a spring-colored piece featuring Peeps gathered inside a miniature tree house for a birthday celebration.
Among Milwaukee-area winners include Beatrix W. Leach of Milwaukee, who took home second 'PEEP' for Victorian Peeps, an elegant piece featuring miniature Peeps enclosed in an egg-shaped display set on a sophisticated saucer.
Connie Reeves of Wauwatosa received an honorable mention for Peep Mittens, a pair of mittens knitted in vivid Peeps decorations.
In the Young 'PEEPle's' under 13 division, Charlotte Barnes of Racine, won first 'PEEP' for the Peep Scouts Go Camping, a colorful display showing the marshmallow ducks gathered around a tropical campsite.
In the group division under 13, first 'PEEP' was given to Laura and Steve Grayson of Racine for The Peepeux Tapestry: An Epic Bunny Adventure, a tapestry-styled piece that shows Peeps as they travel through history.
Jon and Laura Leach, also from Wauwatosa, received an honorable mention for Spring Dance − colorful Peeps that appear to float in mid-air.
First-place winners and RAM Staff Choice recipients also received a golden glass PEEPS bunny sculpture handcrafted by Hot Shop Glass in downtown Racine.
Hours
Both campuses of the Racine Art Museum are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission rates for the Racine Art Museum can be found here.
For more information on the PEEPS Brand Art Exhibition, visit here.
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
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