Host a Special Event

Special Event Permit Fees

For any special event hosted in a Milwaukee County Parks location, the base permit fee will be determined by the location and estimated attendence. Additional fees for add-ons, such as hot-lining, or permits, such as the City of Milwaukee's Noise Variance, may be required.

Note: Separate applications and fee structures are used at Boerner Botanical Gardens, Mitchell Park Domes, Wehr Nature Center and the Sports Complex

General Parks Locations, Crowd-Size Base Fee (per day)* 

• Less than 50 people expected to attend:
  $150 / $250
• 50 to 200 people expected to attend:
  $350 / $450
• 201-400 people expected to attend
  $400 / $500
• 401-700 people expected to attend
  $550 / $650
• 701-1,000 people expected to attend
  $600 / $650
• Greater than 1,000 people expected to attend:
  $650 / $700

Premium Lakefront & Parks, Base Fees (per day)*

• Bradford Beach: $850
• McKinley Beach: $850
• Cathedral Square: $650
• Greenfield Park: $650
• Humboldt Park: $650
• Juneau Park: $650
• Lake Park: $650
• Pere Marquette Park: $650
• Red Arrow Park: $650
• Zeidler Union Square: $650

Veterans Park, Base Fees (per day)*

• Veterans Park Shelter: $400
• General Special Event Staged Off-Site, fewer than 500 participants: $1,200
• Section A - Lagoon: $2,300
• Section B - Coast Guard Shelter Area: $1,300
• Section C - Parking Lot: $1,650
• Section D - Meadow: $3,000
• Section E - East: $2,600
• Section F - O'Donnell Point: $1,250

See the Veterans Park Section Boundaries

Humboldt & Washington Park Bandshells, Base Fee*

• Bandshell Outside Stage (up to 6 hours): $700
• Bandshell Outside Stage & Indoor Dressing Room (up to 6 hours): $1,000
• Bandshell Per Additional Hour: $110

Lincoln Memorial Drive Closure, Base Fee (per day)*

All Lincoln Memorial Drive closure requests must be submitted by Nov. 1st of the year prior to the requested closure.

• Lincoln Memorial Drive, Closure: $3,200

*NOTE: Fees may be subject to sales tax, and other permit fees may apply

Additional Required Documents or Permits

Depending on the type and location of the special event you plan to host, you may be required to provide additional documents or acquire additional permits from us or the municipality.

Examples include:

• Certificate of Insurance with the Parks Additionally Insured (sample)
• Liquor Liability Insurance with the Parks Additionally Insured (sample)
• Municipal Alcohol or Class “B” Beer License, serving or selling (sample) 
• Noise Variance Permit (City of Milwaukee only) (sample)

5k Routes

Planning a 5k run? Several popular routes in Milwaukee are pre-measured.

• Brown Deer 5K - Picnic Area #8

• Dineen Park 5k - Community Room

• Estabrook 5k - Picnic Area #8

• Grant Park 5k - Picnic Area #5A

• Greenfield Park 5k - Picnic Area 3A (Road Closure)

• Hoyt Park 5k - Picnic Area #2

• Jackson Park 5k - Picnic Area #2

• Lake Park 5k - Summer Stage

• Lincoln Park 5k - Picnic Area #1

• Sheridan Park 5k - Pavilion (North)

• Sheridan Park 5k - Pavilion (South)

• Veterans Park 5k - Shelter

• Washington Park 5k - Bandshell

• Washington Park 5k - Picnic Area

• Whitnall Park - Picnic Area #8

• Wilson Park 5K - Picnic Area #1