Fun Ways for Families to Beat the Heat – Indoor Summer Family Fun in Milwaukee
Summer in Milwaukee is phenomenal, but on the blazing hot days, finding something fun to do with the family that is indoors can be a real life-saver. Sometimes, the air-conditioning is exactly what everyone needs to enjoy the day.
If you’re looking for INDOOR family fun in Milwaukee this summer, check out these local favorites!
For our full list of INDOOR FUN, from playgrounds to arcades and more, CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL GUIDE.
HEAD TO THE MOVIE THEATRE
There’s a really special feeling that hits when stepping into a dark, cool theater on a blazing hot day. Plus, comfy chairs + tasty snacks make an afternoon matinee one of the most classic ways to avoid the sun. There’s even a few special events coming up this summer that would make for the perfect opportunity to catch a show:
- Marcus Theatres® Kids Dream Series – A series of twelve classic family films runs weekly, Tuesday through Saturday, from June 9 through August 29. You can catch all the remaining movies on this year’s lineup for just $9! Popcorn & snack specials are also available.
THE FILM SERIES LINEUP:
- PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie – July 14-July 18: Tickets
- Migration – July 21-July 25: Tickets
- The Jungle Bunch: Operation Meltdown – July 28-August 1: Tickets
- Shrek – August 3-August 8: Tickets
- The Lego Movie – August 10-August 15: Tickets
- Wonder Park – August 17-August 22: Tickets
- Sing 2 – August 24-August 29: Tickets
- Marcus Theatres® $7 Matinees – A great price + a great movie = the best summer afternoon. Kids and seniors enjoy $7 tickets to matinee movies, every single day at Marcus Theatres and Movie Tavern!
- Olympic Watch Parties at AMC Theatre – AMC Mayfair has a unique opportunity this summer to watch live coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on the big screen! Watch parties will be available every day of the games, complete with specialty snack options. Go Team USA! More Info & Tickets
MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
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- Closed Mon – Tues, Wed 10 am to 5 pm, Thurs 10 am to 8 pm, Friday – Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm
- Kids 12 and under are always FREE! The Museum is open with free admission on Sun, July 14, and Tues–Sat, July 16–20. The Kohl’s Art Studio is open with special hours Tuesday – Friday, July 16-19. The studio is always open Saturday – Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.
- mam.org
If you’ve never been to the Milwaukee Art Museum with your kids, you are missing out on one of the real treasures of our city. Spark creativity and curiosity as you wander the museum together, while enjoying the escape from the sun’s heat…but not its light. There are numerous activities for kids of a variety of ages to enjoy, including the Kohl’s Art Studio. The Museum Café will be ready with snacks when you and the kiddos need a break. Learn more.
VISIT THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY
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- Various locations (see website for details)
- mpl.org
In case you haven’t heard, our local library is kind of a big deal. TikTok famous, actually! They even earned a Peabody nomination for their innovative use of social media to inspire readers and spread library education across the globe! Of course, there is a stellar summer reading program at the library, but they also have a teen summer challenge, tons of events, programs and classes, and countless opportunities to get out of the heat and into the comfort of stacks of books. Our love of the local library runs deep!
INDOOR MINI GOLF
We all can agree that mini golf is a good time, but maybe less so when you’re being burned to a crisp. Take the fun indoors with a couple awesome local indoor mini golf courses!
KRAZY GOLF – Waukesha
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- Hours: Sun, Tues – Thurs, 1 pm to 9 pm / Friday – Sat, 1 pm to 10 pm
- 257 West Broadway, Waukesha
- NEW IN 2024! A brand new addition to the mini golf scene, this indoor golf course in downtown Waukesha aims to be where the fusion of golf and excitement reaches new heights! Krazy Golf is a 13-hole + 2 bonus holes extravaganza of twists, turns, and laughter, designed for golf pros, novices, and everyone in between.
BIG PUTTS MINI GOLF – Greenfield
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- Hours: Mon – Fri, 1 pm to 9 pm / Saturday, 12 pm to 9 pm / Sunday, 12 pm to 6 pm
- 4251 S 57th St, Greenfield
- bigputts.net
Since its opening in 2022, this large INDOOR mini golf course has been making quite a name for itself … literally! The silly Big Putts name is backed up by the quirky decor inside, including the giant dinosaur photo op at the end of your course! There’s also an on-site arcade for the kiddos who are interested in earning some cool prizes with their gaming skills. Big Putts has been described as a “hidden gem,” so definitely go check it out!
VISIT 3RD STREET MARKET HALL
- 275 W Wisconsin Ave
- Park at InterPark The Avenue Garage – 615 N 2nd St
With a wide variety of food to choose from and a bunch of INDOOR games and activities for kids of all ages (and the young at heart) to choose from, there is truly something for everyone at 3rd Street Market Hall. Check out Kristen’s recap of her visit HERE! Challenge the family to a bags (corn hole) competition or try out shuffleboard.
