MILWAUKEE — It's officially summer which means festival season is in full swing. At the Milwaukee Art Museum the Lakefront Festival of Art is off to a strong start.
Every year Gail Sklodowska looks forward to going to the Lakefront Art Festival at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
“I plan vacations around this festival. I never miss it,” Sklodowska said.
This year was no exception because Mother Nature actually brought some sunshine for the opening day.
“For 20 years it rained every year, I swear,” she said.
Shelle Smith knows this all too well.
“All of a sudden this rush of water went running right by the driveway here,” Smith said.
She’s been selling her paintings at the show for the last five years, and had her doubts about the weather, especially with the recent cold spell.
“I know we’ve been here some years where it’s been just drizzling, beautiful inside the tent, but then it does scare attendance,” Smith said.
This year it was a warm surprise to open the festival to sunny forecasts, but rain or shine this show always goes on because the majority of it is covered by a large tent.
In fact, last year David Galusha and his wife, who makes origami in shadow boxes, saw an uptick in sales in the rain.
“It seems like Milwaukee really supports this art fair, so people come out and that we really appreciate,” Galusha said.
No matter what happens this weekend, they know things will work out.
“I’m very happy to be here even when it’s raining,” Sklodowska said.
The Lakefront Festival of Art runs Friday until 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
