Milwaukee social architecture firm NEWaukee usually hosts one of its Night Market street festivals in downtown Milwaukee in the second or third week of July.
In 2020, the Democratic National Convention will be in town from July 13 to 16.
The Night Market is held once a month in June, July, August and September, on West Wisconsin Avenue between North Plankinton Avenue and Vel R. Phillips Avenue. Since NEWaukee usually times its Night Market around a convention that’s in town to showcase Milwaukee just outside of the Wisconsin Center, the DNC could be a major opportunity.
But logistically, the group is determining whether it’s possible.
“I don’t know if we can do that in that area so we’re meeting with a few people from the team to see what our options are, but yeah, we’re open to doing it,” said Jeremy Fojut, co-founder and chief idea officer at NEWaukee.
If it is possible, Fojut said the goal would be to hold the market two nights in a row, on July 14 and 15.
“It doesn’t have to happen, but I think it would be really special for everyone in town if they got to experience it and I think it would leave a positive impression on the city,” he said.
Usually, the July Night Market is during Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.’s annual all-employee conference in Milwaukee. But that conference may be moved in 2020 to make room for the DNC.
NEWaukee also plans to offer its services as an event and tour host for those coming to Milwaukee, Fojut said. The organization hosts talent attraction tours for out-of-towners considering taking jobs at its corporate clients in Milwaukee, as well as Milwaukee Tours for Milwaukeeans and the Art Bus tours.
“I think we’ll wind up doing a lot of tours,” Fojut said. “We haven’t sat down as a team yet and discussed this, but we’re really at the disposal of whatever they need us to do to showcase the city at its best.”
