Milwaukee, WI
July 11 Harley-Davidson Homecoming concerts in Milwaukee Veterans Park canceled by storms
Festivalgoers evacuate amid tornado warning at Harley-Davidson Homecoming
Festivalgoers evacuate as tornado warning hits the Harley-Davidson Homecoming at Veteran Park in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 11, 2025.
One of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming festival’s centerpiece attractions — concerts in Veterans Park in downtown Milwaukee — ended not with a roar but with a whimper July 11, and abruptly, when the concerts were canceled around 6 p.m. due to approaching storms.
The cancellation happened about three hours after festivities in the park had started, but before the day’s biggest acts — including Treaty Oak Revival, Charles Wesley Godwin and headliner Hank Williams Jr. — were able to perform. Four of the day’s nine acts, including country rock band Ole 60, managed to play before the park was shut down.
It was the first of two consecutive days of concerts at the downtown Milwaukee park, the festival’s main event.
Social media posts on the festival’s accounts indicated around 6 p.m. July 11 that “Veterans Park is being evacuated due to severe weather approaching, bringing strong winds, lightning, and heavy rainfall. … The remainder of the festival day has been canceled.”
Similar announcements were made over the festival’s speakers at around that time, when Godwin was supposed to perform.
Skies were clear and remained clear for an hour after the cancellation July 11. Thousands calmly walked out of the park; some attendees swore, while others danced. A handful of fans stayed put and continued to camp out by the main stage despite the evacuation order.
Outside the festival entrance, the War Memorial Beer Garden sold evacuated fest-goers drinks, while a couple of savvy hot dog vendors camped out and took advantage of the situation. Several hundred people hung around, watching an unexpected 6:30 p.m. traffic jam of motorcycles roaring out of downtown on Lincoln Memorial Drive.
At around 7 p.m. July 11, Harley-Davidson posted on its social media channels that all July 11 passes purchased through the event’s primary ticket seller, Front Gate Tickets, would be refunded, and all two-day ticket holders who purchased passes through Front Gate would receive a 50% refund. Refunds will be processed directly within 30 days, according to the post.
“Unfortunately, due to severe weather in the area, we had to end the show earlier than we hoped,” read the company’s statement on social media. “Safety is our top concern, and this was the best course of action for our fans, artists and crew.”
The Harley-Davidson Homecoming is in its third consecutive year. It kicked off July 10 with events at the motorcycle company’s headquarters and adjacent Davidson Park, the Harley-Davidson Museum, Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations and six area Harley dealerships.
Of all of the Homecoming festivals, the Veterans Park concerts have been the main event. Last year, they featured headliners the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jelly Roll and Hardy; in 2023, it was Foo Fighters and Green Day.
Both of those years were blessed with great weather, and the two festivals drew about 140,000 people combined.
Two-day passes and July 12 passes for the Veterans Park concerts this year were sold out before noon July 11, according to a media release.
The Veterans Park concerts July 12 are scheduled to feature nine acts, including headliner Chris Stapleton; buzzy undercard artists Sierra Ferrell and Turnpike Troubadours; and movie star and Harley fan Jason Momoa’s rock band Oof Tatata.
Those second day Veterans Park shows were still on as of 7:43 p.m. July 11. At that time, the forecast for July 12 called for a high of 84 degrees, with chances of a stray shower or thunderstorm.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Weather: Mild and breezy Saturday, slight chance of showers
MILWAUKEE – Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Lisa Michaels
Partly sunny skies on Saturday with a slight chance for a few sprinkles or a shower.
Temperatures warmer on Saturday in the mid to upper 60s. Isolated 70s near the border. Breezy with winds gusting near 30mph.
Cooler temperatures in the upper 50s on Sunday (Mother’s Day) with increasing clouds. Patchy frost Saturday night into Sunday and Sunday night into Monday.
Next chance of rain and storms arrives on Tuesday.
Today: Partly sunny. A few showers possible. Breezy.
High: 67°
Wind: NW 10-25
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Patchy frost.
Low: 42°
Wind: NW 5-10
Sunday: Increasing clouds.
High: 57°
Wind: NW 5-15
Monday: Mostly sunny.
AM Low: 39° High: 59°
Wind: E 5-10
Tuesday: Warm and windy. Chance storms.
AM Low: 42° High: 68°
Wind: SW 10-25
Wednesday:Partly sunny.
AM Low: 46° High: 59°
Wind: NW 5-15
Thursday: Mostly sunny.
AM Low: 42° High: 64°
Wind: S 5-10
6-day planner
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
FOX Weather
Big picture view:
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
Milwaukee, WI
Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation while honoring Milwaukee teachers
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Bobby Portis Foundation hosted a luncheon Friday at Roosevelt Middle School to honor teachers — many of whom are also mothers — with Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Week overlapping on the calendar.
Portis and his mother, Tina Edwards, spent the day celebrating educators and reflecting on the mission behind the foundation.
“We just want to make sure that we let the teachers know you are appreciated because sometimes it goes beyond being a parent at home, but sometimes teachers are parents at school,” Edwards explained.
Ariel Campos, TMJ4 Sports
For Portis, a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, the foundation has always been rooted in one person.
“The Bobby Portis Foundation has always just been solely based upon really my mom, and that’s the inspiration behind it,” Portis said.
WATCH: Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation
Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation while honoring Milwaukee teachers
Growing up, Portis watched his mother raise four boys on her own.
“My mom worked tirelessly to take care of all four of us,” Portis said.
Edwards made sacrifices for her sons from the very beginning — including turning down a basketball scholarship after becoming pregnant with Bobby.
“I still was offered a scholarship after I had him, but I wanted to choose him over ball,” Edwards said.
Tina Edwards
That sacrifice brought her full circle through her son’s career.
“With Bobby becoming an NBA player, he’s living my dream, and I’m living the dream through him,” Edwards shared.
For Portis, the event was an opportunity to honor everything his mother has given him.
“I can’t just put into words what my mom has done for me, not only for my basketball career – that’s just like a small portion of my life – I’m talking about just me as a human being, as a man. I mean, I didn’t have a dad growing up, so my mom played both roles. She did a hell of a job raising not only me but my three other brothers,” Portis said.
His grandmother’s message to spread his blessings continues to drive his work.
“Being able to be in a position now to have a voice, to have a platform, to give back, to help inspire. I try to use it to the best of my abilities,” Portis said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Milwaukee, WI
Food trucks in Milwaukee brace for new curfew
MILWAUKEE — Saturday is the start of the food truck curfew in downtown Milwaukee. That curfew was passed by the Common Council to address safety concerns after several violent incidents.
Alma Juarez is with Tacos Almita on Water Street in downtown Milwaukee. Juarez said since the city passed the curfew, she’s had just over two weeks to adjust.
“We’re trying to think what we’re going to do,” said Juarez. “Maybe we’re going to start in another place or move the food truck after 10 p.m., but that means we have to start over again.”
She said that means she may also have to start building up a news customer base.
“Moving the truck means that… we have to struggle,” said Juarez.
Juarez is not alone in worrying about her financial future.
Last Thursday, a group of owners took their concerns to city hall. Jennifer Martinez, who’s with the food truck known as Tacos El Pastorcito Mixe, was at that demonstration. She said the late-night hours make up roughly 75% of her revenue.
“During the day, I’ve tried opening very early in the morning — 8 a.m. 9 a.m. — it doesn’t make a difference. There’s no… we don’t have much sales throughout the day,” said Martinez.
Ald. Robert Bauman represents downtown and was the sponsor of the ordinance.
Last week he told Spectrum News that he’s aware of the economic burden the truck operators are facing. However, he said safety concerns are a bigger priority.
“And MPD (Milwaukee Police Department) has said on the record repeatedly that food trucks are a major contributing cause for the loitering and disorder that takes place on Water Street,” said Bauman, who represents District 4 in Milwaukee.
He said he’s willing to take a hit on food trucks and prioritize the concerns of larger businesses.
“If they feel that downtown is not safe anymore, they’ll either not come at all, or they’ll leave as soon as their event is over with and not spend any additional money in the downtown area,” said Bauman.
But Juarez said the city shouldn’t have to do that. She said she believes food trucks aren’t the cause of the problem.
“You can see it in any places, but not here,” said Juarez. “It can happen here, but not in front of the food trucks cause they are saying that a lot of violence, a lot of the things that are going on is in front of the food truck. You can see that all the shooting happens after 1 a.m. or 3 a.m. Last shooting, it was after 1 a.m.”
Food truck owners said they hope to continue to turn a profit after the ordinance starts, but they said they face a potentially tough financial future.
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