Thread: "Tanked at the Lake" festival ignores ethnic ties,

"Tanked at the Lake" festival ignores ethnic ties, focuses on outdoor drinking
By OMC Staff Writers


Published April 1, 2007 at 12:01 a.m.

Milwaukee earned its "City of Festivals" nickname decades ago, but lately, several local event promoters have been quietly discussing the lakefront's major shortcoming: the lack of a big fest between Irish Fest and Mexican Fiesta.

That's why a new group, comprised of mixed ethnicities, decided it was time to launch a fresh festival. The group is called the Brew City Spirits, Inc., and it shares in Milwaukee's love for public intoxication.

On Saturday, it announced the creation of "Tanked at the Lake," a four-day drinking festival that will run between July 16-19.

"We felt it was time to spruce up the Milwaukee summer with a new festival this year," says Executive Director Ryan Carry. "Problem is, we'd pretty much run the gamut on highlighting different cultures, so we basically just ordered a bunch of booze and tents ... but we seriously doubt any one will notice or care."

Tanked at the Lake runs Monday-Thursday at the Henry Maier W. Festival Park during the "very long, sober days between ethnic festivals" in Milwaukee.

Musical entertainment includes a smattering of jukeboxes and boom boxes across the festival grounds, which were donated for the weekend by area bars.

But will a lack of good live music deter fest-goers from paying the $7 admission?

Carry says, "Hell no!

"Look at Jazz in the Park. They cram more people into one square block every Thursday night and it sure as hell ain't for the music. Have you heard Jazz Effects? Um, yeah. That's like cramming knitting needles in every orifice. People go for the chance to get drunk in public -- and that's what we're capitalizing on."

The upcoming festival has drawn criticism from some who say the festival serves as an enabler for the city's perceived penchant for binge drinking.

"We're just giving the public what it wants: A good enough reason to get drunk outside," Carry says. "It's a known fact that walking around helps you sober up more. So if people are walking around and drinking, they'll only stay at a certain level of tipsy.

"We'll also include an exercise ring ... so people can do their walking and drinking," Carry says. "There. We'll fight drunkenness and obesity at the same time. Tanked at the Lake will be a huge success for a festival not dedicated to ethnicities and to the healthfulness of Milwaukee."

In one small concession to fest opponents, Tanked at the Lake will discourage drinking and driving by closing all the parking lots on the grounds. Instead, they will encourage people to walk, bike, take taxis or buses to the event.

"We haven't actually met with anyone at the Milwaukee County Transit System yet to see if they will offer service," says Carry. "I had a meeting with them, but I overslept because I was totally hungover.

"I'm sure it'll all work itself out."
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