May 19, 2025 (Summer)
Top Summer Picks from The Quill Editors
Our editors list the top entertainment picks they’re looking foward to this summer, from books to concerts to museum exhibits and everything in between:
June 20: This summer I am lucky enough to seem my favorite musician of all time in concert for the second time. If you know anything about me you know that I am, of course, talking about Hozier. He is coming back to the Midwest with his “Unreal Unearth Tour” and will be gracing the American Family Field Amphitheater with his presence on June 20th. I was lucky enough to get some tickets for this show for Christmas this year am beyond excited. If you are a fan definitely check it out and don’t miss the chance to see such an amazing artist so close to home! —Payton Rhyner
June 26-August 14 (Thursdays): Every summer in Sheboygan, there is a series of free, outdoor concerts in the summer put on by (and held outside) the John Micheal Kohler Arts Center. The Levitt AMP Sheboygan Music Series starts on June 26 and goes until August 14, with a concert every Thursday. There are always a variety of bands, so not all the concerts will be to your taste, but you can look at a preview of this summer’s concerts on the JMKAC website. —Neesa Peak
June 27: The third and final season of the Netflix original K-drama series Squid Game will be premiering on June 27th, and I know I’m not alone in my excitement. This series took the world by storm upon its release in 2021, with season two following in 2024 and leaving us on an incredible cliffhanger. Now, we will finally get the thrilling conclusion — can Gi-Hun really succeed in putting an end to the violent games for good? If you haven’t checked out Squid Game yet, you’re truly missing out! Take these next weeks to catch up so you, too, can join the hundreds of millions of fans tuning in this June. —Brooke Schoening
June 28: The Sheboygan Pride Picnic is a big event that happens every summer in Sheboygan. It takes place at the Sheboygan City Greens on June 28th, and throughout the whole day, tons of activities and open opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to band together for a day are available. The Pride Picnic has food trucks, drag-queen performances, and all sorts of organizations show up, including our very own Green Bay Pride Center. If you’d like to spend a fun summer day around the local loving community of Sheboygan, come attend the Sheboygan Pride Picnic! —Alex Lopez
July 2: Jurassic World: Rebirth is set to hit theaters on July 2, 2025! This exciting installment brings a bold new vision to the beloved franchise, complete with breathtaking visuals, a vibrant new cast, and some truly terrifying dinosaurs. It promises to be a must-see summer experience, blending adventure, suspense, and spectacle that everyone in the family can enjoy! —Cheyenne Shull
July 11-13: Kitsune Kon is an anime convention held every July in Green Bay that has a little something for everyone. This year, it will be held at the KI Convention Center. Guests can enjoy events dedicated to anime, gaming, and much more! Some of the highlights of this year’s convention are visiting voice actors, arcade gaming, the artist’s alley, costume contests, and tabletop gaming. Pictured right: Filipina American actress Christine Marie Cabanos, who has provided the voices of Super Sailor Saturn in Sailor Moon, Rebecca in One Piece, Erica Brown in Violet Evergarden, and many more beloved anime characters. She will be one of the many voice talents visiting this year’s convention! Check out their website for more information and registration. —Clover Cicha
July 16: A show I’m looking forward to in summer 2025 is the third and final season of the Amazon Prime TV series The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022), a TV adaptation produced by Jenny Han, the author of the book series of the same name. In this third season, we’ll get to see a new side of Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) and which of the Fisher brothers she ends up with after all the back and forth of the first two seasons. As someone who prefers to read the book after the show/movie — I know, sue me — I can’t wait to see which direction Han takes the story in comparison to the book, leaving me excited and bursting with anticipation! —Kendall Cox
July 22: A Good Girls Guide to Murder is a fiction series that I can sit down with on my day off and finish a whole book. Holly Jackson’s attention to detail in moving a plot forward is incredible. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson is set to release on July 22, 2025. It follows Jet Mason as she tries to solve her own murder. With Holly Jackson’s ability at sprinkling in the most intense, detailed-oriented clues, I can’t wait to see how she’ll go about Jet Mason’s story. Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families is Vermont, and on Halloween night, she’s attacked. Due to the injuries she sustained, her doctors say she has “at most, seven days” left to live — and to figure out who her attacker was. —Jenna Fintelmann
July 25: It’s time for Marvel fans to rejoice! On July 25th, Marvel Studios will be releasing the long-anticipated film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This will be the first entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first family and is set to feature several memorable characters from the comics, such as Galactus, the Silver Surfer, and even H.E.R.B.I.E the robot. Moviegoers can also expect the story to take place in a setting based on 1960s aesthetics, albeit in an alternate reality to the main MCU timeline. If this sounds like a movie you would be interested in seeing with the family, make sure to keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale. This film will likely be in high demand upon its release. —Noah Spellich
August 9: This summer is going to rock, BIG TIME! On August 9th, Big Time Rush is taking center stage at the American Family Amphitheater in Milwaukee. I’m super excited to see my favorite band live on stage after so many years. It will be an awesome end to the summer before I go back to school. [Editor’s note: See Julia’s “Bingeable TV” article on Big Time Rush, the band’s eponymous show, below.] —Julia Hahn
August 15: From 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., join the city of Manitowoc at the Lakeshore Balloon Glow. This is a free event for everyone. The main attraction — hot air balloons! Strategically placed along the riverfront to light up the night, the hot air balloons will be illuminated at dusk — 7:45 p.m. The evening entertainment list is filled with food trucks, a kid zone, a magic show, 8:30 p.m. fireworks, a water-ski show and more! Funds raised go toward Manitowoc beautification projects. Located at 720 Quay St. Manitowoc, WI. We hope to see you there! —Karrie Wortner
August 31: “Rebel Yell” Meets “Bad Reputation”: Why I’m Hyped for the Billy Idol & Joan Jett Show This Summer”
- Two legends, one night — Billy Idol and Joan Jett on the same stage? That’s like peak eyeliner, leather, and actual rock history. I’m not missing it.
- It’s happening in Milwaukee — No need to road trip across the country. They’re coming here in August, and that’s basically fate.
- Joan Jett still shreds — She’s not just a nostalgia act. Her voice still hits, and she owns the stage. Plus, “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” live? Yes, please.
- Billy Idol still commands the stage — At 68, he hasn’t lost his edge. The trademark sneer, the fist pumps, the mic swings — they’re all still there. And when “White Wedding” hits? Instant chills.
- It’s not just a concert; it’s an experience — You don’t go to a show like this and just watch. You sing, dance, scream, and maybe even buy a T-shirt you’ll never wear again but can’t throw away. —Ginger Knauer
All Summer (May 17 – September 7): If I hadn’t ultimately decided on a career in publishing and then teaching, college-bound me might have eventually become a CIA spy. However, my unimaginative, pre-internet-era high-school guidance counselor thought my goal was “unrealistic,” so thanks, Mr. Chittum, for killing that dream. But now, you and I can both put ourselves in the shoes of a pre-Avengers Natasha Romanoff when Green Bay’s Mulva Cultural Center brings us the next best thing to a career in black ops: Its Top Secret: License to Spy exhibit goes live on May 17th, and it promises loads of fun. When you arrive, you’ll receive a dossier with a spy scenario and six suspects. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to gather intellignce from the exhibits and figure out who your target really is. Do my kids want to go? No. Will I make them so I have an excuse to unleash my inner La Femme Nikita on the Mulva Center’s interactive exhibits without looking like a weirdo? Why, yes! Will I probably end up more like Melissa McCarthy’s Susan Cooper in the movie Spy? Yes, again, but the wonderful thing about midlife is that you’re not easily embarrassed anymore. I’ll see you there — if you can find me, blending in with the exhibits like a shadow of spycraft doom. —Tracy Fernandez Rysavy
All summer: Come experience fun for free at the Howard Commons Activity Complex. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday from 12 noon – 9 p.m., and Sunday from 12 noon – 5 p.m., this complex showcases a number of summer events such as: Grooves in the ‘Garten, Market & Music, Pints & Pickleball, Rock the Commons Concert Series, and much, much more. No matter where you’re from or what you’re into, there’s an event here for everyone. For more info on their summer events and more, you can visit their website. —Seth VanEss
All summer: Catch a baseball game this summer! All the way until September, head to American Family Field for a Milwaukee Brewers game. Weekends and weekdays, everything is fair game. Enjoy some classic snacks, cheer on the Brewers, and make some unforgettable memories with family or friends. Check the Brewers’ website for a schedule of game dates and grab your tickets. If you’re looking to save some cash, Monday-Friday games are only $10 for students. See you at the ballpark! —Katie Frank