Tosafest Lineup Features Top-Notch Talents

Headlining and closing Tosafest on its two music stages this year are two international acts – and one of them happens to be Wauwatosa's own.

Guitar wizard and Tosa native Greg Koch takes to the Maxie's Harwood Stage at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Koch's uncanny ability to coax any classic sound out of an electric guitar, and his encyclopedic memory for every great guitar-god riff, have earned him accolades around the world.

Those attributes also long since earned him one of the most revered jobs any six-string slinger could dream of – lead demonstrator for Fender Guitar.

In concert, Koch is never shy about showing off exactly how Hendrix did it, among many others, but he's happy to play his own styles and music as well.

Koch close's out the festival for Maxie's Stage following a show by the Kirk Tatnall and Group Therapy Band that begins at 5:30.

Dave and Buster's State Street Stage builds up to a final performance at 9 p.m. Saturday by bayou king Buckwheat Zydeco – he may not be on Maxie's Stage but he knows from Southern Comfort.

A Buckwheat Zydeco show is more than a musical performance – it's is a party, and you'll want to wear dancing shoes. (And even if you think you don't like accordians, you will make an exception.)

The closing act on Dave and Buster's Stage follows longtime Milwaukee favorite Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound, beginning at 6 p.m.

Check out the full lineup of music to see whether one of your can't-miss-'em acts is scheduled.

Sk8trs welcome to join in – and compete

New this year at Tosafest is the Tosa Skateboarders United Ramp Jam, along with the group's first Amateur Competition.

Anyone is welcome to skate or bike – "ollie up" or "grind a rail" – at the TSU Jam from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The Amateur Competition will be at 3 p.m. the same afternoon. A signed waiver and helmet is necessary for this event.

TSU ramps, rails and boxes will be set up in the parking lot south of the Menomonee River, with TSU T-shirts for sale.

Run for it!

The Saturday evening tradition of the Badgerland Striders Run will take you to Tosafest hungry and thirsty after 5 fast kilometers.

Packet pickup and race day registion are from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at , 7500 Milwaukee Ave., and the run starts at 5:30 p.m. at North 69th Street and Hillcrest Avenue (see the map).

If you don't skate – do you bake?

Thirty years – that's how long the Tosa Bakeoff and Chili Challenge has been going on.

This year, on that auspicious anniversary, the competitive cake bake is being replaced by a Cupcake Challenge. Chili is, of course, still on the bill, with bakers and chefs vying for shares in $1,200 worth of prizes.

Judging will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at The Chancery's Del Monte Lounge. Please read the contest rules to make sure you'll qualify to win if you enter.

Bring some food, get some food

If you bring one of the first 1,000 non-perishable food item to Tosafest (main food court area), you'll get up to 5 food and beverage tickets free (1 per item).
Food donations will go to Tosa Cares.

Tosafest also features a full slate of Arts & Crafts vendors, activities at Kids Korner and food, food, food from a raft of Wauwatosa's favorite dining spots.

Tosafest sponsors this year are , , , , , The Enclave Luxury Apartments, American Transmission Co. and Miller Lite.

Proceeds from Tosafest 2011 went to donations to:

• Wauwatosa Police Reserve
• City of Wauwatosa Civic Celebration Committee (4th of July Parade)
• Village Business Improvement District – Aesthetics in the Village  
• Wauwatosa Police Department National Night Out  
• Friends of Tosa Pool at Hoyt Park
• ACAP, Independence First  
• Wauwatosa West High School Dance Team
• Boys Scout Troop 41  
• Tosa Wrestling Team

Street and parking closures for Tosafest

Finally, take note of these street and parking closings and times.

Closed from 2 p.m. Friday to midnight Saturday are:

State Street – from Wauwatosa Avenue (near WaterStone Bank) to Harmonee Avenue.

Harwood Avenue – from Wauwatosa Avenue to State Street.

Underwood Avenue – from State Street to Harmonee Avenue.

Parking Lot closures are:

The large parking lot behind the Little Red Store/Under Harmonee Bridge will be closed starting Thursday and will remain closed until midnight Sunday.

Hart’s Mill parking lot (east of Harwood) will be available for normal use during the day Friday but will be closed from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday for the regular Tosa Farmer’s Market. It will then be used for Tosafest activities for the rest of that day.

LefeberPoint Enclosed Parking will beaccessible via the alley off the Harwood access road and exit onto Underwood Avenue. You may have to move a barricade; if so, please put it back into place.

Robertson Hardware Building Customer Parking may be entered as usual  

The Underground Public Parking next to Noodles will not be accessible.  There will be no vehicle access to the alley adjacent to the Go Green building during Tosafest.

Businesses are asked to alert staff to the street closures so they can plan ahead and have all cars removed from closed streets by 2 p.m. on Friday.

If you have any questions or concerns, call Chuck Erickson (Tosafest facilities  chairman) at 414-453-8548 or Jim Plaisted (Village BID director) 414-297-9285.