May rolls in with a packed weekend — LOTS of Live Music, Bluey at the ballpark, Amy Grant at the PAC, Sunday's Anime-Fest at the Hilton, and two flood-relief benefit concerts on Saturday for neighbors hit by the recent flooding. Here's everything worth your time.
⭐ Weekender Picks
🎤 Amy Grant — Fox Cities PAC (Thrivent Hall), Appleton
Six-time Grammy winner Amy Grant brings her legendary catalog to Thrivent Hall Sunday at 3pm — three decades of pop, contemporary Christian, and country hits in one afternoon show. One of the biggest names on the PAC's spring calendar; if you know someone who grew up on 'Baby Baby,' tell them now.
🎌 Appleton Anime-Fest 2026 — Hilton Appleton Paper Valley, Appleton
Appleton's anime convention takes over the Hilton Paper Valley — voice actors, vendors, attractions, panels, and a cosplay contest. Fun for the whole family and kids are free. Already drawing 3.2K responses on Facebook — this is a massive Sunday draw.
🎸 Bush w/ Mammoth & James and the Cold Gun — Oshkosh Arena, Oshkosh
Multi-platinum '90s rock icons Bush kick off their 2026 tour in support of 'I Beat Loneliness' — Wednesday night at the Oshkosh Arena with Mammoth and James and the Cold Gun opening. Arena shows in Oshkosh don't happen every week; this one's a statement.
Friday Events
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana — Appleton 💃 | Fri May 1 | 7:30pm | Fox Cities PAC | Ticketed · Top Spanish dance company · tickets →
Cujo the Poet and Carnage the Executioner — Appleton 🎤 | Fri May 1 | 8pm | Appleton Beer Factory | Indie hip-hop double bill · tickets →
Saturday Events
Let's Ride Expo — Oshkosh 🏍️ | Sat May 2 | 9am | Sunnyview Expo Center | Motorcycle season opener · demos · gear · Facebook event →
God's Helping Hands — Community Event & Christian Music Concert — Appleton 🎵 | Sat May 2 | 10am – 6pm | Pierce Park | FREE · Ambush Worship · Lori Bell · Rodney Ashcraft · Art of Grace · Facebook event →
⭐ Shop, Sip & Stroll Wine Walk — Kentucky Derby Edition — Appleton 🍷 | Sat May 2 | 1pm – 4pm | Downtown Appleton | Ticketed · 21+ · Derby hats encouraged · tickets →
⭐ Bluey at the Ballpark — Appleton 🐶 | Sat May 2 | 1:10pm | Neuroscience Group Field (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) | Ticketed · Bluey VIP Package · 1.7K RSVPs · meet & photo · tickets →
Benefit for Mike "MJ" Jacob — Menasha 🤝 | Sat May 2 | 2pm – 5pm | Stone Toad Bar & Grill | Community benefit · crash-survivor fundraiser · Facebook event
Waterfront Rocks Flood Benefit Concert — New London 🤝 | Sat May 2 | 3pm – 2:30am | C&R Waterfront Bar & Grill | Flood relief benefit · Sixx Gunns Loaded + 6 bands · 100% to NL Chamber Flood Relief Fund · Facebook event →
Naughty Monkey @ The 10th Frame w/ Rooftop Jumpers — Appleton 🎸 | Sat May 2 | 7pm | The 10th Frame | Throwback rock · w/ Rooftop Jumpers · Facebook event →
Flood Relief Concert: American Platinum & Avenue 55 — Fremont 🤝 | Sat May 2 | 7pm doors · 7:30pm music | Fremont River Deck | FREE · No cover · Fremont Flood Relief benefit · Facebook event →
Diggstown and Modern Joey (Splitbill) — Appleton 🎸 | Sat May 2 | 8pm | Appleton Beer Factory | Local rock splitbill · tickets →
Diamond & Steel — Kaukauna 🎸 | Sat May 2 | 8:30pm – 12am | JJ Maloney's | Country/rock duo · Facebook event →
The 308s @ Kountry Bar — Appleton 🤠 | Sat May 2 | 9pm | Kountry Bar | Country with an attitude · Facebook event →
Sunday Events
Walk to Remember (5th Annual) — Appleton 🤝 | Sun May 3 | 9am sign-in · 10:15am walk | Hilton Appleton Paper Valley (Empire Room) | Suicide prevention walk · Prevent Suicide Fox Cities · Culver's custard · raffle baskets · Facebook event
⭐ Appleton Anime-Fest 2026 — Appleton 🎌 | Sun May 3 | 10am – 5pm | Hilton Appleton Paper Valley | Kids free · voice actors · cosplay contest · 3.2K RSVPs · Facebook event →
⭐ Amy Grant — Appleton 🎤 | Sun May 3 | 3pm | Fox Cities PAC (Thrivent Hall) | Ticketed · Six-time Grammy winner · tickets →
Upcoming Weekday Events
⭐ Bush w/ Mammoth & James and the Cold Gun — Oshkosh 🎸 | Wed May 6 | 7pm | Oshkosh Arena | Ticketed · major tour kickoff · tickets →
Preacher Lawson — Appleton 😂 | Wed May 6 | 6pm | Skyline Comedy Club | Ticketed · AGT semifinalist · tickets →
Touch a Truck — Neenah 🚚 | Wed May 6 | 10am – 12pm | Memorial Park | Free · fire trucks · tractors · city vehicles · details →
📅 On the Horizon
Uncle Lucius: 20th Anniversary Tour — Appleton 🎶 | Thu May 14 | 8pm | Appleton Beer Factory | Ticketed · Austin Americana · tickets →
⭐ Leanne Morgan — Working It Out, Y'all — Appleton 😂 | Fri May 15 | Skyline Comedy Club | Ticketed · National touring headliner · tickets →
Light the Night Market + The Glam Band — Appleton 🌙 | Fri May 15 | 5pm (Market) · 8pm (Band) | Houdini Plaza | Night market · live music · details →
Neenah Street Party — Neenah 🎉 | Sat May 16 | 2pm – 10pm | Greene's Pour House | Closed-street block party · details →
That's your weekend, Fox Valley. Between the Live Music, Amy Grant at the PAC, a 3,000-person Anime-Fest at the Hilton, Wisconsin's motorcycle-season opener in Oshkosh, and a Derby-themed wine walk on College Ave, May is kicking off hard. Two flood-relief benefit shows on Saturday — one at the Fremont River Deck, one at C&R Waterfront in New London — if you've got a few bucks for neighbors hit by the flooding, those are the spots. Pick your thing and go.
— Jake