More than 80,000 people work in Downtown Milwaukee, and each year the city honors them with its Downtown Employee Appreciation Week. The event features a variety of promotions, games and giveaways and — perhaps most notably for Downtown workers looking to save a few bucks — a free daily lunch giveaway in different downtown parks.



Here’s where to score a free lunch every day this week from 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Courtesy Milwaukee Downtown

Monday, July 22

Red Arrow Park

This Downtown Employee Appreciation kickoff event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music, and lunch for 1,000 employees provided by Pita Pit, Davians and Starbucks. They’ll be giving away small pitas, bags of chips, lemon cooler cookies and iced coffee and iced tea samples.

Tuesday, July 23

Pere Marquette Park

The day kicks off with The World’s Largest Coffee Break at Catalano Square from 9:30-10:30 a.m., featuring coffee and treats from local coffee shops. Then there will be a lunch giveaway in Pere Marquette Park featuring 1,000 slices of mac & cheese pizza from Ian’s Pizza and 1,000 blondie bites from SafeHouse.

Wednesday, July 24

Schlitz Park

This gathering at Schlitz Park will include live music from Ms. Lotus Fankh and 1,000 slices of cheese or pepperoni pizza from Palermo’s, 1,000 ice cream cups from Milwaukee Police Department and 1,000 cookies from Schlitz Park Café.

Thursday, July 25

Zeidler Union Square

The day begins with a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card giveaway outside Chase Plaza from 7-9 a.m., before the lunch giveaway at Zeidler Union Square. It’ll feature 1,000 mini turkey subs and 1,000 bags of chips from Cousin’s Subs, and 1,000 cookies from Corner Bakery Café.

Friday, July 26

Cathedral Square Park

Downtown Employee Appreciation Week’s final lunch giveaway is its biggest. It’ll be a feast featuring 1,000 brats from Modern Maintenance, chips and guacamole samples from Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, oranges from KEI, ice cream cups from Milwaukee Police Department, cookies from DoubleTree and something else TBA from 600 East Café.