MAPFest was conceived by George Prentice, owner of the popular LaCage Aux Folles nightclub, as a way for the community to support the fledgling Milwaukee AIDS Project (MAP), a project of first the Brady East STD Clinic and then of ARCW (AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin). The concept was to make it a celebration of health and diversity which could attract gay as well as understanding or sympathetic/ supportive non-gay people.
The first MAPFest was held on Labor Day, Monday September 1st, 1986, in the blocked off S. 2nd Street between National and Walker Sts.; directly fronting or backing on 4 major LGBT clubs/bars at the time: Mint Bar II, La Cage, Hot Legs, and the YP/ Your Place.
In the second year, an outdoor performance/ stage was added, and despite intermittent rain, was quite popular. In year three, the stage was repeated, and named "Under the Big Top".
In succeeding years, MAPFest found several different locations, including Schlitz Park (a block east of a building that would one day house the ARCW, and later the local LGBT Community Center), and the grounds of the Performing Arts Center.
Although MAPFest was popular, weather was always a gamble, and there was a perception of competition with PrideFest as well, which was becoming more popular.
Early in 1996, ARCW decided that other AIDS fundraising events, such as the Make A Promise Dinner and AIDS Walk, were better and more reliable methods of raising funds for the ARCW. So early in 1986, ARCW announced that the previous year's 10th 'MAPFest' would be the last, and they would concentrate instead on a presence at Milwaukee's PrideFest. MAPFest was discontinued.
1986 |
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Article: Results of first/ 1986 MAPFest
(In Step v3-18, Sept. 1986)
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Photos: first/ 1986 MAPFest
(In Step v3-18, Sept. 1986)
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1987 |
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Article: Results of rainy 1987 MAPFest
(In Step v4-17, October 1987)
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Photos: rainy 1987 MAPFest (possibly by Sue Dietz)
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Photos: rainy 1987 MAPFest (possibly by Sue Dietz)
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1988 |
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Article: Upcoming 1988 MAPFest
(In Step v5-13, August 1988)
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Article: Observations from 1988 MAPFest
(In Step v5-16, Sept. 1988)
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Article: Results of rainy 1987 MAPFest
(In Step v5-18, Sept. 1986)
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Photos: 1988 MAPFest
(In Step v5-16, Sept. 1988)
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1989 |
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Article: Preliminary plans for 1989 MAPFest
(In Step v6-15, August 1989)
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Ad: 1989 MAPFest
(In Step v6-17, August 1989)
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Article: Plans for MAPFest
(In Step v6-17, August 1989)
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Article: Results of 1989 MAPFest
(In Step v6-18, Sept. 1989)
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Photos: 1989 MAPFest
(In Step v6-18, Sept. 1989)
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1990 |
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Article calling for Entertainers
for 1990 MAP Fest
(In Step v7-12, June 1990)
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Ad: MAP Fest 1990
(In Step v7-17, August 1990)
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Article: Plans for 1990 MAP Fest
(In Step v7-17, August 1990)
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Article: Results of 1990 MAP Fest
(In Step v7-18, Sept. 1990)
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Photos: 1990 MAP Fest
(In Step v7-18, Sept. 1990)
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1991 |
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Article: 1991 MAP Fest announced
(Wis Light v4-15, July 1991)
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Ad: MAP Fest 1991
(In Step v8-15, August 1991)
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Article: Plans for 6th annual MAP Fest
(In Step v8-15, August 1991)
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Article: Results of 1991 MAP Fest
(In Step v8-18, Sept. 1991)
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Photos: 1991 MAP Fest
(In Step v8-18, Sept. 1991)
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1992 |
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Article: Plans for 1992 MAP Fest
(In Step v9-17, August 1992)
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Ad: 1992 MAP Fest
(In Step v9-17, August 1992)
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Program Book for 1992 MAP Fest
(click image to view PDF)
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Photos: 1992 MAP Fest
(In Step v9-19, Sept. 1992)
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Article: Results of 1992 MAP Fest
(In Step v9-19, Sept. 1992)
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1993 |
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Article: Schedule for 1993 MAP Fest
(In Step v10-17, August 1993)
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Ad: for 1993 MAP Fest
(In Step v10-17, August 1993)
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Article: Results of 1993 MAP Fest
(In Step v10-19, Sept. 1993)
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Photos: from 1993 MAP Fest
(In Step v10-19, Sept. 1993)
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Photos: from 1993 MAP Fest
(In Step v10-19, Sept. 1993)
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1994 |
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Cover for In Step's Sept. 1-14, 1994 issue
(In Step v11-17, Sept. 1994)
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Article: Schedule for 1994 MAP Fest
(In Step v11-17, Sept. 1994)
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Program Book for 1994 MAP Fest
(click image to view PDF)
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Photos: 1994 MAP Fest
(In Step v11-18, Sept. 1994)
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Results for 1994 MAP Fest
(In Step v11-18, Sept. 1994)
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Photo of the Flirtations at 1994 MAP Fest
(credit unknown)
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1995 |
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Photos from 1995 MAP Fest
(In Step v12-18, Sept. 1995)
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1996 |
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Article: No more MAPFests
(In Step v13-09, May 1996)
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