Most nights, the city of Milwaukee hums with the predictable rhythm of traffic and the wind coming off the lake. But on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 5:30 p.m., this hum was broken not by a siren, but by a collective outburst of screams.
No, this isn’t the beginning of a horror movie – this is “Screaming For Relief,” a regular event started around six months ago by a local resident who goes by the name Chris. The event offers a space where emotions can run freely and members can trade out polite Midwestern silence for a healthy dose of screaming.
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Chris says the idea started from a simple interaction on the Milwaukee Reddit page. “Somebody [was] asking where to scream because they were going through a really hard time and really wanted to let it out without disturbing someone,” he explains.
This initial conversation sparked an idea for Chris, and he was quick to test it out for himself. “I went and I screamed in the walk-in cooler… a coworker was outside. It wasn’t soundproof and he felt… concerned. But I felt amazing,” he says.
Photo by Wyatt R Voelker
The February gathering marked the sixth for Chris, who now follows an established structure from previous events.
Before any screams are let out, he leads attendees in breathing exercises to prepare the lungs and steady the heart, before leading the group down to the water where they then release any pressure, tension and emotion through screams cast over the lake.
First-time attendee and Milwaukee resident Sophia Joski definitely felt the energy. “Walking out to the pier, you kind of feel the energy build just a little bit, knowing you’re going to be out there yelling into the void,” Joski says.
For Joski, the “oddness” of the ritual is exactly what makes it work. It’s also helped her feel connected to people who feel as she does. “Meeting new people in the Milwaukee area is definitely something I’ve wanted to do,” Joski explains.
For Chris, seeing connections like Joski’s is the ultimate goal and something he pays close attention to. “It’s very powerful to see other people experience joy,” he says.
Photo by Wyatt R Voelker
The energy attendees felt may be anchored in the calendar. Chris organizes these events to coincide with full moons, embracing the power of “new cycles.” The Feb. 1 event carried extra weight because it coincided with Imbolc, a Celtic fire festival marking the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
To honor these special events after the screams had faded over the water, members gathered around the warmth of a small Imbolic Fire to share in aspirations for the coming months and to yearn for warmer weather.
Despite bringing out a small crowd, Chris hopes to continue hosting these events for the community. “I want to keep doing this until it’s just me doing it. I’m already out watching the moon rise,” Chris said.
The only way to share this experience is for people to keep showing up, and Chris encourages those who may have seen the event details to come out. “You’ll never know if you don’t go and you’ll never shine if you don’t glow,” he quotes.
The importance of community is something he emphasizes as well, and with current times, “this event is more important than ever.”
For future information about these events, keep an eye on the Milwaukee subreddit, or reach out directly to Chris at ScreamMKE@gmail.com.
