Photo credit: Shepherd Express Staff
Start marking your calendars: Milwaukee’s summer festival season is nearly upon us and it goes by fast. During the peak of summer, the city offers more outdoor events than even the most ardent festival-goer can keep up with, so be sure to take note of when your favorites are or you might miss them. Once again, we’ve compiled a calendar of some of the Milwaukee area’s most popular (and most eccentric) outdoor summer festivals and street parties. We’ll update this guide periodically throughout the summer, as more events are announced.
Friday, June 5
Summerfest Grounds
One of the country’s largest and most entertainment-driven LGBT festivals. This year’s headliners include En Vogue and Ani DiFranco. (Through Sunday, June 7)
Plymouth, Wis.
This biker festival for the moto-minded celebrates its second year in its new home of Plymouth. (Through Sunday, June 7)
Saturday, June 6
Brady Street
An art walk on one of Milwaukee's most culture-rich streets.
Hart Park
Scottish culture in action, featuring bagpipe bands, highland dancing and sheepdog demonstrations, along with a variety of old-school athletic events.
Friday, June 12
Summerfest Grounds
Five stages of all things Polish at the Summerfest grounds, including a “Non-Stop Polka Stage.” All that polka goes down even better if you hit up one of the festival’s vodka tastings first. (Through Sunday, June 14)
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Sunday, June 14
Locust Street
Now in its 39th year, this massive all-neighborhood blowout in Riverwest features six stages of music and entertainment as well as 100 arts and crafts booths. As always, it will kick off with a traditional 1.8 mile Beer Run/Walk. “No dogs, no carry-ins, no drama” is the rule here.
Walker’s Point
More than a dozen Walker’s Point restaurants contribute delicious dishes to this quirky culinary festival sponsored by Braise. Three words: garlic Bloody Marys. There will also be garlic-themed kids games.
Friday, June 19
Milwaukee Art Museum
Find some art for your living room while enjoying music, food and wine against one of the city’s most scenic backdrops.
Saturday, June 20
Summer Soulstice Music Festival
North Avenue
This daylong East Side party celebrates its 15th year with another lineup of music, arts, dodgeball and BMX stunt bikes. Headliners this year include Soul Low, GGOOLLDD, Tigernite, Low Down Sound, Aluar Pearls and Delta Routine.
Wednesday, June 24
Summerfest Grounds
You’ve probably heard of this one. Eleven days of non-stop music at 11 stages, with Marcus Amphitheater headliners including Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder and Zac Brown Band. (Through Sunday, July 5, with a day off on Monday, June 29)
Saturday, June 27
Potter Avenue
Local acts De La Buena, Klassik, Platinum Boys, Light Music and Nightgown will perform at this Bay View bar’s incredibly hip, low-key block party, which features an art and craft fair and food from neighboring Bay View restaurants.
Cedarburg, Wis.
Now in its 30th year, Cedarburg’s annual celebration of summer’s finest fruit remains as quaint as ever. People line up to try the strawberry brats. (Also Sunday, June 28)
Thursday, July 9
Cathedral Square Park
A celebration of France, right Downtown. Complete with an actual Bastille. (Through Sunday, July 12)
Friday, July 10
South Shore Park
The spirit of old Bay View lives on at this historic event, now in its 66th year, which features kids games, a fish fry, a classic car show and a massive nightly fireworks display. (Through Sunday, July 12)
Saturday, July 11
Milwaukee Mile
You can smell the burning rubber already. Two days of Indy racing at the world’s oldest operating motor speedway, with plenty of driver autograph sessions. (Also Sunday, July 12)
Friday, July 17
Summerfest Grounds
Milwaukee’s first ethnic festival at the Summerfest grounds, and still one of its largest. Come for the Italian food, stay for the incredible fireworks. (Through Sunday, July 19)
Saturday, July 18
Port Washington, Wis.
The world’s largest one-day fish fry also features a variety of blues, rock and country music each year.
Friday, July 24
Summerfest Grounds
Come raise a stein and root for your favorite wiener dog in the Dachshund Derby. (Through Sunday, July 26)
Saturday, July 25
Brady Street
In addition to the expected music, Brady Street’s annual bash features a BMX stunt team, the Casablanca Rumble V Pro Wrestling Ring and a giant bounce house. There’s also lots of cheese—it’s a pretty great event.
Milwaukee’s Lakefront
Two days of camera-ready stunts and displays from the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army. Those jets are loud. (Also Sunday, July 26)
Saturday, Aug. 1
Center Street
This colorful festival features all the music you’d expect from a Riverwest street party—including tons of great punk—in addition to number of tournaments and competitions, including a push cart race, a street pool tournament, a dodgeball tournament and a pinball tournament.
Thursday, Aug. 6
Wisconsin State Fair Park
Eat novelty food near animals. Headliners this year include Boston, Jason Derulo and gambling man Kenny Rogers. (Through Sunday, Aug. 16)
Thursday, Aug. 13
Summerfest Grounds
You know those awesome Reuben egg rolls, with all the cabbage in them? You can find those here, along with stages and stages of Celtic music and dance. (Through Sunday, Aug. 16)
Saturday, Aug. 15
Humboldt Park
A new addition to Humboldt Park, IndiaFest got off to a roaring start in the past couple of years with a daylong party featuring Indian food, music and dancing, and ended with a seriously sweaty dance party. The organizers should have no problem keeping that momentum going in year three.
Thursday, Aug. 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel a la Carte
Milwaukee County Zoo
Nothing against the Milwaukee County Zoo’s cafeteria, but the eating is a little bit better at the zoo during its annual feast with the beasts event, which features 28 area restaurants and national headliners including Dan + Shay, Jana Kramer, War and Sam Llanas. (Through Sunday, Aug. 23)
Friday, Aug. 21
Summerfest Grounds
Three days of salsa, mariachi, dancing and some of the best food in the city, along with a host of cultural events.
Cathedral Square Park
It’s a weekend of White Russians as Cathedral Square Park hosts a free screening of the Coen Brothers’ cult classic The Big Lebowski and music from Here Come The Mummies. There’s a bowling party the following day, Saturday, Aug. 22.
Saturday, Aug. 29
Summerfest Grounds
A relatively new addition to the Summerfest Grounds, this free event encourages attendees to bring their dogs for a day of pet-driven entertainment including training clinics, dock diving and agility courses.
Thursday, Sept. 3
Multiple Locations
The largest free motorcycle rally in the Midwest. (Through Monday, Sept. 7)
Friday, Sept. 4
Waukesha Expo Center
A weekend-long competition in the Celtic tradition. (Through Sunday, Sept. 6)
Saturday, Sept. 5
Third Ward
A weekend of art in one of Milwaukee's most art-minded districts. (Also Sunday, Sept. 6)
Friday, Sept. 11
Summerfest Grounds
Three days of pow wows, music, dance and cultural demonstrations, along with perhaps the fall’s finest snack food: fry bread. The lacrosse matches are always a popular draw.
Saturday, Sept. 12
North Avenue
A celebration of all things tomato, which includes a juried Bloody Mary contest and a must-see tomato fight that pins hundreds of people in a cage with 6,000 pounds of rotten tomatoes.
Saturday, Sept. 19
Kinnickinnic Avenue
This charming near-zero-waste festival spotlights Bay View’s many businesses and restaurants and features multiple stages of music.
Cathedral Square Park
There’s no shortage of country festivals around the state, but most of them require a little bit of driving. This one seeks to prove city kids can party just as hard as their rural peers. Headliners include Kelsea Ballerini, Michael Ray and Bella Cain. There will also be a pig roast, a shooting gallery and mechanical bull rides.
