Summer Festival Guide
MAY
Thursday Bike Night Concert Series
- Thursdays through September 28, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
- Harley-Davidson Museum
- 400 West Canal Street, Milwaukee
- harley-davidson.com
All bikes are welcome on the campus of the Harley-Davidson Museum for free live music, food and drinks.
Milwaukee Makers Market
Photo courtesy Milwaukee Makers Market
- May–December
- milwaukeemakersmarket.com
50+ Local Small Businesses rotate the Markets throughout the season from April thru Dec at venues such as Discovery World, The Ivy House, & The Starling with pop-ups this Summer inside the Deer District.
Event hours are 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m. at The Ivy House and Discovery World. See website for location details.
Budweiser Wednesday Night Live
- May 31–August 30
- Wisconsin State Fair Park
- budpavilion.com
Wednesday Night Live is a free weekly summer concert series held at the Budweiser Pavilion on the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds.
The Depot Beer Garden–Old Falls Village
- Saturdays May 13–October 14, 3:00 - 9:00 p.m.
- Old Falls Village, Pilgrim Road and Hwy. Q, Menomonee Falls
- oldfallsvillage.com
The historical museum's grounds feature antique farming equipment and steam engines, hands-on pioneer activities, old-fashioned children's games, country market food vendors and live music. The beer garden is open Saturdays.
Casa Guadalupe 11th Annual Fiesta Latina
- Saturday, May 20
- Noon–8:30 p.m.
- Regner Park, West Bend
- casaguadalupeonline.org/events/fiesta-latina
‘Merica on Brady Street
- May 28
- Noon - 6:00 p.m.
- Bar crawl with 16 bars on Brady Street
- eventbrite.com/e/merica-on-brady-street-tickets-576275574757
JUNE
Summer Sounds at Cedar Creek Park
- June–August
- Cedar Creek Park, Cedarburg
- summersounds.net
PrideFest
- June 1–3
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- pridefest.com
Jazz in the Park
- Thursdays, June 1–July 6 and July 27–August 31
- Cathedral Square Park
- easttown.com
The popular evening music series returns to Cathedral Square.
Paint Cedarburg
A Plein Air Painting Event
- June 2–10
- Downtown Cedarburg
- cedarburgartistsguild.com/paint-cedarburg
Milwaukee Highland Games
- June 3
- Croation Park
- 9100 S. 76th Street, Franklin
- milwaukeehighlandgames.org
Bappipers, Scottish athletics including the caber toss, sheep herding dogs, Highland dancing, and more.
Chill on the Hill
- Tuesdays, June 6–August 22
- Humboldt Park Chalet
- bayviewneighborhood.org/chill-on-the-hill
Live music by local musicians in an idyllic South Side setting.
Cedarburg Art Museum Summer Beer Garden
- June 8–September 14
- Thursday Evenings, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday Afternoons, Noon - 4:00 p.m.
- Cedarburg Art Museum
- cedarburgartmuseum.org/beer-garden
Music & More Concert Series
- First Presbyterian Church
- 716 College Ave. Racine
- June 8 – August 10
- firstpresracine.org/music-more
Bayshore Art and Music Festivals
- Fridays, June 9–August 25
- 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
- The Yard at Bayshore
- thebayshorelife.com/events
Art 64
- June 9–10
- The Village of Wauwatosa
- Art64tosa.com
A live performance bracket-style painting tournament.
Polish Fest
- June 9–11
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- polishfest.org
Green Lake Festival of Music
- June 8–August 4
- Green Lake, Ripon, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac
- greenlakefestival.org
Sister Water Beer Garden
Photo courtesy School Sisters of St. Francis
- June 10
- 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- St. Joseph Center, 29th St. at Orchard St., Milwaukee
- sssf.org
The School Sisters of St. Francis support earth-friendly ministries with a beer garden offering craft beer, root beer and more.
Brookfield Arts, Crafts, and Drafts
- June 10–11
- Corners of Brookfield, 20111 W. Bluemound Road
- amdurproductions.com/event/2023-brookfield-arts-crafts-and-drafts
Locust Street Festival of Music & Art
- June 11
- locuststreetfestival.org
Lakefront Festival of Art
A weekend of art, food, music, and activities for all ages at the Milwaukee Art Museum with paintings, ceramics, fiber, metalwork, and jewelry from more than 120 artists from across the country.
- June 16–18
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- mam.org/events/lfoa
Metro Jam
- June 16–17
- Washington Park, S. 12th and Washington streets, Manitowoc
- 414-852-5718
- metrojam.org
Metro Jam is an annual two-day festival of free music featuring national, regional and local acts including original and classic rock, Americana, alt-country, roots, folk, blues, jazz, reggae, ska, bluegrass, indie, alternative, and pop.
Brady Street Art Walk
- June 17
- Noon - 4:00 p.m.
- bradystreet.org/event/brady-street-art-walk
Artists will line the sidewalks of Brady Street creating and selling their art. Grab a drink or a meal and enjoy walking Brady Street.
Summer Soulstice Music Festival
- June 17
- summersoulsticemke.com
- East Side
Juneteenth Jubilee Parade & Street Festival
- June 19
- juneteenthmilwaukee.com
- Starting at 14th Street & Atkinson Avenue and ending at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive & Locust Street.
Summerfest
Photo courtesy Summerfest
- June 22-24, June 29-July 1 and July 6-8
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- 200 N. Harbor Drive
- summerfest.com
The Big Gig returns with its three three-day weekends format this year. Headliners include Dave Matthews Band, Sheryl Crow, Odesza, A Big Wit Da Hoodie, Imagine Dragons, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Earth Wind & Fire, and the Avett Brothers.
Wild Ones: Vintage Motorcycle Rally
- June 24
- Harley-Davidson Museum
- 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- harley-davidson.com/us/en/museum/explore/events.html
A vintage 1940s-style motorcycle rally with an antique motorcycle ride-in show and motorcycle field games.
Strawberry Festival
- June 24–25
- Historic Cedarburg
- cedarburgfestival.org/strawberry-fest
Everything strawberry, from strawberry shortcake to strawberry wine, Art on the Avenue, contests, festival foods, shopping, and live music.
JULY
Iola Car Show
- Iola, WI
- July 6–8
- iolaoldcarshow.com
Bristol Renaissance Faire
- July 8–September 4: Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day
- Kenosha
- renfair.com/bristol
Whitefish Bay Art Fest
- July 8–9, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Downtown Whitefish Bay along Silver Spring Drive
- https://amdurproductions.com/event/2023-whitefish-bay-art-fest/
Riverwest Secret Garden Tour
- July 9
- 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- riverwestsecretgardentour.com
Stroll through Riverwest visiting gardens that offer the joy of seeing, touching, and smelling the beauty of nature.
Lake Park Music in the Park
- Lake Park Summer Stage
- Musical Mondays: July 10–August 28
- Wonderful Wednesdays (for children and their families): July 12–August 16
- July 5: Florentine Opera's Mozart in the Park
- lakeparkfriends.org/visit/events/music-in-the-park
Skyline Music Series
- July 11–August 22, Tuesdays
- 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
- Selig-Joseph-Folz Amphitheater in Kadish Park
- coa-yfc.org/skyline
Bastille Days
- July 13–16
- Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St.
- easttown.com/bastille-days
Storm the Bastille 5K Run/Walk on July 13 at 9:00 p.m.
Harley-Davidson Homecoming™ Festival
- July 13–15
- Harley-Davidson Museum and Veterans Park
- harley-davidson.com/us/en/content/event-calendar/homecoming.html
Celebrating 120 years of Harley-Davidson. Concerts at Veterans Park with headliners Green Day (July 14) and Foo Fighters (July 15), plus many other events.
Gathering on the Green
- July 15–16
- Rotary Park, Mequon
- Performances by Cain, Ann Wilson, Starship, and Franki Moscato
- gatheringonthegreen.org
Midsummer Festival of the Arts
- July 15–16
- John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan
- jmkac.org/event/midsummer-festival-of-the-arts-15
Free admission with 100 artist booths, live music, exhibitions, demonstrations, art making, and food trucks
Armenian Fest
Photo by Don Rask
- July 16
- St. John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church
- 7825 W. Layton Ave.
- 414-282-1670
- armenianfest.com
What began in the 1930s as a summer picnic for Milwaukee's Armenian community has grown into a popular attraction for Milwaukee festival with live music and food including kabobs, bureks, and unique Armenian dishes and flavors.
Waukesha County Fair
- July 19–23
- Waukesha County Expo Center
- 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha
- waukeshacountyfair.com
Scenic Shore Ride for a Cure
- July 22–23
- Lake Michigan Shoreline from Mequon to Sturgeon Bay
- pages.lls.org/events/vtnt/ss150
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society sponsor a two-day, 150-mile, fully supported cycling event open to riders of all ages and abilities along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. The goal is a cure for blood cancer; please visit the website to register.
Milwaukee Air and Water Show
- July 22–23
- Milwaukee Lakefront from Bradford Beach to Veterans Park
- mkeairwatershow.com
Washington Park Wednesdays
- Washington Park Bandshell Summer Concert Series
- July 12–August 30
- washingtonparkneighbors.com/calendar
Early evening event with live music in the bandshell and local food trucks.
Midwest Fire Fest
- July 22–23
- Westside Park
- 300 W. Water St., Cambridge (Dane County)
- midwestfirefest.com
A demonstration-heavy celebration of all things created with fire, heat, and smoke including but not limited to clay, metal arts, welding, forging, hot glass, food, and performance.
Port Fish Day
- July 13–15
- Port Washington Lakefront
- portfishday.com
Granville Blues Fest
- July 22–23 & July 29–30
- 8633 W. Brown Deer Road
- granvillebusiness.org
Granville's annual event is evolving into a local mecca for the original American artform that is the blues with a lineup of top acts along with food, drink and a vendor market.
South Milwaukee Heritage Days
- July 24–30
- smheritagedays.org
EAA Airventure
- July 24–30
- Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh
- eaa.org/airventure
Travel to Oshkosh for an international gathering of some 800,000+ aviation enthusiasts. Attend a workshop or catch a lecture from a notable flight pro, then take in the daily afternoon air show with top-flight pilots dazzling onlookers with aerial acrobatics.
Washington County Fair
- July 25–30
- Washington County Fair Park, 3000 Hwy PV, West Bend
- wcfairpark.com/fair
Taste of Wisconsin
- July 27-29
- Celebration Place at Kenosha’s Harbor
- 54th Street and 1st Avenue (east of the museums), Kenosha
- tasteofwi.com
Prairie Dog Blues Fest
- July 27–29
- St. Feriole Island, Prairie du Chien
- prairiedogblues.com
German Fest
- July 28–30
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- germanfest.com
Brady Street Festival
- July 29
- Brady Street
- bradystreet.org/great-brady-street-festival
Milwaukee Brewfest
- July 29
- McKinley Park
- milwaukeebrewfest.com
AUGUST
Peninsula Music Festival
- August 1–19
- Door Community Auditorium, Fish Creek
- Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor
- musicfestival.com
The 71st Peninsula Music Festival features symphonic concerts of major classical pieces.
Ozaukee County Fair
- August 2–6
- W67 N866 Washington Ave., Cedarburg
- ozaukeecountyfair.com
Begun in 1859 and billed as one of the last free fairs in the Midwest, it has all you'd hope for in a county fair, including a full midway, fair food, multiple stages of live entertainment, magic and kids' shows, animal judging, truck and tractor pulls, lumberjack show, demolition derby and fireworks.
Wisconsin State Fair
Photo courtesy Wisconsin State Fair
- August 3–13
- Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis
- wistatefair.com
Our great Wisconsin State Fair boasts 30 entertainment stages featuring local and national acts, a host of exhibits and enough food and shopping to keep you busy for days. Did we mention the cream puffs? Almost anything on a stick!?
Racine Starving Artist Fair
- August 6
- DeKoven Center
- Wisconsin Avenue and 21st St. (Caron Butler Drive), Racine
- racineartguild.com/safracine
This juried fair features the work of over 120 artists from Racine County and all over the Midwest.
MKE Black Theatre Festival
- August 9–27
- Community venues across Milwaukee
- blackartsmke.org/season//milwaukee-black-theatre-festival.php
Black Arts MKE presents a three-week-long celebration of Black arts and culture features ticketed and free events including two full-productions, play development workshop, audition masterclass, Black Nativity by Langston Hughes auditions, reflections on Black History with Everett Marshburn and more!
Luxembourg Fest
- August 12
- 11:00 am–4:00 p.m.
- Belgium Community Park
- 106 Beech St., Belgium (Ozaukee County)
- lacs.lu/luxembourg-fest-week/luxembourg-fest
Waukesha Rotary Bluesfest
- August 11–12
- Naga-Waukee Park
- 651 Highway 83, Delafield
- waukeshabluesfest.com
Headliners include Southern Avenue and Maria Muldaur.
Center Street Daze Festival
- August 12
- East Center Street between Holton Street and Humboldt Boulevard
- centerstreetdazefestival.com
Morning Glory Art Fair
Photo courtesy Milwaukee Craft
- August 12–13
- Fiserv Forum Plaza
- 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave.
- morningloryartfair.com
Milwaukee’s free and fine juried art and craft show and sale brings together 130+ outstanding artists from around the country.
Hank Aaron State Trail 5K Run/Walk
- August 12
- 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
- American Family Field–Tailgate Haus
- hankaaronstatetrail.org/events/23rd-annual-hast-5k
Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival
- August 12
- Lakeshore State Park
- 500 N. Harbor Drive
- milwaukeedragonboatfest.org
Dragon boat races, Chinese culture and traditions including dance performances, folk music, bartial Arts and hands-on opportunities for the young and young-at-heart to make opera masks and lanterns, play traditional games, participate in a dragon parade, and even learn to speak and write Chinese.
Milwaukee Irish Fest
Photo courtesy Milwaukee Irish Fest
- August 17–20
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- irishfest.com
The world's largest Irish festival features nonstop Celtic music from traditional to rock, Irish dance, cultural area, theater performances, food, drink and more.
Milwaukee Fringe Festival
- August 18–19
- Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
- mkefringe.com
Following the rich tradition of Fringe Festivals, the Milwaukee Fringe Festival is a showcase of a diverse collection of artists from theatrical actors to painters, musicians to tap dancers, performance artists to playwrights.
Mineral Point Blues & Roots Fest
- August 18–19
- Orchard Lawn
- 234 Madison St., Mineral Point
- mineralpointbluesfest.org
MOWA Art and Chalk Fest
- August 19–20
- Museum of Wisconsin Art
- 205 Veterans Ave., West Bend
- wisconsinart.org/art-chalk-fest
A free live arts weekend featuring artists from the Wisconsin arts community.
Mexican Fiesta
- August 25–27
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- mexicanfiesta.org
Mexican Fiesta is much more than three days of tamales, Mariachi music and dancing. It's an education in Mexico's rich culture and history encouraging people of all backgrounds to share in the beauty of Mexico's culture.
Country in the Burg
- August 25-26
- Cedar Creek Park
- countryintheburg.com
Two-day country music festival in Cedarburg.
SEPTEMBER
Wisconsin Highland Games
- Labor Day Weekend: September 1–3
- Waukesha Expo Center, Waukesha
Opening Ceremonies Friday night, followed by two days of competitions in bagpiping, heavy athletics, Highland dance, and more, plus the Clans Area, Celtic Canines, Pub Tent with live music, and more.
Third Ward Art Festival
- September 2–3
- 345 N. Broadway
- amdurproductions.com/event/2023-third-ward-art-festival
Showcasing work 130 juried artists in a variety of mediums, including ceramics, fiber, glass jewelry, sculpture, mixed media, paintings, drawings, photography, printmaking, wood and furniture.
Walk for Wishes
- September 9
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- wish.org/wisconsin/walk-wishes-milwaukee
Proceeds from the 5K or one-mile run/walk will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin and grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses.
Tosafest
- September 8–9
- Hart Park, Wauwatosa
- wauwatosavillage.org/tosafest
Tosafest is a community festival with live music, art, food and children's activities including pony rides, a petting zoo and face painting. All proceeds go to area charities.
Wine and Harvest Festival
- September 16–17
- Downtown Cedarburg
- cedarburgfestival.org/wine-and-harvest-fest
This festival fills the historic town. Sample food and wine, much of it locally made, as you enjoy many family activities and live musical performances.
Doors Open Milwaukee
- September 23–24
- historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open
More than 150 buildings open their doors in this annual citywide celebration of history, architecture and neighborhoods organized by Historic Milwaukee. Expect performing arts events and children's activities.
Fromm Petfest
- September 23 at Henry Maier Festival Park, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- petfestmke.com