Image courtesy of Freshwater Food & Wine Festival
Freshwater Food and Wine Festival 2026
Get ready, Milwaukee. On Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, the inaugural Freshwater Food & Wine Festival takes over Henry Maier Festival Park, blending the energy of a live music festival with the creativity, discovery and hospitality of a world-class food and wine event.
Across the festival grounds, guests will find nationally recognized chefs, live culinary competitions, seven global wine regions, chef-driven restaurants and food trucks, live music, immersive beverage experiences, local makers, Wisconsin producers and one-of-a-kind experiences designed to make every visit feel different.
“Freshwater was built around the idea that chefs can command a stage the same way musicians do,” says Freshwater Founder and CEO Wes Shaver. “But the experience goes well beyond the Mainstage. We want guests exploring the grounds, discovering a wine they’ve never tried, hearing great live music, finding a new restaurant, meeting a local producer and building their own perfect festival day.”
The Chefs Are the Headliners
Freshwater’s Mainstage brings food television energy to the lakefront with live demonstrations, competitions, conversations and unexpected collaborations.
Hell’s Kitchen favorites Mary Lou Davis and Nikki Hanna reunite for How Chefs Think, beginning with the same ingredients before taking completely different culinary paths.
NFL Hall of Famer and former Wisconsin Badger Joe Thomas joins Carnevor Executive Chef Mario Giuliani for Hall of Fame & Flame, celebrating premium Wisconsin beef, Hall of Fame Farms and Carnevor’s 20th anniversary.
Wisconsin Foodie host Chef Luke Zahm and producer Arthur Ircink take audiences behind the scenes of the Emmy® Award-winning series, while chefs from Visit Milwaukee’s cookbook gather for From Page to Plate, sharing the people, places and stories behind Wisconsin’s evolving culinary identity.
And on Sunday, Midwest Heat brings a high-energy chef showdown between Joe Sasto and Dan Jacobs, with Milwaukee’s own DJ Shawna providing the soundtrack.
Taste the World
Wine is a festival experience all its own at Freshwater.
Guests can explore seven globally inspired wine regions — Spain & Portugal, South America, California, Italy, France, Bubbles & Sparkling, and Australia & New Zealand — curated by Freshwater Wine & Beverage Director and Certified Sommelier Anthony Garcia.
Each region invites guests to discover celebrated producers, distinctive varietals, familiar favorites and unexpected pours at their own pace.
Eat Your Way Around the Festival
Freshwater is designed for discovery, with food available throughout the grounds from some of Milwaukee and Wisconsin’s most exciting culinary voices.
Restaurant Row brings together chef-driven restaurants, while The Flavor Yard showcases independent food trucks and mobile kitchens. At Pearl & Pop, oysters, raw-bar favorites and sparkling wine meet the sounds of New Orleans-inspired live music.
|
|
Guests can also wander the Freshwater Farmers Market and Freshwater Collective Marketplace, connecting with Wisconsin growers, specialty producers, artists, makers and local businesses.
Go Beyond the Festival
For guests looking to elevate their weekend, Freshwater offers a collection of intimate and premium add-on experiences.
The Freshwater Supper, curated by Chef Adam Pawlak, is an exclusive five-course celebrity chef dinner limited to just 50 guests.
At The Flight Deck, Chef Jason Morimoto — winner of Season 2 of Morimoto’s Sushi Master — will host an intimate omakase overlooking Lake Michigan, with only 10 guests per seating.
And The Champagne Room celebrates the Champagne of Beers with Miller High Life, a custom culinary menu from the Saz’s team, tastings, vintage-inspired hospitality and a comfortable festival retreat.
Stay for the Music
Freshwater’s soundtrack stretches across the weekend with live performances from Charlie Berens, B.D. Greer & The Gents, Listening Party, Joe Wray, Sazerac 5, Extra Crispy Brass Band and DJ Shawna, adding another layer of festival energy throughout the grounds.
Whether you come for the chefs, the wine, the music, the restaurants or simply to discover something new, Freshwater is built to let you create your own experience.
Freshwater Food & Wine Festival
- September 19–20, 2026
- Henry Maier Festival Park
- Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Explore the lineup, wine regions, experiences and tickets at fwfoodandwine.com.
