Festivals & Parades

Milwaukee, the City of Festivals, holds more festivals than any other city in the United States. There isn’t an idle weekend in Milwaukee from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Every week, the metro area hosts at least one major celebration.

Summerfest

Every summer, Milwaukee proudly hosts “The World’s Largest Music Festival” on the shores of Lake Michigan. Over its 11-day run at the 75-acre Henry W. Maier Festival Park, Summerfest enthralls nearly 900,000 music lovers. It offers a veritable buffet of the music industry’s hottest stars, classic icons, emerging talent and local favorites. The live music is accompanied by great food and beverages, as well as shopping at four marketplaces. summerfest.com

Ethnic Festivals

Milwaukee holds more festivals than any other city in the United States. There isn’t an idle weekend in Milwaukee from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Every week, the metro area hosts at least one major celebration, including: Festa Italiana, German Fest, Irish Fest, Mexican Fiesta, PrideFest, Indian Summer, and Polish Fest, which are held at the lakeshore Henry W. Maier Festival Park.

Festivals and parades, however, aren’t confined to the lakefront. Parade season kicks off in March with the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Westown Milwaukee. In July, Milwaukeeans celebrate the beginning of the French Revolution at Bastille Days, a downtown block party that is considered to be the largest American celebration of the French Revolution. Greek Fest is an annual celebration held at State Fair Park. In addition, Catholic parishes hold weekend galas throughout the city, while River Rhythms draws hundreds of people to the Milwaukee River in the summer. The annual Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival attracts thousands of jazz lovers to West Bend every September.

Racine’s 1,000-slip marina is a focal point of activity throughout the summer. The city’s nationally famous fishing contest, Salmon-A-Rama, draws participants from around the country in July.

The Wisconsin State Fair is the premier family fun event of the summer, featuring something for everyone. The fair is held each August at State Fair Park in West Allis and is the area’s largest event, attracting close to 910,000 people over 11 days.

Summer doesn’t have a monopoly on area activities. The Milwaukee Film Festival brings internationally acclaimed films to local theaters in the fall. The annual Holiday Folk Fair International, the nation’s oldest and largest indoor ethnic festival, is held around Thanksgiving each year at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park.

Racine is noted for its lavish Christmas displays and holiday parades. You’ll want to check out “Christmas House,” which consists of two turn-of-the-century mansions bathed in more than 200,000 lights. The Festival of Trees features 30 professionally decorated Christmas trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses. Then there is the outdoor ice skating at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee, where you can enjoy coffee or hot chocolate while you glide away in the city’s theater district.

2026 Milwaukee Festivals

April

Milwaukee Film Festival (4/16–4/30)
A major film event featuring independent films, documentaries, and premieres.
Milwaukee Zine Fest (4/18)
A gathering of independent artists and publishers showcasing DIY zines.
Joint Beer Fest (4/18)
A craft beer festival featuring local breweries and unique brews.
Michelada Fest (4/25)
A cultural festival centered around micheladas, music, and food vendors.
Art in the Green (4/25–4/26)
An outdoor art event featuring local artists and handmade goods.

May

5th Annual Maifest Gluten-Free Festival (5/17)
A festival focused on gluten-free food, products, and vendors.
Dan Jansen Family Fest (5/22–5/24)
A family-friendly festival with rides, games, and entertainment.
Milwaukee Tattoo Festival (5/29–5/31)
A gathering of tattoo artists offering live tattooing and competitions.
Tacos & Tequila Festival (5/30)
A lively event featuring tacos, tequila tastings, and music.
BikerFest Block Party 2026 (5/30)
A street festival celebrating motorcycle culture and community.
Locust Street Festival (5/31)
A popular neighborhood street festival with music, food, and vendors.

June

PrideFest (6/4–6/6)
A lakefront celebration of LGBTQ+ pride with performances and community events.
Art 64 (6/5–6/6)
A live painting competition where artists create murals in real time.
Milwaukee Metal Fest (6/5–6/7)
A large-scale heavy metal music festival.
Tosa Greek Fest (6/5–6/8)
A cultural festival featuring Greek food, music, and dancing.
Brewtown Rumble (6/6)
A wrestling event with a high-energy festival atmosphere.
Milwaukee Highland Games (6/6)
A Scottish cultural festival with athletic competitions and music.
West Allis A La Carte (6/7)
A food-focused street festival featuring local restaurants and music.
HartFest (6/12–6/13)
A lakeside festival with music, food, and entertainment.
Lakefront Festival of Art (6/12–6/14)
A juried art festival with lakefront views and vendors.
Polish Fest (6/12–6/14)
A celebration of Polish culture with food, music, and traditions.
Tour of America’s Dairyland (6/18–6/28)
A multi-day cycling race series across southeastern Wisconsin.
Summerfest (6/18–6/20, 6/25–6/27, 7/2–7/4)
The world’s largest music festival featuring major artists and lakefront stages.
Cedarburg Strawberry Festival (6/27–6/28)
A charming festival celebrating strawberries with food, music, and vendors.

July

Summerfest (7/2–7/4)
Final weekend of Milwaukee’s largest music festival.
Oak Creek 4th of July Celebration (7/3–7/4)
A patriotic event with fireworks, music, and family activities.
Bastille Days (7/9–7/12)
A French-themed festival with food, music, and a signature storming of the Bastille.
Festa Italiana (7/10–7/12)
An Italian cultural festival featuring food, music, and traditions.
Whitefish Bay Art Fest (7/11–7/12)
An art-focused festival with local artists and vendors.
Port Fish Days (7/17–7/19)
A lakefront festival with seafood, music, and community activities.
Incredible India Festival (7/18)
A cultural celebration of Indian traditions, food, and performances.
Falls Lavender Fest (7/18)
A festival celebrating lavender with vendors, products, and experiences.
Midsummer Festival of the Arts (7/18–7/19)
A juried art festival featuring artists and live entertainment.
Armenian Fest (7/19)
A cultural event with traditional Armenian food, music, and dancing.
South Milwaukee Heritage Days (7/20–7/27)
A multi-day community festival with parades, music, and family fun.
German Fest (7/24–7/26)
A celebration of German culture with food, beer, and music.
Milwaukee Brew & Spirits Fest (7/25)
A tasting event featuring craft beer and spirits.
Brady Street Festival (7/25)
A vibrant street festival with music, food, and local vendors.
WaterStone Bank Air & Water Show (7/25–7/26)
An exciting air show over Lake Michigan featuring aerial performances.
Greendale Village Days (7/30–8/2)
A community festival with rides, entertainment, and food.

August

Black Arts Fest MKE (8/1)
A celebration of African American arts, culture, and community.
Art & Chalk Fest (8/1–8/2)
A creative festival featuring chalk art and interactive art displays.
Wisconsin State Fair (8/6–8/16)
A major statewide fair with food, rides, music, and agricultural exhibits.
Irish Fest (8/13–8/16)
The world’s largest Irish festival featuring music, culture, and food.
A La Carte at the Zoo (8/20–8/23)
A food and music festival held at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Fresh Coast Jazz Festival (8/20–8/22)
A smooth jazz festival featuring national and local performers.
Mexican Fiesta (8/21–8/23)
A vibrant cultural festival celebrating Mexican heritage with music and food.
Country in the Burg (8/28–8/29)
A country music festival with live performances and entertainment.
Brew City Cigar Festival (8/29)
A premium event featuring cigars, spirits, and live music.

September

Wisconsin Highland Games (9/4–9/6)
A cultural festival featuring Scottish athletics, music, and traditions.
Third Ward Art Festival (9/5–9/6)
An art festival showcasing local and national artists.
TosaFest (9/11–9/12)
A community festival with music, food, and family-friendly activities.
Ervtoberfest (9/12)
A fall-themed festival with local vendors, food, and entertainment.
Shorewood Feast (9/12)
A popular community street festival with music and local businesses.
Bay View Bash (9/19)
A lively neighborhood festival with music, art, and vendors.
Freshwater Food & Wine Festival (9/19–9/20)
A culinary event featuring tastings, chefs, and wine experiences.
Cedarburg Wine & Harvest Festival (9/19–9/20)
A fall festival celebrating harvest season with wine and local goods.
Dialogues Documentary Festival (9/24–9/27)
A film festival focused on documentary storytelling.
Bayside Fall Fest (9/26)
A community fall festival with family-friendly activities.
Germantown Hunsrucker Oktoberfest (9/26–9/27)
A German-style Oktoberfest with traditional food and music.
Harbor Fest (9/27)
A lakefront festival celebrating community and local culture.

October

Milwaukee Oktoberfest (10/2–10/4)
A large Oktoberfest celebration with beer, food, and music.
Greenfield Fall Family Fest (10/3)
A family-friendly fall event with activities and entertainment.
Port Washington Fall Street Festival (10/3)
A street festival featuring vendors, food, and live music.
Cedarburg Oktoberfest (10/3–10/4)
A traditional Oktoberfest celebration in historic Cedarburg.
Zoo Brew (10/8)
An adults-only evening at the zoo featuring beer tastings.
Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Festival (10/9–10/11)
A tattoo convention with artists, competitions, and showcases.
Our Lady of Lourdes Oktoberfest (10/9–10/11)
A community Oktoberfest with food, music, and entertainment.

November

Trainfest (11/7–11/8)
The largest operating model railroad show in America.
Holiday Folk Fair International (11/20–11/22)
A multicultural festival celebrating global traditions, food, and performances.

December

Milwaukee Krampusnacht (12/6)
A festive and slightly spooky holiday event inspired by European Krampus traditions.