Within the pristine white walls of a contemporary art museum that overlooks Lake Michigan, the Racine Art Museum presents a rather non-traditional exhibition showcasing fluffy, sugar-coated marshmallow PEEPS®. Over the years, many entrants have been become experts in marshmallow candy as a material, using methods like carving, painting, hole punching, gluing, and melting to manipulate PEEPS into incredible shapes. For this show, Richard W. Marklin, Jr. melted a flock of PEEPS to make Raul the Rooster, a realistic barnyard bird; while April Harris and Autumn Kyle assembled the holiday treats into a bust of Black Panther Peeper.
This year, the RAM 17th Annual International PEEPS Art Exhibition takes place now through April 18th; awards will be handed out after. Previous shows have drawn over 4,000 visitors to the museum during its three-week run, setting daily spring attendance records along the way. Previous pieces included Peep Swift: The Marshmallow Era (yes, channeling Taylor); the It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere parrot-looking PEEP with the Jimmy Buffett vibe; Funky Peepcock fashioned in sparkling glass beads and feathers; Pop Art Peeps crafted in glazed stoneware; and Sweet Meets Wild, an inlaid box made of different hardwoods. Inspired by inventive puns, pop culture, sports, and famous artists, many of the PEEPS art entries are by local artists, families, and organizations but quite a few artists from out-of-state also participate.
Vote for Your Favorite PEEPS
Stop by the museum to vote for your favorite PEEPS creation. You will decide who wins the coveted PEEPles Choice Award, announced at the end of the show.
You’ll find the Racine Art Museum along Main Street/Highway 32 in downtown Racine, just blocks from Lake Michigan. Highways 20 and 38 also bring you downtown, and Highway 11 is just to the south. It’s a little over a 10-minute drive east of I-41/94, depending on traffic and how you lit the lights. There is plenty else to see and do there, from picking up a fresh kringle at one of Racine’s famous Danish bakeries to exploring the city’s heritage at the Racine Historical Museum, enjoying the beautiful harbor and waterfront, shopping the stores of 6th Street and Main Street, or even exploring Hotel Verdant, the new boutique hotel downtown. These are all within walking distance of the Racine Art Museum!
International PEEPS Art Exhibition Address:
Racine Art Museum
441 Main Street (Highway 32)
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 638-8300 Website
PEEPS Exhibit called “Mt. PEEPmore” by Elizabeth Peterson. Yes, it’s a mountain of PEEPs. Photo credit: Christina Lieffring, Racine Journal-Times.
The 18th Annual Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival returns to the legendary Brat Stop in Kenosha on Saturday, April 18th! This fun-filled event features a variety of Wisconsin cheeses, some of the most sought after beers from Wisconsin and beyond and awesome live music!. This is a “don’t miss event” for anybody who likes beer, cheese and music!
The festival typically draws over 900 attendees and features over 100 different styles of beer, a home brew competition, and local breweries with unlimited beer and cheese samples. Additionally, live music plays all afternoon with the Empty Bottle Boys and One Shot Jane performing. They play in the Parkway Chateau, adjacent to the Brat Stop.
Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival Tickets
The Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival has a rather extensive VIP ticket package. For $80 in advance or $85 at the door, VIP fest goers receive a lunch buffet courtesy of Festival Foods, specialty cheese and beers, a VIP beer stein and an extra hour of festing! The food buffet is available for the duration of the fest from noon until 5 p.m.
General admission ticketsare $55 in advance and $60 at the door. All tickets include a commemorative glass, live music and four hours of unlimited beer and cheese samples. Designated driver tickets are $15. This is a 21+ only event.
Last time we checked over 50 different brewers will be there. They include large brewers like Miller and Coors to small craft brewers including Lakefront, Bell’s, Toppling Goliath, Bare Bones, Alaskan, and more. Local home brew societies also represent at the festival. All will be pouring samples and providing info about their beers and brewing processes. Also, great food – including brats – will be part of the sustenance as the bands serenade your eating, drinking, talking, and enjoying.
Mmmm… Grilled Cheese. Can it get any better?? Dodgeville is “Grilled Cheese Central” on Saturday, April 25, 2026 as the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship takes place at the Leo Pavilion in Harris Park. Amateurs and professionals compete in 4 “heats” to determine the best grilled cheese sandwiches in Wisconsin and compete for fabulous prizes. Listen to live music, drink some beer and wine, sample outstanding grilled cheese sandwiches. Fun for all ages. Free admission! Get all the details at their website, grilledcheesewisconsin.com.
You can get to Dodgeville via U.S. 18 & 151 and Highway 23. Any trip is worth it for grilled cheese!
Our previous favorites have included the Gouda Girls (below); Tina and Katherine make grilled cheese sandwich combos that win all across the nation. They’re based in Milwaukee and do incredible things with taste buds. Our head State Trunk Tour guy Eric Paulsen got to experience their creations firsthand in this Discover Wisconsinepisode. We don’t have any vote, though, so we’ll see how this goes.
Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship Address:
Harris Park
600 Bennett Road
Dodgeville, WI 53533
(608) 935-9200 Website
Enjoy some Friday night fun during First Fridays Racine, taking place along Main Street in Downtown Racine from May – December from 4-9pm! It happens throughout the downtown area, centered on Monument Square where Highways 20 and 38 cap the ends of a main thoroughfare that is Highway 32.
Friday, May 1st is next for First Fridays Racine
The first First Fridays in 2026 will take place Friday (of course), May 1st from 4 pm to 9 pm. The theme is Creative Crawl!
The Creative Crawl will be a citywide celebration of art, creativity, and community. Enjoy hands-on activities, artist demos, local author readings, pop-up exhibits, and more throughout Downtown Racine. More details to come!
As always, Downtown Racine’s merchants, restaurants, and bars are rolling out the red carpet with shopping and dining deals that are too good to pass up. Live music will fill the air at hotspots like Brickhouse, The Ivanhoe, Marci’s on Main, Reefpoint Brew House, Dimples, Chartroom, and Uncorkt, keeping the party going all night long.
Parking is conveniently available at the Lake Avenue Ramp (300 Lake Avenue), Civic Centre Ramp (501 Lake Avenue), and the McMynn Ramp (120 7th Street) or Shoop (Main & State) for an all-day rate of only $4.00.
In addition to First Fridays, check out the rest of downtown Racine. Right along the shores of Lake Michigan you can explore Reefpoint Marina, North Beach, the Racine Zoo, the new boutique Hotel Verdant, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and SC Johnson sites.
Take the drive to where Highways 11, 20, 32, and 38 come together in downtown Racine. Enjoy happy people taking in the best of what downtown Racine has to offer! Check out the First Fridays Racine website for more details.
First Fridays Racine Address:
Monument Square
100 Main Street
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 634-4287 Website
Muscoda celebrates the Morel Mushroom Festival every May, which is only fitting because that’s prime growing season in this “Morel Mushroom Capital of Wisconsin.” These unique mushrooms are considered quite a delicacy by top chefs everywhere; there are message boards and recipes and all kinds of resources for morel lovers. The soil in the Muscoda area is particularly suited for the growth of morels and they fully embrace this fungi. In 2026, the festival takes place Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th.
This year’s event starts Friday evening with the 5th Annual Car Cruise Drive-In – all modes of transportation encouraged to attend. Join them at the paved parking lot next to the Riverdale bus garage in the 500 block of North Wisconsin. Jose’s Mexican Food Truck and Jovita’s Kitchen will be there serving their specialties and Udder Brothers Creamery will have their delicious ice cream. Two blocks south, at Mushroom Headquarters along Highway 80, the grills will be going with American Legion burgers. There’s also the 1st annual Antique Farm & Tractor Pull, a Little League Baseball Tournament, and Thunder Showers Bounce Houses will be there for kids’ fun.
On Saturday, May 16th starting at 9:00am, the whole Village bursts with events. The bounce house and pedal tractor pulls are back, you can check out the Tiny Acres Farms Petting Zoo, beer samples from 11am-3pm, and a parade. The awesome arts and crafts vendors, (many new ones!) and chainsaw carving are at Railroad Park as well as Food Vendors there and along the streets.
At Mushroom Headquarters, there are tastings, grilling with mushroom brats and Legion burgers (and fried morels if they’re are available). The Food and Beverage tasting area will include Meister Cheese, Moore Eggs, Studnicka Cattle Company, Wild Hills Winery, Dirftless Gold Organic Maple Syrup, Gillingham Meads, and Spurgeon Winery. And for your listening pleasure and maybe dancing, live music by Donnie Reyzek.
You can also catch tours of Effigy mounds, which start at 1pm, and baseball with the Muscoda Mudcats also at 1pm.
A big feature is the “Spring Mystery” Parade down main street (AKA Wisconsin Avenue), which starts at 3:00. Members of the UW Band will also perform starting around 3:45.
When you want a sit-down meal, there is pancake breakfast until noon, a chili cookoff with judging and tasting at 1:00 and the famous Firemen’s Steak Feed at the firehouse beginning at 4:00 until the steaks are gone! Enjoy the river views as the evening concludes with fireworks at dusk.
The Morel Mushroom Festival Schedule is coming soon!
You’ll find Muscoda along Highway 80 between the Wisconsin River and Highway 133. Highway 60 is just across the river. And this town comes to party for its Morel Mushroom Festival! Check their website for updates and full schedules.
Morel Mushroom Festival Address:
Muscoda Village Hall
206 N. Wisconsin Avenue (Highway 80)
Muscoda, WI 53573
(608) 739-3182 Website
Stoughton’s Syttende Mai festival is a weekend-long celebration of Norwegian heritage featuring fun activities and cultural experiences for the whole family. Check out three days of parades, amazing food and drink, arts and music, athletic competitions, and kids’ activities steeped in centuries of Norwegian culture. From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Stoughton enjoyed an influx of Norwegians, and at one time, as many as 75 percent of its residents spoke Norwegian. These immigrants celebrated Syttende Mai unofficially, but it became an annual, city-wide tradition in the 1950s.
The city-wide festival takes place every year on the weekend closest to Norway’s May 17th Constitution Day, also known as Syttende Mai. In 2026, the festivities run through the weekend of May 15th through the 17th. The Arts & Crafts Fair attracts arts and crafts enthusiasts and artists who appreciate Norwegian culture and its role in the arts. The Stoughton festival features an annual juried craft fair where artisans and artists show and sell their hand-crafted works. The Norwegian art of rosemaling, or decorative painting, traditional Norwegian embroidery and quilts are all on display. Many artists hold public demonstrations of how they create their works, too. It’s a great opportunity for Stoughton festival-goers to meet the artists and appreciate the art’s deep roots in traditional Norwegian culture. It includes the Arts & Craft Fair, Hardanger Embroidery Exhibit, the Quilt Show, the Rosemaling Exhibit and Sale, and Norwegian Cultural Demonstrations. It runs Saturday from 10am — 6pm and Sunday from 9am — 2pm at River Bluff Middle School Gymnasium, Cafetorium, and Grounds at 235 N. Forrest Street in Stoughton.
Festival activities include:
Stoughton Norwegian Dancers
20-Mile Run, 10-Mile Run, 17-Mile Walk, and Lil’ Community Run
Hardanger Fiddle Performances
Norwegian Heritage Center (Livsreise)
Live Norwegian Art Demonstrations
Edvard Grieg Chorus at the Stoughton Opera House
Norse Costume Style Show
Viking Games Strongman Competition
Craft Beer Tent
Traditional Norwegian Delicacies
Food Trucks
Youth Parade (Saturday)
Norwegian Parade (Sunday)
Canoe Race & Portage on the Yahara River
Stoughton Village Players Theater Original Presentation
Arts & Crafts Fair
Syttende Mai Festival Address:
via Stoughton Chamber of Commerce
532 E. Main Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
(608) 873-7912 Website
More details below!
Stoughton Norwegian Dancers
This dance troupe delights audiences with their intricate footwork, athleticism, and enthusiasm for traditional Norwegian culture. Around since 1952 and clad in traditional Norwegian costumes, or bunad, their dancing to music from the fjords, and their colorful and captivating performances are in demand nationwide. You’ll be able to see the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers and their traditional folk performances every day during the three-day Syttende Mai festival.
Other Live Performances
While enjoying all the Syttende Mai sights and delicious foods, don’t forget to experience the music, dance, and theater performances. Be sure to catch a Norwegian Dancer performance to experience Scandinavian folk dancing. Attend a Stoughton Village Players theatrical performance written and performed by local actors who are expert at presenting the humorous side of life in Stoughton. Be sure to seek out a Hardanger fiddle performance to see and hear these beautiful instruments up close.
Enjoy:
Chorus Public House Live Music
Christ Lutheran Church
Craft Beer Tent Entertainment
Stoughton City Band Concert
Stoughton Opera House
Stoughton Village Players Theater
Crowning the Syttende Mai Royalty
Check out the crowning of Syttende Mai’s event ambassadors in a tradition that spans five decades. Stoughton’s Syttende Mai royalty kick off the three-day event and declare the weekend a statewide celebration.
Those who wear the Syttende Mai crown receive the honor for their commitment to community service and keeping the local Norwegian culture alive. Each year, a couple learns of their nomination in September and must keep it a secret from everyone, even friends and family, for five months. During the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers’ February Norse Afternoon of Fun, the new king and queen receive their crowns and join previous years’ honorees.
Although their reign is symbolic, the annual Syttende Mai King and Queen dress in traditional Norwegian clothing, or bunad, for the entire festival. In addition to opening the festival, the couple attend more than 40 events over the weekend. They are the festival’s icons and serve as cultural ambassadors to visitors. Have questions about the Norwegian cultural demonstrations, colors, music, foods and costumes you see? Ask this year’s king and queen (or one of our many volunteers).
Young people participate in the Syttende Mai royalty tradition, too. Two local third-grade students are selected as the festival’s annual Prince and Princess and are chosen to carry on Norwegian traditions among their peers. They serve as grand marshals of the Saturday Youth Parade, ride in the Sunday Norwegian Parade, and start The Lil’ Run. The pair also attend the opening dinner and make other appearances throughout the Syttende Mai festival.
Again, you’ll find Stoughton along U.S. 51 and Highway 138, southeast of Madison. I-39/90 and U.S. 14 also bring you close!
The SVRA Spring Vintage Festival Weekend at Road America, May 15-17, celebrates automotive racing’s glorious past. This vintage racing event brings the past back to life with the sights, sounds and smells from motorsport’s pioneering age both on and off the track.
The SVRA (SportsCar Vintage Racing Association) weekend at Road America includes a packed vintage race car schedule featuring classic race cars covering several decades. Many of the entries have previously competed at classic events like Le Mans and the Indy 500. SVRA is one of the oldest organizations in vintage racing, and the only one with a national presence, committed to presenting the best possible experience for competitors and fans. From 200 MPH INDY and Formula 1 cars to classic Jaguars and Porsches, SVRA races provide a rolling history of motorsport where the cars are the stars at legendary tracks across the country.
The SVRA Spring Vintage Festival Weekend lineup includes race groups for all twelve SVRA classes including Formula 5000, Formula Ford, sports racing, and production sports cars. The classes feature the best classic sportscars from prestigious marques such as Lotus, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Porsche and Corvette with models from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. The Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.), Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) series, Mazda Miata Heritage Cup Series, OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car championship and the Hagerty Cars & Caffeine vintage car rally will bolster the SVRA schedule for the weekend.
New this season is the opportunity to upgrade admission tickets to include access to the Finish Line Tower suites. The Finish Line Tower is located right at the Start/Finish line on the front straight across from the Main Paddock. Suites are furnished, climate-controlled, staffed with an attendant, and have restrooms conveniently located on the same floor. Two high-definition screens feature timing and scoring and a live feed of the races.
You’ll find Road America along Highway 67, just north of Plymouth and Highway 23 and a few miles west of Highway 57 in Sheboygan County, right by the beautiful resort town of Elkhart Lake.
Road America Address for Spring Vintage Weekend:
N7390 Highway 67
Plymouth, WI 53073
(800) 365-7223 Website
Check out the Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair on Memorial Day weekend in downtown Sturgeon Bay! 2026 marks the 28th annual Fine Art Fair, a juried multi-media art show featuring fine art from over 80 exhibitors and artists from across the U.S.
Stroll along Martin Park and 3rd Avenue in downtown Sturgeon Bay, watching artists create, buying one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork, and soaking in the gorgeous setting. Visit with artists in 2 and 3 dimensional categories. Art includes sculpture, glass, paintings, jewelry, fiber, photography, wood, watercolor, oil, paper… there is plenty to see and admire. Food, beverages, beer, and wine will be available for purchase, including from a wide variety of local producers. Free balloon art for the kids each day, along with plenty of children’s activities.
Happening in Martin Park right by Business Highways 42 and 57 – it runs Saturday, May 23rd from 10am – 5pm and Sunday, May 24th from 10am – 4pm. You’re within steps of the Steel Bridge Creative District and new art galleries and studios on 3rd Avenue. Free admission!
While you’re there, check out some great shopping along 3rd Avenue along with plenty of restaurants, Door County Confectionary, the Door County Maritime Museum with their new lookout tower, even two breweries: Starboard Brewing on 3rd Avenue, and Bridge Up Brewingacross the bay via the Oregon Street Bridge or the classic Steel Bridge. All of this can be accessed by following the “Business” (i.e. historic/city) routes of Highway 42 and Highway 57 through Sturgeon Bay. Check it out if you’re headed to Door County for Memorial Day weekend!
Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair Address:
Martin Park
207 S. 3rd Avenue (Business 42/57)
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 743-6246 Website
Marshfield features its 45th annual Dairyfest Friday, May 29th through Sunday, May 31st at venues all across the city. This is Hub City’s annual honor of the agricultural industry and Wisconsin’s hardworking dairy farmers! This community tradition has been providing fun for the whole family, during these “dairy-licious” days.
The Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MACCI) puts on the event, which includes a wide variety of fun activities across the three-day weekend.
Dairyfest Info & Schedule of Events:
What is Dairyfest?
Held annually the weekend after Memorial Day, Dairyfest is a fun community celebration that honors the agriculture industry and local dairy farmers. Dairyfest features a lot of fun events, including the annual Dairyfest Breakfast, a parade, kids’ activities, a Picnic in the Park, and much more. The theme of this year’s celebration is “A Dairy Great Time”!
Friday, May 29th
5:30am-9:30am / Mayor’s Breakfast: Held at the Expo Building at the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, 513 E. 17th St., this traditional event welcomes nearly 2,000 people every year. $10/ticket, kids 6 and under are FREE!
5:00pm-8:00pm / Picnic in the Park: Food trucks will be at Columbia Park, 201 W. Arnold St., until 5:00pm and a variety of food booths will be available throughout the evening. Join the fun in the Park including a Petting Zoo, Educational displays, Marshfield Fire & Rescue hands-on fun, Face painting, Main Street Conservatory of Dance show, Coin & Candy hunt (ages 2-9), Bingo (ages 10-15), and the Marshfield Civic Band Concert. Bring your lawn chairs for a night of fun!
Saturday, May 30th
Additional activities scheduled for Saturday include:
10:00 am – 3:00 pm North Wood County Historical Society Annual Pie and Ice Cream Social Governor W. H. Upham House, 212 West 3rd Street, Marshfield
19th Annual Dairyfest Fling Disc Golf Tournament
11:00am / Dairyfest Downtown Parade, runs from 2nd street and goes South on Central Ave, turns East on 14th Street and ends at the Fairgrounds parking lot.
1:00pm-4:00pm / Family Fun Day at Wenzel Plaza: a UW Madison Marching Band performance, Inflatable fun, plenty of Food Trucks – come hungry! Also enjoy Enoch the Eccentric Magician, DJ Dan Weis of Music Energy, Face painting, and more!
3:00pm-11pm / Annual Outdoor Dairyfest Beer Garden at Nutz Deep II 809 South Central Avenue
*USA Sanctioned Dairyfest Coed and Women’s Softball Tournaments
Central WI State Fairgrounds, 513 East 17th Street
Central WI State Fairgrounds
8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Saturday, May 31st
USA Sanctioned Dairyfest Coed and Women’s Softball Tournament
Central WI State Fairgrounds
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Marshfield Dairyfest Address:
Various locations around town, including the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
513 E. 17th Street
Marshfield, WI 54449 Website
Copperfest celebrates Wisconsin’s “Copper Country” in Oconto with tons of fun activities, history, food, a big lineup of live music, and more. Come join the fun on June 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2026. It’s easy access off U.S. 41 and Highway 22! This year’s theme is “Disney.”
Enjoy tons of live music , the Artist Village all days, the Grand Parade Saturday morning at 10am, and the Car Show Saturday from 10am-2pm featuring makes and models from a wide variety of eras.
Most events will take place at the American Legion Post 74 Park, 709 Madison Street in Oconto.
Entertainers include David Malmberg and Casaday’s Critters. Saturday and Sunday kids and grown-up alike can enjoy the Trout Pond, racing pigs and ducks, the pie and ice cream social, the crafters and vendors, bounce houses (alright, that’s for kids only), face painting, caricatures, and much more!!
UTL Wrestling will also be on display Sunday afternoon!
Hours for the Artist Village are Friday 5PM-9PM, Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10AM-3PM. Explore over 120 artists and crafters from all over the state!
U.S. 41 and Highway 22 bring you there! You’ll find Oconto at the eastern end of Highway 22, right at U.S. 41. It’s about eight miles east of U.S. 141 and 10 miles south of Highway 64. Copperfest is in town, and just east past downtown is the shores of Green Bay, with lakeside parks and piers and a view across the bay to Door County. It’s only about half an hour from the city of Green Bay and twenty minutes from Marinette.
Oconto Copperfest Address:
American Legion Post 74 Park
709 Madison Street
Oconto, WI 54153
(920) 604-3636 Website
Polish Fest is the largest Polish cultural festival in America, and it’s right on Milwaukee’s lakefront! Authentic dancing, food, music, family activities, and plenty of other entertainment (accordions may be involved.)
Some of that extra entertainment includes vodka tastings, the annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition, folk arts and crafts, and plenty of children’s activities.
Polish Fest runs Friday, June 12th and Saturday, June 13th from noon until 11pm; Sunday the 14th from noon to 7pm. A Sunday Mass will also take place at 10am, with free admission. Gates open at 9:30am Sunday for the Mass.
Tickets are $7 in advance, $12 at the Summerfest Gate. Military personnel, both active and retired, are admitted FREE with military ID.
Check out these event highlights:
Sukiennice Marketplace
Filled by over forty different vendors, our Sukiennice Marketplace gives you a chance to buy Polish items, from traditional Polish toys for children to a new piece of pottery. The Sukiennice Marketplace is also your source for massage & acupuncture, home improvement, and genealogy research. Find everything from relaxation to the knowledge of your Polish roots.
Cultural Village
2026 Cultural Village Exhibits will feature folk artists demonstrating traditional Polish crafts, including wycinanki (paper cutting), pisanki (decorated eggs), wianki (floral head wreaths) and more. Polanki’s sales tent featuring handmade Polish pottery (Boleslawiec), Christmas ornaments, recipe books and other folk art are both located in the Cultural Village. The Polish Genealogical Society and the Milwaukee County Genealogical Society will again be at Polish Fest in a new location, east of the demonstrator tent.
There’s also the Polish Forum, click here for a schedule of speakers.
Cooking demonstrations will abound, too: check out this schedule of events.
Polish Fest Entertainment Schedule:
Friday, June 12th
Miller Stage
12:00 Copper Box
2:30 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
6:00 Opening Ceremony
7:30 The First Wave
Non-Stop Polka Stage
12:00 The Mix
3:00 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
3:40 I.P.A. Tribute Band
4:20 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
5:00 I.P.A. Tribute Band
5:40 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
6:20 I.P.A. Tribute Band
7:00 John Gora & Gorale
7:40 Polka Country Musicians
8:20 John Gora & Gorale
9:00 Polka Country Musicians
9:40 John Gora & Gorale
10:20 Polka Country Musicians
Cultural Stage
12:00 Larry Lynne LTD Show
1:00 The Britins
2:00 Larry Lynne LTD Show
3:00 The Britins
4:30 Łowicz Dance Ensemble of Edmonton
6:00 Cappuchin Walk
7:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
8:00 Stetsin & Lace
Sports Area Polonia soccer club
Saturday, June 13th
Miller Stage 12:00 John Gora & Gorale
1:30 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
2:30 John Gora & Gorale
3:30 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
5:00 Larry Lynne LTD Show
8:00 Almighty Vinyl
Non-Stop Polka Stage 12:00 Polka Generations
3:00 The Natural Talent
3:40 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
4:20 The Natural Talent
5:00 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
5:40 The Natural Talent
6:20 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
7:00 Polka Family
7:40 Polka Country Musicians
8:20 Polka Family
9:00 Polka Country Musicians
9:40 Polka Family
10:20 Polka Country Musicians
Cultural Stage 12:00 Łowicz Dance Ensemble of Edmonton
12:30 Whispers Center of Artistic Expression
1:30 Wawel Folk Ensemble
2:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
3:00 Wesoły Lud Folk Dance Company of the PRCUA
4:00 Polish Folk Dance Group Lajkonik Chicago
6:00 PFDAA Polish Folk Dance Gala
8:00 Silver Effect
Sports Area Polonia soccer club
Sunday – June 14th
Miller Stage
12:00 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
1:30 John Gora & Gorale
2:30 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
3:30 John Gora & Gorale
5:00 WhiskeyBelles
Non-Stop Polka Stage
12:00 Polka Family
12:40 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
1:20 Polka Family
2:00 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
2:40 Polka Family
3:20 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
4:00 DynaBrass
Cultural Stage
10:00 Mass
1:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
2:00 Łowicz Dance Ensemble of Edmonton
3:00 Marcus Band
Summerfest 2026 brings the “World’s Largest Music Festival” back to Milwaukee’s lakefront in the middle of summer! We’re talking 9 days across three long weekends packed with concerts and fun with over half a million of your closest friends. Choose from over 600 acts across 12 stages on the 75-acre Maier Festival Park grounds. The dates this year, all Thursdays – Saturdays, are June 18-20, June 25-27, and July 2-4, 2026.
Summerfest dates back to 1968 and has since become a key venue for the music industry’s hottest stars, emerging talent and local favorites to create unforgettable live music experiences in a world-class festival setting. Running along Milwaukee’s lakefront nestled within downtown, the Historic Third Ward, Discovery World, I-794, and Lake Michigan, Summerfest offers not only music but over 45 food and beverage vendors, four marketplaces offering crafts and wares from all over the world, interactive exhibits, and just cool general fun. Northwestern Mutual Community Park includes a Children’s Stage and play area that offers a fun experience for the kids. Regular shows involving magic, singalongs, and other activities are complemented with plenty of equipment kids can run, swing, climb, and play on. During the day, Summerfest is designed to be very family-friendly. Many of the food and beverage vendors are classic and popular restaurants and bars from around the Milwaukee area, and selections range widely from ethnic food options to a wide variety of craft and classic beers. Several stands also have a full bar with wine and spirits. Check out the latest music and stage lineups below!
Announced Summerfest 2026 lineups by Date, Stage & Time:
Tuesday, June 16th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater 7:30pm – Garth Brooks
Wednesday, June 17th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater 7:30pm – Garth Brooks
Thursday, June 18th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater 7:00pm – Megan Moroney
Miller Lite Oasis 4:30pm The Maiden Voyage 6:30pm Siin 10:30pm Megadeth
Generac Power Stage 3:30pm Nicole Lawrence 5:30pm Soul Asylum 7:30pm The Jayhawks 9:30pm The BoDeans
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard 8:00pm John Vincent III 10:00pm Jonah Kagen
T-Mobile Stage 4:15pm Carolina Liar 6:15pm Pure Hex 8:15pm Joywave 10:15pm The Temper Trap
Uline Warehouse 5:30pm Jerry Harrison’s TH 50 – “50 Years of Talking Heads” 7:30pm Mindi Abair 9:30pm Straight No Chaser
Aurora Pavilion 5:45pm Tag Team 7:00pm Baha Men
Part of Milwaukee’s skyline hovering above the northern part of the Summerfest Grounds, including the US Cellular Connection Stage, which will now the the T-Mobile Stage for 2026.
Watch for new announcements, see Summerfest.com/lineup for more lineups the timeliest way possible!
Summerfest Tickets
Single Day General Admission Ticketsrun $30 per day, you can print them at home or put them on your mobile. These tickets are good for the entire grounds and any show with the exception of the American Family Insurance Amphitheater shows. Seniors 62 and over and Children 3-10 can get discount tickets at the gate. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Multi-Day Ticket options include:
A US Cellular Power Pass, which runs $125 and gets you in ALL 9 DAYS of the festival, with the exception of the American Family Insurance Amphitheater shows.
A 6-Day Pass, which gets you in for 6 of 9 days of Summerfest – you choose your 6 days. It runs $105.
A US Cellular 3-Day Pass, which for $60 gets you in to 3 of 9 days of Summerfest, you choose which three.
Parking lots are available just to the west of the grounds and throughout downtown Milwaukee and the Historic Third Ward. The Milwaukee County Transit System also offers “freeway flyer” express buses to and from the grounds from numerous Park & Ride lots in the metro area. The Summerfest Grounds can be accessed directly via I-794, U.S. 18, and Highway 32. I-43/94 and Highways 38, 59, and 145 also bring you within a mile of it – which is how far away some people park! Either way, it’s one of the greatest music festivals on the planet and a definite State Trunk Tour recommendation.
Summerfest 2026 Address:
Henry Maier Festival Park 200 N. Harbor Drive Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414) 273-2680 Website
Ephraim explodes with summer excitement as the Fyr Bal Festival (pronounced feer-ball) re-creates traditions of early Norwegians celebrating Midsummer’s Eve. Artists, food, dancing, musical entertainment and family activities along the picturesque shoreline of Eagle Harbor welcome the arrival of summer.
Featured activities include a boat regatta, a trolley and historic walking tours through the village, and a chance to explore numerous historic landmarks, shops, galleries and restaurants for which Ephraim is well-known. Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, the popular spot along Highway 42 in Ephraim, has their annual Fyr Ball Firecracker Frenzy Ice Cream Eating Competition, too!
The signature Fyr Bal event is an evening bonfire, which represents the burning of the ‘Winter Witch’ to usher in the long days – and beautiful nights – of summer. Fireworks complete a perfect day. Stay and enjoy the Scandinavian atmosphere and hospitality.
Ephraim is right along Highway 42 on the Green Bay side of the Door County Peninsula, between Fish Creek and Sister Bay on the eastern edge of Eagle Harbor and the gorgeous Peninsula State Park. It’s a beautiful town and this event is literally a blast! The rest of the details can be found here on the Fyr Ball web page.
The annual Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin offers an intimate Bluegrass and Americana music experience from June 25-27, 2026. Founded in 2015, both the festival and campgrounds are family owned and operated by a team striving for a music festival experience designed to be welcoming and approachable for people of all ages. Blue Ox features over 35 artists spread across 3 days on three stages and on-site camping.
Blue Ox 2026 Experience/Activities include:
The Soul Sanctuary: A wellness tent featuring yoga, sonic Ceremony, sound healing, meditation, breathwork, reiki and more.
Instrument Workshops: Learn more about Bluegrass, Americana, Roots and traditional string genres of music from instructors who are musicians themselves. 2021 instructors include The High 48s and Nora Brown.
Potluck Pickin Area: Bring your instruments and meetup with fellow musicians for campground jam sessions hosted by the Potluck String Band.
Late Night Sets: From Midnight – 2AM enjoy music on the Backwoods Stage, located in the heart of the campground.
Beverage Options: Blue Ox 2026 official Breweries: Founders Brewery & Summit Brewing. Also on tap: Odell Brewing, New Belgium, Dogfish Head, Earth Rider and Third Space. Seltzers by Founders Brewery and Ciders by Milk & Honey Cider. Wollersheim Wines and Signature cocktails featuring Tattersall distillery Liquor will be available. (Non-alcoholic options will be provided by Food Vendors).
Fire/Flow Performing Artists: The Torch Sisters performing Sat, August 21st at 10PM
Art In the Pines Art Installations: An assortment of unique and engaging art created and installed by regional artists spread around the campground and within the festival bowl.
Over the past years the Blue Ox Music Festival has featured artists such as Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Greensky Bluegrass, The Sam Bush Band, Peter Rowan, Drive by Truckers, The Del McCoury Band, Billy Strings, Margo Price, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Devil Makes Three, Trampled By Turtles, Railroad Earth, Tyler Childers, Son Volt and many more…
You can even check out the Blue Ox Podcast to find out more about the artists, venue, things to do, and more!
Tickets are available in a variety of pricing and combinations, find out more here.
Blue Ox Music Festival Schedule – lineup coming soon!
The Pines Music Park, where Blue Ox Music Festival is held, is just southwest of Eau Claire on the west side of the Chippewa River, opposite Highway 85. I-94 and Highway 37 connections bring you there. U.S. 12, U.S. 53, and Highway 93 also bring you to Eau Claire.
Blue Ox Music Festival Address:
The Pines Music Park
5024 Crescent Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703
(715) 602-4440 Website
Ellsworth backs up its claim as the “Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin” with their annual Cheese Curd Festival this weekend, filled with flavor and fun! We’re talking over 6,000 pounds of curds here.
This free festival offers over 20 cheese curd dishes from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery for sampling, super-fresh and available battered or not with a variety of pairings, dips, and more.
Also enjoy over 30 craft brews to choose from, along with hard ciders, wines, and other local and regional beverages to try with your curds.
You can also take in eclectic live music performances and other activities for the entire family, including a classic car show, antique tractor show, games, and more. U.S. 10, U.S. 63, and Highway 65 will bring you to town and ensure you don’t leave hungry – or short on calcium.
Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival Schedule of Events:
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 – 4 – 10 pm
4pm- 7pm Artisan Marketplace
– Part arts and crafts, part farmers market. Browse regional specialties and locally grown, handmade and handcrafted goods.
4pm – 6pm: Craft & Curd, Paired: the ultimate brewery face-off! Five local breweries battle it out for best brew and cheese curd flavor pairing. Who will win? That’s up to you–You’re the judge for this intense (and tasty) competition! Happening at the Tasting Tent
4:30pm – 6:30pm: 3OTT, Point Stage
4:30pm – 7:30pm: Brad Marx, Broadway Street Stage
5pm – Dark: Classic Car Cruise-In & Show, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery Lot
7:00pm-9:30pm, The Tucker Baker Band, Park Stage
7:00pm – 8:00pm: Corks & Kegs Tasting Event. Plan to take part in the tasting experiences offered during the festival. Kegs & Corks adult tasting experiences feature local and regional craft beer, wine and hard cider. A happy hour like no other, enjoy unlimited sampling and light appetizers while visiting with the brewers, crafters and reps. At the Tasting Tent.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28 – 10am – 10 pm
8am: 5K/10K Run
8am-10am: Pancake Breakfast
9:30am: Run Awards, Park Stage
10am-7pm: Artisan Marketplace. Part arts and crafts, part farmers market. Browse regional specialties and locally grown, handmade and handcrafted goods. Broadway Street
10:00am – 11:30am: Why Worry? & The Fret Band, Point Stage
10:30am-12:30pm: Dave Snyder, Broadway Street Stage
10:30am – 11:30am: Milk & Cookie Pairing (while supplies last) The Milk & Cookie Pairing and Farmer Meet & Greet is not to be missed! A great opportunity shake hands with a real farmer and learn about today’s agriculture and what it takes to put food on the tables of families across America. At the Tasting Tent.
11:00am-12:30pm: Oatmeal Band, Park Stage
12:00pm – 1:30pm: The Dairy Aires, Point Stage
12:30-1:30pm: Ice Cream Tasting, Tasting Tent. Families won’t want to miss the Ice Cream Tasting, a one-hour real dairy flavor celebration featuring creative combinations crafted by the innovative folks from UW-River Falls Food Sciences Department.
1:00pm-3:00pm Sarah Vanvelkenburg, Broadway Street Stage
1:00pm-3:00pm: Dave Snyder, Broadway Street Stage
1:30pm-3:30pm: Half Shebang, Park Stage
1:30pm-2:30pm: Block Party!, Park Stage. One of the largest cheese tastings in the area. Enjoy cheese right off the ‘block’!
2:00pm Cheese Curd Eating Contest
3:00pm – 4:00pm: Corks & Kegs Tasting Event
Plan to take part in the tasting experiences offered during the festival. Kegs & Corks adult tasting experiences feature local and regional craft beer, wine and hard cider. A happy hour like no other, enjoy unlimited sampling and light appetizers while visiting with the brewers, crafters and reps.
3:30pm-5:30pm: Thomas Michael, Broadway Street Stage
3:30pm – 5:30pm: Just Banned, Point Stage
5:00pm-6:30pm: Craft & Curd: Paired. Five regional craft breweries compete for your votes by pairing their favorite craft brew with a custom cheese curd flavor! Which craft and curd pairing will be the winner? That’s up to you when you cast your vote for your favorite. At the Tasting Tent.
4:30pm-6:30pm: L Bell & the Lazy Susan Band
6:00pm-8:00pm: Denny Menter, Broadway Street Stage
6:00pm-8:00pm: The Delta Papas, Point Stage
7:00pm-8:00pm: Corks & Kegs Tasting Event, Tasting Tent. Plan to take part in the tasting experiences offered during the festival. Kegs & Corks adult tasting experiences feature local and regional craft beer, wine and hard cider. A happy hour like no other, enjoy unlimited sampling and light appetizers while visiting with the brewers, crafters and reps.
7:30pm-9:30pm: Justin Barts & The Way Out, Park Stage
Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival Address:
East End Park
U.S. Highways 10/63 at East Wall Street
Ellsworth, WI 54011
(715) 273-6442 Website
The Northern Wisconsin State Fair is always a fun-filled, family event that brings folks back year after year to Chippewa Falls, right along Historic U.S. 53 and today’s Highway 124. In 2026, it runs Wednesday July 8th through Sunday, July 12th!
The five days of the fair feature midway carnival excitement, numerous exhibits, animal judging, contests for milk drinking, pie eating, karaoke, animal shows including a draft horse show, a pedal tractor pull, and much more that you would expect from a fair like this. Furthermore, you can check out or participate in the Lego Pre-Build Contest, talent competitions, and of course, the food is always a highlight. A Schedule of Events is below!
The fairgrounds are indicated by this formation of stones right along Highway 124.
Adult 5 Day Admission: $25 (covers all five days)
One Day Admission: $10
Children 5 and Under: FREE
Parking: $5 per vehicle
Active/Retired Military and Veterans: Free with Active/Retired Military ID Card, DD214
The Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds are right along Highway 124 in Chippewa Falls, just a hop, skip, and a jump north of the Leinenkugel Brewery and across from beautiful Irvine Park and the Irvine Park Zoo. Highways 29 and U.S. 53 bring you close by.
Northern Wisconsin State Fair Schedule of Events coming soon!
Northern Wisconsin State Fair Address:
Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
225 Edward Street (just off Highway 124)
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 723-2861 Website
It’s Milwaukee’s annual French festival, one of the largest French celebrations in the United States, and it’s tres magnifique! This FREE four-day bash attracts over 250,000 visitors each year. In 2026, Bastille Days runs Thursday, July 9th through Sunday, July 12th. Set around Cathedral Square on the east side of downtown, Bastille Days begins with a 5K “Storm the Bastille” run on Thursday night and then plenty of live music, an international marketplace, chef and wine demos, French and Cajun cuisine, roaming busker entertainment and a signature 43-foot Eiffel Tower replica offering hourly light shows.
The event is known for the impromptu street performers, roaming minstrels, and a variety of interactive and musical entertainment. Bastille Days also boasts a wide variety of some of the best restaurant vendors in Milwaukee!
Check out Bastille Days wine tastings where you can let your taste buds explore and compare delicious wines from around the world! A wine specialist will guide you through the taste test with selected wines from 5 countries. A separate ticket is needed for each tasting, and seating is limited to 76 per tasting. You’ll find all these tastings at the NE corner of Cathedral Square Park along Jackson Street – look for the tent!
The festival covers the blocks around Cathedral Square, including along Wells, Kilbourn, Jefferson, and Jackson Streets. U.S. 18 and Highway 32 actually detour around the festival, which is one of the largest French festivals in the nation. I-43/94, I-794, and Highways 38, 59, and 145 all bring you close. Grab your beret and check it out!
Thousands line up for the “Storm the Bastille” 5K Run & Walk at Bastille Days in Milwaukee
Bastille Days Hours:
Thursday July 9- 11am-11:30pm
Friday July 10- 11am-11:30pm
Saturday July 11- 10am-11:30pm
(Kid’s Day Activities 10am – 3pm)
Sunday July 12- 11am-8pm
Bastille Days Address:
825 N. Jefferson Street/Cathedral Square
Milwaukee, WI 53202 Website
Festa Italiana is “your ticket to Italy” once again when it hits Milwaukee’s lakefront July 10th-12th, 2026! Amazing Italian food, great entertainment, and the loudest fireworks around. This year, Festa Italiana celebrates 48 years along Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront.
Check out Flag-Throwers of the Florentine, direct from Italy. For music, check out great acts across six stages, including the Children’s Stage. Headliners include Anthony Crivello, George Busateri’s Spider George and the Web, Louis Vanaria, The Sicilian Tenors featuring Aaron Caruso, Sam Vitale, and Vincent Riccardi, Agne, Tre Bella, Cory Pesaturo, Graziana Maria Lazzaro, and FLEMT – straight from Italy. Longtime favorite Rick D’Amore makes his return, too!
Magic tricks, food demonstrations, comedians Vince Carone and Carmen Vallone, singers from the Florentine Opera, and more are all performing each day. The UW Marching Band will perform on Sunday, and the Children’s Stage will have all kinds of entertainment throughout the day.
You can also enjoy a romantic gondola ride on the cove, play bocce ball, watch the Copa Festa Italiana Futsal tournament, or compete in Italian Idol. Classic Italian fare and wine tastings, Kids Pizza Making Contest and annual Cannoli Eating Contest. There’s also a traditional Sunday Mass at 11am.
The fireworks go off every Festa evening around 10pm, and they’re a blast! (No pun intended. Okay, fine, pun intended.)
Admission tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door; Children 12 and under are admitted free all three days when accompanied by an adult. Festa Italiana is a cashless festival – no cash will be accepted at the box office, ticket windows, or on the grounds.
You can find the grounds under (literally, under) I-794 along Milwaukee’s lakefront. U.S. 18 ends right by the North Gate, and swinging nearby are I-43, I-94, and Highways 32, 38, 57, 59, and 145.
Festa Italiana Address:
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-223-2808 Website
Start:
July 10, 2026 5:00 pm
End:
July 12, 2026 9:00 pm
Venue:
Henry Maier Festival Park
Phone:
414-223-2808
Address:
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Along the Wisconsin-Illinois border you can go back to the 16th century at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. A plethora of entertainment, great food, performances, and a marketplace filled with crafts, art, musical instruments, clothes, jewelry, and more await. You’ll find plenty of colorful characters in period costumery, performers twirling fire, people mashing their mouths into giant turkey legs, wandering minstrels, swordfights, jousting… the list goes on and on. It’s a great summer weekend activity just west of Kenosha on the Illinois border!
Bristol Renaissance Faire runs Saturdays and Sundays July 5th though Labor Day, September 1st (yes, it runs that Monday and that’s the only Monday.)
The Kid’s Kingdom features the Castle Stage where children can get knighted, a face-painting area (don’t worry, it washes off eventually), hobbit houses, an entrance area with five huge thrones that provide great photo opportunities, and an air-conditioned rest area.
A giant turkey leg slathered in barbecue sauce is an essential part of the Bristol Renaissance Faire experience, but they also offer everything from Cornish pasties and bakery goods to vegan items and gelato. The number of entertainment stages now totals sixteen. Comedic sword-fighting, ropewalking, juggling, fire-whipping, acrobatics, chalk art, a variety of musicians, and more. The Marketplace offers the work of nearly 175 artisans and crafters; you can find Scottish kilts, leather masks, bamboo flutes, jester socks, stage-combat-approved swords, steampunkery, and much more. Glass blowing and blacksmithing activities frequently happen in the Marketplace as well as a variety of other crafting.
Tickets range from $40 for adults to $15 for children ages 5-12. Seniors (62+) and Military with ID are $38. Kids 4 and under are free. Season passes can be purchased for $225. You can also get discounted tickets at Menard’s and if you join Friends of the Faire you can also get discounts. U.S. 41, I-41/94, Highway 165, and the state line border the “Fairegrounds,” with U.S. 45 and Highway 50 also getting you close!
Bristol Renaissance Faire Location:
12550 120th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53142
(877) 395-7773 Website
All over Kenosha’s beautiful harbor area, you’ll find the Taste of Wisconsin July 24th-26th this year. There’s plenty to eat, drink, and do with over 40 food vendors, four beverage gardens, 75+ musical artists playing across four different stages, and a Kid Zone. The Demonstration Center offers a look at all kinds of foods and products for making awesome culinary delights – or just quick, tasty meals – from a number of chefs and others who show you how to make magic in the kitchen… or on the grill, at the campsite – wherever you want to prepare food.
Admission is FREE for everybody! And while you can enjoy great food, music, and more, you can also explore the HarborPark area, the Kenosha Public Museum, the Civil War Museum, the Dinosaur Discovery Museum, the Southport Light Station & Museum, take rides on the Kenosha Trolley, and more! Taste of Wisconsin happens in Kenosha’s HarborPark area on the edge of downtown. You’ll find it just east of Highway 32 between the east ends of Highways 50 and 158. Enjoy!
Taste of Wisconsin covers a lot of ground in Kenosha’s HarborPark area, right downtown. They need a lot of room for all that food and music! Photo courtesy of the Kenosha News.
Taste of Wisconsin Address:
HarborPark
5400 6th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 496-9400 Website
Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events › Festival
April 1, 2026 – April 18, 2026
International PEEPS Art Exhibition at the Racine Art Museum
Within the pristine white walls of a contemporary art museum that overlooks Lake Michigan, the Racine Art Museum presents a rather non-traditional exhibition showcasing fluffy, sugar-coated marshmallow PEEPS®. Over the years, many entrants have been become experts in marshmallow candy as a material, using methods like carving, painting, hole punching, gluing, and melting to manipulate PEEPS into incredible shapes. For this show, Richard W. Marklin, Jr. melted a flock of PEEPS to make Raul the Rooster, a realistic barnyard bird; while April Harris and Autumn Kyle assembled the holiday treats into a bust of Black Panther Peeper.
Vote for Your Favorite PEEPS
Stop by the museum to vote for your favorite PEEPS creation. You will decide who wins the coveted PEEPles Choice Award, announced at the end of the show.
You’ll find the Racine Art Museum along Main Street/Highway 32 in downtown Racine, just blocks from Lake Michigan. Highways 20 and 38 also bring you downtown, and Highway 11 is just to the south. It’s a little over a 10-minute drive east of I-41/94, depending on traffic and how you lit the lights. There is plenty else to see and do there, from picking up a fresh kringle at one of Racine’s famous Danish bakeries to exploring the city’s heritage at the Racine Historical Museum, enjoying the beautiful harbor and waterfront, shopping the stores of 6th Street and Main Street, or even exploring Hotel Verdant, the new boutique hotel downtown. These are all within walking distance of the Racine Art Museum!
International PEEPS Art Exhibition Address:
Racine Art Museum
441 Main Street (Highway 32)
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 638-8300
Website
PEEPS Exhibit called “Mt. PEEPmore” by Elizabeth Peterson. Yes, it’s a mountain of PEEPs. Photo credit: Christina Lieffring, Racine Journal-Times.
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April 18, 2026
Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival
The festival typically draws over 900 attendees and features over 100 different styles of beer, a home brew competition, and local breweries with unlimited beer and cheese samples. Additionally, live music plays all afternoon with the Empty Bottle Boys and One Shot Jane performing. They play in the Parkway Chateau, adjacent to the Brat Stop.
Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival Tickets
General admission tickets are $55 in advance and $60 at the door. All tickets include a commemorative glass, live music and four hours of unlimited beer and cheese samples. Designated driver tickets are $15. This is a 21+ only event.
Last time we checked over 50 different brewers will be there. They include large brewers like Miller and Coors to small craft brewers including Lakefront, Bell’s, Toppling Goliath, Bare Bones, Alaskan, and more. Local home brew societies also represent at the festival. All will be pouring samples and providing info about their beers and brewing processes. Also, great food – including brats – will be part of the sustenance as the bands serenade your eating, drinking, talking, and enjoying.
Proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Kenosha. Check the Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival Website for tickets, continued updates, and other details!
You’ll find the Brat Stop right along Highway 50, just west of the I-41/94 interchange. It’s a Wisconsin staple, after all.
Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival Address:
The Brat Stop
12304 75th Street (Highway 50)
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 653-7304
Website
Buy Tickets Here
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April 25, 2026
Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship
You can get to Dodgeville via U.S. 18 & 151 and Highway 23. Any trip is worth it for grilled cheese!
Our previous favorites have included the Gouda Girls (below); Tina and Katherine make grilled cheese sandwich combos that win all across the nation. They’re based in Milwaukee and do incredible things with taste buds. Our head State Trunk Tour guy Eric Paulsen got to experience their creations firsthand in this Discover Wisconsin episode. We don’t have any vote, though, so we’ll see how this goes.
Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship Address:
Harris Park
600 Bennett Road
Dodgeville, WI 53533
(608) 935-9200
Website
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May 1, 2026
First Fridays Racine
Enjoy some Friday night fun during First Fridays Racine, taking place along Main Street in Downtown Racine from May – December from 4-9pm! It happens throughout the downtown area, centered on Monument Square where Highways 20 and 38 cap the ends of a main thoroughfare that is Highway 32.
Friday, May 1st is next for First Fridays Racine
The first First Fridays in 2026 will take place Friday (of course), May 1st from 4 pm to 9 pm. The theme is Creative Crawl!
The Creative Crawl will be a citywide celebration of art, creativity, and community. Enjoy hands-on activities, artist demos, local author readings, pop-up exhibits, and more throughout Downtown Racine. More details to come!
As always, Downtown Racine’s merchants, restaurants, and bars are rolling out the red carpet with shopping and dining deals that are too good to pass up. Live music will fill the air at hotspots like Brickhouse, The Ivanhoe, Marci’s on Main, Reefpoint Brew House, Dimples, Chartroom, and Uncorkt, keeping the party going all night long.
Parking is conveniently available at the Lake Avenue Ramp (300 Lake Avenue), Civic Centre Ramp (501 Lake Avenue), and the McMynn Ramp (120 7th Street) or Shoop (Main & State) for an all-day rate of only $4.00.
In addition to First Fridays, check out the rest of downtown Racine. Right along the shores of Lake Michigan you can explore Reefpoint Marina, North Beach, the Racine Zoo, the new boutique Hotel Verdant, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and SC Johnson sites.
Take the drive to where Highways 11, 20, 32, and 38 come together in downtown Racine. Enjoy happy people taking in the best of what downtown Racine has to offer! Check out the First Fridays Racine website for more details.
Monument Square
100 Main Street
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 634-4287
Website
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May 15, 2026 – May 16, 2026
Morel Mushroom Festival
Muscoda celebrates the Morel Mushroom Festival every May, which is only fitting because that’s prime growing season in this “Morel Mushroom Capital of Wisconsin.” These unique mushrooms are considered quite a delicacy by top chefs everywhere; there are message boards and recipes and all kinds of resources for morel lovers. The soil in the Muscoda area is particularly suited for the growth of morels and they fully embrace this fungi. In 2026, the festival takes place Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th.
This year’s event starts Friday evening with the 5th Annual Car Cruise Drive-In – all modes of transportation encouraged to attend. Join them at the paved parking lot next to the Riverdale bus garage in the 500 block of North Wisconsin. Jose’s Mexican Food Truck and Jovita’s Kitchen will be there serving their specialties and Udder Brothers Creamery will have their delicious ice cream. Two blocks south, at Mushroom Headquarters along Highway 80, the grills will be going with American Legion burgers. There’s also the 1st annual Antique Farm & Tractor Pull, a Little League Baseball Tournament, and Thunder Showers Bounce Houses will be there for kids’ fun.
On Saturday, May 16th starting at 9:00am, the whole Village bursts with events. The bounce house and pedal tractor pulls are back, you can check out the Tiny Acres Farms Petting Zoo, beer samples from 11am-3pm, and a parade. The awesome arts and crafts vendors, (many new ones!) and chainsaw carving are at Railroad Park as well as Food Vendors there and along the streets.
At Mushroom Headquarters, there are tastings, grilling with mushroom brats and Legion burgers (and fried morels if they’re are available). The Food and Beverage tasting area will include Meister Cheese, Moore Eggs, Studnicka Cattle Company, Wild Hills Winery, Dirftless Gold Organic Maple Syrup, Gillingham Meads, and Spurgeon Winery. And for your listening pleasure and maybe dancing, live music by Donnie Reyzek.
You can also catch tours of Effigy mounds, which start at 1pm, and baseball with the Muscoda Mudcats also at 1pm.
A big feature is the “Spring Mystery” Parade down main street (AKA Wisconsin Avenue), which starts at 3:00. Members of the UW Band will also perform starting around 3:45.
When you want a sit-down meal, there is pancake breakfast until noon, a chili cookoff with judging and tasting at 1:00 and the famous Firemen’s Steak Feed at the firehouse beginning at 4:00 until the steaks are gone! Enjoy the river views as the evening concludes with fireworks at dusk.
The Morel Mushroom Festival Schedule is coming soon!
You’ll find Muscoda along Highway 80 between the Wisconsin River and Highway 133. Highway 60 is just across the river. And this town comes to party for its Morel Mushroom Festival! Check their website for updates and full schedules.
Morel Mushroom Festival Address:
Muscoda Village Hall
206 N. Wisconsin Avenue (Highway 80)
Muscoda, WI 53573
(608) 739-3182
Website
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May 15, 2026 – May 17, 2026
Syttende Mai Festival, Stoughton
Stoughton’s Syttende Mai festival is a weekend-long celebration of Norwegian heritage featuring fun activities and cultural experiences for the whole family. Check out three days of parades, amazing food and drink, arts and music, athletic competitions, and kids’ activities steeped in centuries of Norwegian culture. From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Stoughton enjoyed an influx of Norwegians, and at one time, as many as 75 percent of its residents spoke Norwegian. These immigrants celebrated Syttende Mai unofficially, but it became an annual, city-wide tradition in the 1950s.
The city-wide festival takes place every year on the weekend closest to Norway’s May 17th Constitution Day, also known as Syttende Mai. In 2026, the festivities run through the weekend of May 15th through the 17th. The Arts & Crafts Fair attracts arts and crafts enthusiasts and artists who appreciate Norwegian culture and its role in the arts. The Stoughton festival features an annual juried craft fair where artisans and artists show and sell their hand-crafted works. The Norwegian art of rosemaling, or decorative painting, traditional Norwegian embroidery and quilts are all on display. Many artists hold public demonstrations of how they create their works, too. It’s a great opportunity for Stoughton festival-goers to meet the artists and appreciate the art’s deep roots in traditional Norwegian culture. It includes the Arts & Craft Fair, Hardanger Embroidery Exhibit, the Quilt Show, the Rosemaling Exhibit and Sale, and Norwegian Cultural Demonstrations. It runs Saturday from 10am — 6pm and Sunday from 9am — 2pm at River Bluff Middle School Gymnasium, Cafetorium, and Grounds at 235 N. Forrest Street in Stoughton.
Festival activities include:
Syttende Mai Festival Address:
via Stoughton Chamber of Commerce
532 E. Main Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
(608) 873-7912
Website
More details below!
Stoughton Norwegian Dancers
This dance troupe delights audiences with their intricate footwork, athleticism, and enthusiasm for traditional Norwegian culture. Around since 1952 and clad in traditional Norwegian costumes, or bunad, their dancing to music from the fjords, and their colorful and captivating performances are in demand nationwide. You’ll be able to see the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers and their traditional folk performances every day during the three-day Syttende Mai festival.
Other Live Performances
While enjoying all the Syttende Mai sights and delicious foods, don’t forget to experience the music, dance, and theater performances. Be sure to catch a Norwegian Dancer performance to experience Scandinavian folk dancing. Attend a Stoughton Village Players theatrical performance written and performed by local actors who are expert at presenting the humorous side of life in Stoughton. Be sure to seek out a Hardanger fiddle performance to see and hear these beautiful instruments up close.
Enjoy:
Crowning the Syttende Mai Royalty
Check out the crowning of Syttende Mai’s event ambassadors in a tradition that spans five decades. Stoughton’s Syttende Mai royalty kick off the three-day event and declare the weekend a statewide celebration.
Those who wear the Syttende Mai crown receive the honor for their commitment to community service and keeping the local Norwegian culture alive. Each year, a couple learns of their nomination in September and must keep it a secret from everyone, even friends and family, for five months. During the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers’ February Norse Afternoon of Fun, the new king and queen receive their crowns and join previous years’ honorees.
Although their reign is symbolic, the annual Syttende Mai King and Queen dress in traditional Norwegian clothing, or bunad, for the entire festival. In addition to opening the festival, the couple attend more than 40 events over the weekend. They are the festival’s icons and serve as cultural ambassadors to visitors. Have questions about the Norwegian cultural demonstrations, colors, music, foods and costumes you see? Ask this year’s king and queen (or one of our many volunteers).
Young people participate in the Syttende Mai royalty tradition, too. Two local third-grade students are selected as the festival’s annual Prince and Princess and are chosen to carry on Norwegian traditions among their peers. They serve as grand marshals of the Saturday Youth Parade, ride in the Sunday Norwegian Parade, and start The Lil’ Run. The pair also attend the opening dinner and make other appearances throughout the Syttende Mai festival.
Again, you’ll find Stoughton along U.S. 51 and Highway 138, southeast of Madison. I-39/90 and U.S. 14 also bring you close!
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May 15, 2026 – May 17, 2026
SVRA Spring Vintage Weekend at Road America
The SVRA Spring Vintage Festival Weekend at Road America, May 15-17, celebrates automotive racing’s glorious past. This vintage racing event brings the past back to life with the sights, sounds and smells from motorsport’s pioneering age both on and off the track.
The SVRA (SportsCar Vintage Racing Association) weekend at Road America includes a packed vintage race car schedule featuring classic race cars covering several decades. Many of the entries have previously competed at classic events like Le Mans and the Indy 500. SVRA is one of the oldest organizations in vintage racing, and the only one with a national presence, committed to presenting the best possible experience for competitors and fans. From 200 MPH INDY and Formula 1 cars to classic Jaguars and Porsches, SVRA races provide a rolling history of motorsport where the cars are the stars at legendary tracks across the country.
The SVRA Spring Vintage Festival Weekend lineup includes race groups for all twelve SVRA classes including Formula 5000, Formula Ford, sports racing, and production sports cars. The classes feature the best classic sportscars from prestigious marques such as Lotus, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Porsche and Corvette with models from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. The Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.), Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) series, Mazda Miata Heritage Cup Series, OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car championship and the Hagerty Cars & Caffeine vintage car rally will bolster the SVRA schedule for the weekend.
New this season is the opportunity to upgrade admission tickets to include access to the Finish Line Tower suites. The Finish Line Tower is located right at the Start/Finish line on the front straight across from the Main Paddock. Suites are furnished, climate-controlled, staffed with an attendant, and have restrooms conveniently located on the same floor. Two high-definition screens feature timing and scoring and a live feed of the races.
Check their website for ticket and event details.
You’ll find Road America along Highway 67, just north of Plymouth and Highway 23 and a few miles west of Highway 57 in Sheboygan County, right by the beautiful resort town of Elkhart Lake.
Road America Address for Spring Vintage Weekend:
N7390 Highway 67
Plymouth, WI 53073
(800) 365-7223
Website
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May 23, 2026 – May 24, 2026
Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair
Check out the Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair on Memorial Day weekend in downtown Sturgeon Bay! 2026 marks the 28th annual Fine Art Fair, a juried multi-media art show featuring fine art from over 80 exhibitors and artists from across the U.S.
Stroll along Martin Park and 3rd Avenue in downtown Sturgeon Bay, watching artists create, buying one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork, and soaking in the gorgeous setting. Visit with artists in 2 and 3 dimensional categories. Art includes sculpture, glass, paintings, jewelry, fiber, photography, wood, watercolor, oil, paper… there is plenty to see and admire. Food, beverages, beer, and wine will be available for purchase, including from a wide variety of local producers. Free balloon art for the kids each day, along with plenty of children’s activities.
While you’re there, check out some great shopping along 3rd Avenue along with plenty of restaurants, Door County Confectionary, the Door County Maritime Museum with their new lookout tower, even two breweries: Starboard Brewing on 3rd Avenue, and Bridge Up Brewing across the bay via the Oregon Street Bridge or the classic Steel Bridge. All of this can be accessed by following the “Business” (i.e. historic/city) routes of Highway 42 and Highway 57 through Sturgeon Bay. Check it out if you’re headed to Door County for Memorial Day weekend!
Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair Address:
Martin Park
207 S. 3rd Avenue (Business 42/57)
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
(920) 743-6246
Website
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May 29, 2026 – May 31, 2026
Dairyfest 2026, Marshfield
Marshfield features its 45th annual Dairyfest Friday, May 29th through Sunday, May 31st at venues all across the city. This is Hub City’s annual honor of the agricultural industry and Wisconsin’s hardworking dairy farmers! This community tradition has been providing fun for the whole family, during these “dairy-licious” days.
The Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MACCI) puts on the event, which includes a wide variety of fun activities across the three-day weekend.
What is Dairyfest?
Held annually the weekend after Memorial Day, Dairyfest is a fun community celebration that honors the agriculture industry and local dairy farmers. Dairyfest features a lot of fun events, including the annual Dairyfest Breakfast, a parade, kids’ activities, a Picnic in the Park, and much more. The theme of this year’s celebration is “A Dairy Great Time”!
Friday, May 29th
5:30am-9:30am / Mayor’s Breakfast: Held at the Expo Building at the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, 513 E. 17th St., this traditional event welcomes nearly 2,000 people every year. $10/ticket, kids 6 and under are FREE!
5:00pm-8:00pm / Picnic in the Park: Food trucks will be at Columbia Park, 201 W. Arnold St., until 5:00pm and a variety of food booths will be available throughout the evening. Join the fun in the Park including a Petting Zoo, Educational displays, Marshfield Fire & Rescue hands-on fun, Face painting, Main Street Conservatory of Dance show, Coin & Candy hunt (ages 2-9), Bingo (ages 10-15), and the Marshfield Civic Band Concert. Bring your lawn chairs for a night of fun!
Saturday, May 30th
Additional activities scheduled for Saturday include:
Governor W. H. Upham House, 212 West 3rd Street, Marshfield
Central WI State Fairgrounds, 513 East 17th Street
Central WI State Fairgrounds
8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Saturday, May 31st
USA Sanctioned Dairyfest Coed and Women’s Softball Tournament
Central WI State Fairgrounds
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Marshfield Dairyfest Address:
Various locations around town, including the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
513 E. 17th Street
Marshfield, WI 54449
Website
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June 5, 2026 – June 7, 2026
Copperfest
Copperfest is back, June 5-7, 2026!
Copperfest celebrates Wisconsin’s “Copper Country” in Oconto with tons of fun activities, history, food, a big lineup of live music, and more. Come join the fun on June 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2026. It’s easy access off U.S. 41 and Highway 22! This year’s theme is “Disney.”
Enjoy tons of live music , the Artist Village all days, the Grand Parade Saturday morning at 10am, and the Car Show Saturday from 10am-2pm featuring makes and models from a wide variety of eras.
Most events will take place at the American Legion Post 74 Park, 709 Madison Street in Oconto.
Copperfest Live Music Lineup
FRIDAY:
5:00-6:30pm TBA
7:00-11:00pm TBA
SATURDAY
11:30am-2:30pm TBA
3:30pm-6:30pm TBA
7:30pm-11:00pm TBA
SUNDAY
11:30am-2:15pm TBA
UTL Wrestling will also be on display Sunday afternoon!
Hours for the Artist Village are Friday 5PM-9PM, Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10AM-3PM. Explore over 120 artists and crafters from all over the state!
For all the latest, check their Facebook page.
U.S. 41 and Highway 22 bring you there! You’ll find Oconto at the eastern end of Highway 22, right at U.S. 41. It’s about eight miles east of U.S. 141 and 10 miles south of Highway 64. Copperfest is in town, and just east past downtown is the shores of Green Bay, with lakeside parks and piers and a view across the bay to Door County. It’s only about half an hour from the city of Green Bay and twenty minutes from Marinette.
Oconto Copperfest Address:
American Legion Post 74 Park
709 Madison Street
Oconto, WI 54153
(920) 604-3636
Website
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June 12, 2026 – June 14, 2026
Polish Fest
Polish Fest is the largest Polish cultural festival in America, and it’s right on Milwaukee’s lakefront! Authentic dancing, food, music, family activities, and plenty of other entertainment (accordions may be involved.)
Some of that extra entertainment includes vodka tastings, the annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition, folk arts and crafts, and plenty of children’s activities.
Polish Fest runs Friday, June 12th and Saturday, June 13th from noon until 11pm; Sunday the 14th from noon to 7pm. A Sunday Mass will also take place at 10am, with free admission. Gates open at 9:30am Sunday for the Mass.
Tickets are $7 in advance, $12 at the Summerfest Gate. Military personnel, both active and retired, are admitted FREE with military ID.
Check out these event highlights:
Sukiennice Marketplace
Filled by over forty different vendors, our Sukiennice Marketplace gives you a chance to buy Polish items, from traditional Polish toys for children to a new piece of pottery. The Sukiennice Marketplace is also your source for massage & acupuncture, home improvement, and genealogy research. Find everything from relaxation to the knowledge of your Polish roots.
Cultural Village
2026 Cultural Village Exhibits will feature folk artists demonstrating traditional Polish crafts, including wycinanki (paper cutting), pisanki (decorated eggs), wianki (floral head wreaths) and more. Polanki’s sales tent featuring handmade Polish pottery (Boleslawiec), Christmas ornaments, recipe books and other folk art are both located in the Cultural Village. The Polish Genealogical Society and the Milwaukee County Genealogical Society will again be at Polish Fest in a new location, east of the demonstrator tent.
There’s also the Polish Forum, click here for a schedule of speakers.
Cooking demonstrations will abound, too: check out this schedule of events.
Polish Fest Entertainment Schedule:
Friday, June 12th
Miller Stage
12:00 Copper Box
2:30 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
6:00 Opening Ceremony
7:30 The First Wave
Non-Stop Polka Stage
12:00 The Mix
3:00 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
3:40 I.P.A. Tribute Band
4:20 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
5:00 I.P.A. Tribute Band
5:40 Keith Stras & Polka Confetti
6:20 I.P.A. Tribute Band
7:00 John Gora & Gorale
7:40 Polka Country Musicians
8:20 John Gora & Gorale
9:00 Polka Country Musicians
9:40 John Gora & Gorale
10:20 Polka Country Musicians
Cultural Stage
12:00 Larry Lynne LTD Show
1:00 The Britins
2:00 Larry Lynne LTD Show
3:00 The Britins
4:30 Łowicz Dance Ensemble of Edmonton
6:00 Cappuchin Walk
7:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
8:00 Stetsin & Lace
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Saturday, June 13th
Miller Stage
12:00 John Gora & Gorale
1:30 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
2:30 John Gora & Gorale
3:30 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
5:00 Larry Lynne LTD Show
8:00 Almighty Vinyl
Non-Stop Polka Stage
12:00 Polka Generations
3:00 The Natural Talent
3:40 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
4:20 The Natural Talent
5:00 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
5:40 The Natural Talent
6:20 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
7:00 Polka Family
7:40 Polka Country Musicians
8:20 Polka Family
9:00 Polka Country Musicians
9:40 Polka Family
10:20 Polka Country Musicians
Cultural Stage
12:00 Łowicz Dance Ensemble of Edmonton
12:30 Whispers Center of Artistic Expression
1:30 Wawel Folk Ensemble
2:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
3:00 Wesoły Lud Folk Dance Company of the PRCUA
4:00 Polish Folk Dance Group Lajkonik Chicago
6:00 PFDAA Polish Folk Dance Gala
8:00 Silver Effect
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Sunday – June 14th
Miller Stage
12:00 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
1:30 John Gora & Gorale
2:30 Mollie B with Ted Lange & SqueezeBox
3:30 John Gora & Gorale
5:00 WhiskeyBelles
Non-Stop Polka Stage
12:00 Polka Family
12:40 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
1:20 Polka Family
2:00 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
2:40 Polka Family
3:20 Frankie Liszka & Blue Magic
4:00 DynaBrass
Cultural Stage
10:00 Mass
1:00 Syrena Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
2:00 Łowicz Dance Ensemble of Edmonton
3:00 Marcus Band
Sports Area
Polonia soccer club
Get more info and complete schedules at PolishFest.org!
Polish Fest Milwaukee Address:
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Website
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June 18, 2026 – July 4, 2026
Summerfest 2026
Summerfest 2026 brings the “World’s Largest Music Festival” back to Milwaukee’s lakefront in the middle of summer! We’re talking 9 days across three long weekends packed with concerts and fun with over half a million of your closest friends. Choose from over 600 acts across 12 stages on the 75-acre Maier Festival Park grounds. The dates this year, all Thursdays – Saturdays, are June 18-20, June 25-27, and July 2-4, 2026.
Summerfest dates back to 1968 and has since become a key venue for the music industry’s hottest stars, emerging talent and local favorites to create unforgettable live music experiences in a world-class festival setting. Running along Milwaukee’s lakefront nestled within downtown, the Historic Third Ward, Discovery World, I-794, and Lake Michigan, Summerfest offers not only music but over 45 food and beverage vendors, four marketplaces offering crafts and wares from all over the world, interactive exhibits, and just cool general fun. Northwestern Mutual Community Park includes a Children’s Stage and play area that offers a fun experience for the kids. Regular shows involving magic, singalongs, and other activities are complemented with plenty of equipment kids can run, swing, climb, and play on. During the day, Summerfest is designed to be very family-friendly. Many of the food and beverage vendors are classic and popular restaurants and bars from around the Milwaukee area, and selections range widely from ethnic food options to a wide variety of craft and classic beers. Several stands also have a full bar with wine and spirits. Check out the latest music and stage lineups below!
Announced Summerfest 2026 lineups by Date, Stage & Time:
Tuesday, June 16th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:30pm – Garth Brooks
Wednesday, June 17th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:30pm – Garth Brooks
Thursday, June 18th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:00pm – Megan Moroney
BMO Pavilion
7:15pm Dannyboy
9:00pm Charlie Wilson
Miller Lite Oasis
1:15pm From Ashes To Embers
2:45pm Current Comfort
4:30pm Vial
6:30pm Nicholas Tremulis & The Prodigals
10:30pm Tash Sultana
Generac Power Stage
5:30pm The Dream Syndicate
7:30pm Modern English
9:30pm Echo & The Bunnymen
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
6:00pm Morgan St. Jean
8:00pm Dora Jar
10:00pm Holly Humberstone
T-Mobile Stage
6:15pm Venus & the Flytraps
8:15pm Marlon Funaki
10:15pm Passion Pit
Uline Warehouse
3:30pm Post Sex Nachos
5:30pm Taylor Acorn
7:30pm The Bends
9:30pm Third Eye Blind
Aurora Pavilion
7:00pm Alejandro Escovedo
Friday, June 19th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:30pm – Don Toliver with special guests Shababii & Che
BMO Pavilion
5:30pm The Love Monkeys
7:15pm Aldo Nova
9:00pm STYX
Miller Lite Oasis
1:15pm From Ashes To Embers
2:45pm Current Comfort
4:30pm Vial
6:30pm Panic Shack
8:30pm Enter Shikari
10:30pm Amyl and the Sniffers
Generac Power Stage
5:30pm Deer Tick
7:30pm Evan Honer
9:30pm Father John Misty
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
4:00pm Todd Cameron
6:00pm Steph Strings
8:00pm Adrian Nunez
T-Mobile Stage
6:15pm Emmitt James
10:15pm Jeremiah
Uline Warehouse
12:30pm Koyo
2:00pm Field Hockey
3:30pm Tiny Voices
5:30pm Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
7:30pm State Champs
9:30pm Hot Mulligan
Aurora Pavilion
5:45pm Chris Crain
7:00pm The Family Stone
Saturday, June 20th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:00pm – Carin Leon
BMO Pavilion
5:30pm Substitute: Tales from The Who
9:00pm David Lee Roth
Miller Lite Oasis
6:30pm The Juliana Theory
8:30pm Braid
10:30pm The Academy Is…
Generac Power Stage
12:30pm The Band Solstice
2:00pm Tobacco Road
3:30pm Old Mervs
5:30pm Winyah
7:30pm Penelope Road
9:30pm Flipturn
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
8:00pm Weston Estate
10:00pm Connor Price
T-Mobile Stage
12:45pm Lauren Gottshall
2:30pm Will Terry
4:15pm Rhys Rutherford
6:15pm Scott Wolverton
8:15pm McCoy Moore
10:15pm Nate Smith
Uline Warehouse
2:00pm Kenneth Brian Band
3:30pm A.J. Croce
5:30pm Trapper Schoepp
7:30pm Don Felder
9:30pm Christopher Cross
Aurora Pavilion
3:15pm Cigarettes @ Sunset
4:30pm Altered By Mom
5:45pm Red Leather
7:00pm Dexter and the Moonrocks
Sunday, June 21st
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:00pm – The Pussycat Dolls with special guests Lil Kim & Mya
Thursday, June 25th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:30pm – Ed Sheeran with special guest Myles Smith and Aaron Rowe
BMO Pavilion
7:15pm Gabriel Jacoby
9:00pm The Roots
Miller Lite Oasis
4:30pm Vertical Horizon
6:30pm Porch Light
8:30pm Hazlett
10:30pm Kaleo
Generac Power Stage
7:30pm Grabbitz
9:30pm Subtronics
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
4:00pm Robert Randolph & The Family Band
10:00pm Kim Gordon
T-Mobile Stage
5:30pm Old 97’s
6:15pm Elijah Scott
8:15pm Lanie Gardner
10:15pm Tucker Wetmore
Uline Warehouse
4:15pm 10,000 Maniacs
5:45pm Lisa Loeb
7:30pm Walk Off the Earth
9:30pm Halestorm
Aurora Pavilion
4:30pm Abby Moeller
5:45pm Boy Golden
7:00pm The Mountain Goats
Friday, June 26th
American Family Insurance Amphitheather
7:30 pm – Cody Johnson with special guest Jesse Murph
BMO Pavilion
7:15pm The Aces
9:00pm Louis Tomlinson
Miller Lite Oasis
2:45pm Harrison Gordon
4:30pm Lake Drive
6:30pm Showoff
8:30pm Lucky Boys Confusion
10:30pm Goldfinger
Generac Power Stage
3:30pm 7th Heaven
7:30pm Big Wild
9:30pm Elderbrook
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
6:00pm Henrik
10:00pm Petey USA
T-Mobile Stage
2:30pm Gold Steps
6:15pm Greg Koch & The Koch Marshall Trio
8:15pm Tha Band Loula
10:15pm Marcus King Band
Uline Warehouse
3:30pm Sons of the Silent Age
5:30pm Grouplove
7:30pm Two Feet
9:30pm The Revivalists
Aurora Pavilion
4:30pm Siobahn Bodrug
5:45pm Harper O’Neill
7:00pm Sudan Archives
Saturday, June 27th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:30 p.m. – Post Malone with special guest Carter Faith
BMO Pavilion
7:15pm Dylan Schneider
9:00pm Russell Dickerson
Miller Lite Oasis
2:45pm King Solomon
4:30pm Left On Sunset
6:30pm The Expendables
8:30pm The Movement
10:30pm Pepper
Generac Power Stage
5:30pm Jean Dawson
9:30pm Wolfmother
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
2:30pm Fuzzysurf
4:00pm Modern Alibi
6:00pm Taz
8:00pm Paw Paw Rod
10:00pm BØRNS
T-Mobile Stage
6:15pm Maris
10:15pm Audrey Nuna
Uline Warehouse
3:30pm Tracy Bonham
5:30pm Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band
7:30pm Freddy Jones Band
9:30pm Little Feat
Aurora Pavilion
7:00pm Mariachi Sol De Mexico
Thursday, July 2nd
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:00 p.m. – Muse
BMO Pavilion
7:15pm Absolutely
9:00pm Ella Mai
Miller Lite Oasis
8:30pm Anees
10:30pm Sean Paul
Generac Power Stage
2:00pm Munroe
5:30pm Living Colour
7:30pm Buckcherry
9:30pm Candlebox
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
2:30pm Hell On Heels
4:00pm Hotel Fiction
6:00pm Sunflower Bean
8:00pm Blondshell
10:00pm The Beths
T-Mobile Stage
12:45pm Pretty Pity
2:30pm Gold Steps
4:15pm Fluorescents
6:15pm Girlfriends
8:15pm Kennyhoopla
10:15pm All-Time Low
Uline Warehouse
2:00pm Outranaut
3:30pm The Ocean Blue
5:30pm Sister Hazel
7:30pm Spin Doctors
9:30pm Gin Blossoms
Aurora Pavilion
12:45pm Florentine Opera Company
2:00pm Florentine Opera Company
4:30pm Case Oas
5:45pm Jobi Riccio
7:00pm Matthew Hansen
Friday, July 3rd
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:30pm – Alex Warren
BMO Pavilion
7:15pm Stephen Marley
9:00pm Buju Banton with Stephen Marley
Miller Lite Oasis
4:30pm Scout Speer
6:30pm Adam Warner
8:30pm Chase McDaniel
10:30pm Whiskey Myers
Generac Power Stage
3:30pm Yaya Biggs
5:30pm Edgehill
7:30pm Ax and the Hatchetmen
9:30pm Spoon
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
8:00pm DJ Jazzy Jeff
10:00pm Rev Run
T-Mobile Stage
10:15pm Flo Rida
Uline Warehouse
5:30pm Ken Pomeroy
7:30pm St. Paul & the Broken Bones
9:30pm Gene Simmons Band
Aurora Pavilion
3:15pm Ask Carol
4:30pm Six Foot Blonde
5:45pm The Heavy Heavy
7:00pm Neal Francis
Saturday, July 4th
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7:30 pm – Jelly Roll with special guest Tyler Hubbard
BMO Pavilion
7:15pm Preston Cooper
9:00 pm Sam Barber
Miller Lite Oasis
4:30pm The Maiden Voyage
6:30pm Siin
10:30pm Megadeth
Generac Power Stage
3:30pm Nicole Lawrence
5:30pm Soul Asylum
7:30pm The Jayhawks
9:30pm The BoDeans
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
8:00pm John Vincent III
10:00pm Jonah Kagen
T-Mobile Stage
4:15pm Carolina Liar
6:15pm Pure Hex
8:15pm Joywave
10:15pm The Temper Trap
Uline Warehouse
5:30pm Jerry Harrison’s TH 50 – “50 Years of Talking Heads”
7:30pm Mindi Abair
9:30pm Straight No Chaser
Aurora Pavilion
5:45pm Tag Team
7:00pm Baha Men
Gruber Law Offices Sportzone and Northwestern Mutual Community Park will have a variety of shows and performers too, to be announced soon.
Watch for new announcements, see Summerfest.com/lineup for more lineups the timeliest way possible!
Summerfest Tickets
Single Day General Admission Tickets run $30 per day, you can print them at home or put them on your mobile. These tickets are good for the entire grounds and any show with the exception of the American Family Insurance Amphitheater shows. Seniors 62 and over and Children 3-10 can get discount tickets at the gate. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Multi-Day Ticket options include:
Parking lots are available just to the west of the grounds and throughout downtown Milwaukee and the Historic Third Ward. The Milwaukee County Transit System also offers “freeway flyer” express buses to and from the grounds from numerous Park & Ride lots in the metro area. The Summerfest Grounds can be accessed directly via I-794, U.S. 18, and Highway 32. I-43/94 and Highways 38, 59, and 145 also bring you within a mile of it – which is how far away some people park! Either way, it’s one of the greatest music festivals on the planet and a definite State Trunk Tour recommendation.
Summerfest 2026 Address:
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 273-2680
Website
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June 20, 2026
Fyr Ball Festival
Ephraim explodes with summer excitement as the Fyr Bal Festival (pronounced feer-ball) re-creates traditions of early Norwegians celebrating Midsummer’s Eve. Artists, food, dancing, musical entertainment and family activities along the picturesque shoreline of Eagle Harbor welcome the arrival of summer.
Featured activities include a boat regatta, a trolley and historic walking tours through the village, and a chance to explore numerous historic landmarks, shops, galleries and restaurants for which Ephraim is well-known. Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, the popular spot along Highway 42 in Ephraim, has their annual Fyr Ball Firecracker Frenzy Ice Cream Eating Competition, too!
The signature Fyr Bal event is an evening bonfire, which represents the burning of the ‘Winter Witch’ to usher in the long days – and beautiful nights – of summer. Fireworks complete a perfect day. Stay and enjoy the Scandinavian atmosphere and hospitality.
Ephraim is right along Highway 42 on the Green Bay side of the Door County Peninsula, between Fish Creek and Sister Bay on the eastern edge of Eagle Harbor and the gorgeous Peninsula State Park. It’s a beautiful town and this event is literally a blast! The rest of the details can be found here on the Fyr Ball web page.
Fyr Ball Festival Address:
Eagle Harbor (Highway 42)
Ephraim, WI 54211
(920) 854-4989
Website
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June 25, 2026 – June 27, 2026
Blue Ox Music Festival
The annual Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin offers an intimate Bluegrass and Americana music experience from June 25-27, 2026. Founded in 2015, both the festival and campgrounds are family owned and operated by a team striving for a music festival experience designed to be welcoming and approachable for people of all ages. Blue Ox features over 35 artists spread across 3 days on three stages and on-site camping.
Blue Ox 2026 Experience/Activities include:
Over the past years the Blue Ox Music Festival has featured artists such as Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Greensky Bluegrass, The Sam Bush Band, Peter Rowan, Drive by Truckers, The Del McCoury Band, Billy Strings, Margo Price, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Devil Makes Three, Trampled By Turtles, Railroad Earth, Tyler Childers, Son Volt and many more…
You can even check out the Blue Ox Podcast to find out more about the artists, venue, things to do, and more!
Tickets are available in a variety of pricing and combinations, find out more here.
Blue Ox Music Festival Schedule – lineup coming soon!
The Blue Ox Music Festival welcomes campers on-site; shuttle service is also available from a number of hotels in the Eau Claire area.
The Pines Music Park, where Blue Ox Music Festival is held, is just southwest of Eau Claire on the west side of the Chippewa River, opposite Highway 85. I-94 and Highway 37 connections bring you there. U.S. 12, U.S. 53, and Highway 93 also bring you to Eau Claire.
Blue Ox Music Festival Address:
The Pines Music Park
5024 Crescent Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703
(715) 602-4440
Website
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June 27, 2026 – June 28, 2026
Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival
This free festival offers over 20 cheese curd dishes from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery for sampling, super-fresh and available battered or not with a variety of pairings, dips, and more.
Also enjoy over 30 craft brews to choose from, along with hard ciders, wines, and other local and regional beverages to try with your curds.
Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival Schedule of Events:
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 – 4 – 10 pm
4pm- 7pm Artisan Marketplace
– Part arts and crafts, part farmers market. Browse regional specialties and locally grown, handmade and handcrafted goods.
4pm – 6pm: Craft & Curd, Paired: the ultimate brewery face-off! Five local breweries battle it out for best brew and cheese curd flavor pairing. Who will win? That’s up to you–You’re the judge for this intense (and tasty) competition! Happening at the Tasting Tent
4:30pm – 6:30pm: 3OTT, Point Stage
4:30pm – 7:30pm: Brad Marx, Broadway Street Stage
5pm – Dark: Classic Car Cruise-In & Show, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery Lot
7:00pm-9:30pm, The Tucker Baker Band, Park Stage
7:00pm – 8:00pm: Corks & Kegs Tasting Event. Plan to take part in the tasting experiences offered during the festival. Kegs & Corks adult tasting experiences feature local and regional craft beer, wine and hard cider. A happy hour like no other, enjoy unlimited sampling and light appetizers while visiting with the brewers, crafters and reps. At the Tasting Tent.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28 – 10am – 10 pm
8am: 5K/10K Run
8am-10am: Pancake Breakfast
9:30am: Run Awards, Park Stage
10am-7pm: Artisan Marketplace. Part arts and crafts, part farmers market. Browse regional specialties and locally grown, handmade and handcrafted goods. Broadway Street
10:00am – 11:30am: Why Worry? & The Fret Band, Point Stage
10:30am-12:30pm: Dave Snyder, Broadway Street Stage
10:30am – 11:30am: Milk & Cookie Pairing (while supplies last) The Milk & Cookie Pairing and Farmer Meet & Greet is not to be missed! A great opportunity shake hands with a real farmer and learn about today’s agriculture and what it takes to put food on the tables of families across America. At the Tasting Tent.
11:00am-12:30pm: Oatmeal Band, Park Stage
12:00pm – 1:30pm: The Dairy Aires, Point Stage
12:30-1:30pm: Ice Cream Tasting, Tasting Tent. Families won’t want to miss the Ice Cream Tasting, a one-hour real dairy flavor celebration featuring creative combinations crafted by the innovative folks from UW-River Falls Food Sciences Department.
1:00pm-3:00pm Sarah Vanvelkenburg, Broadway Street Stage
1:00pm-3:00pm: Dave Snyder, Broadway Street Stage
1:30pm-3:30pm: Half Shebang, Park Stage
1:30pm-2:30pm: Block Party!, Park Stage. One of the largest cheese tastings in the area. Enjoy cheese right off the ‘block’!
2:00pm Cheese Curd Eating Contest
3:00pm – 4:00pm: Corks & Kegs Tasting Event
Plan to take part in the tasting experiences offered during the festival. Kegs & Corks adult tasting experiences feature local and regional craft beer, wine and hard cider. A happy hour like no other, enjoy unlimited sampling and light appetizers while visiting with the brewers, crafters and reps.
3:30pm-5:30pm: Thomas Michael, Broadway Street Stage
3:30pm – 5:30pm: Just Banned, Point Stage
5:00pm-6:30pm: Craft & Curd: Paired. Five regional craft breweries compete for your votes by pairing their favorite craft brew with a custom cheese curd flavor! Which craft and curd pairing will be the winner? That’s up to you when you cast your vote for your favorite. At the Tasting Tent.
4:30pm-6:30pm: L Bell & the Lazy Susan Band
6:00pm-8:00pm: Denny Menter, Broadway Street Stage
6:00pm-8:00pm: The Delta Papas, Point Stage
7:00pm-8:00pm: Corks & Kegs Tasting Event, Tasting Tent. Plan to take part in the tasting experiences offered during the festival. Kegs & Corks adult tasting experiences feature local and regional craft beer, wine and hard cider. A happy hour like no other, enjoy unlimited sampling and light appetizers while visiting with the brewers, crafters and reps.
7:30pm-9:30pm: Justin Barts & The Way Out, Park Stage
Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival Address:
East End Park
U.S. Highways 10/63 at East Wall Street
Ellsworth, WI 54011
(715) 273-6442
Website
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July 8, 2026 – July 12, 2026
Northern Wisconsin State Fair
The Northern Wisconsin State Fair is always a fun-filled, family event that brings folks back year after year to Chippewa Falls, right along Historic U.S. 53 and today’s Highway 124. In 2026, it runs Wednesday July 8th through Sunday, July 12th!
The five days of the fair feature midway carnival excitement, numerous exhibits, animal judging, contests for milk drinking, pie eating, karaoke, animal shows including a draft horse show, a pedal tractor pull, and much more that you would expect from a fair like this. Furthermore, you can check out or participate in the Lego Pre-Build Contest, talent competitions, and of course, the food is always a highlight. A Schedule of Events is below!
Music Headliners on the Leinenkugel Main Stage include:
Wednesday, July 8th: Sawyer Brown
Thursday July 9th: Hairball with guests Rival 5
Friday, July 10th: Sugar Ray with special guest Uncle Kracker, 8pm (gates open at 7)
Saturday, July 12th: TBA 7pm (gates open at 6)
Tickets from VIP to Grandstand levels can be purchased here!
Northern Wisconsin State Fair Admission:
Adult 5 Day Admission: $25 (covers all five days)
One Day Admission: $10
Children 5 and Under: FREE
Parking: $5 per vehicle
Active/Retired Military and Veterans: Free with Active/Retired Military ID Card, DD214
The Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds are right along Highway 124 in Chippewa Falls, just a hop, skip, and a jump north of the Leinenkugel Brewery and across from beautiful Irvine Park and the Irvine Park Zoo. Highways 29 and U.S. 53 bring you close by.
Northern Wisconsin State Fair Schedule of Events coming soon!
Northern Wisconsin State Fair Address:
Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
225 Edward Street (just off Highway 124)
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 723-2861
Website
A full Schedule of Events list is coming! For more on Chippewa Falls in general, check out our State Trunk Tour Chippewa Falls Podcast:
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July 9, 2026 – July 12, 2026
Bastille Days
It’s Milwaukee’s annual French festival, one of the largest French celebrations in the United States, and it’s tres magnifique! This FREE four-day bash attracts over 250,000 visitors each year. In 2026, Bastille Days runs Thursday, July 9th through Sunday, July 12th. Set around Cathedral Square on the east side of downtown, Bastille Days begins with a 5K “Storm the Bastille” run on Thursday night and then plenty of live music, an international marketplace, chef and wine demos, French and Cajun cuisine, roaming busker entertainment and a signature 43-foot Eiffel Tower replica offering hourly light shows.
The event is known for the impromptu street performers, roaming minstrels, and a variety of interactive and musical entertainment. Bastille Days also boasts a wide variety of some of the best restaurant vendors in Milwaukee!
Check out Bastille Days wine tastings where you can let your taste buds explore and compare delicious wines from around the world! A wine specialist will guide you through the taste test with selected wines from 5 countries. A separate ticket is needed for each tasting, and seating is limited to 76 per tasting. You’ll find all these tastings at the NE corner of Cathedral Square Park along Jackson Street – look for the tent!
The festival covers the blocks around Cathedral Square, including along Wells, Kilbourn, Jefferson, and Jackson Streets. U.S. 18 and Highway 32 actually detour around the festival, which is one of the largest French festivals in the nation. I-43/94, I-794, and Highways 38, 59, and 145 all bring you close. Grab your beret and check it out!
Bastille Days Hours:
Thursday July 9- 11am-11:30pm
Friday July 10- 11am-11:30pm
Saturday July 11- 10am-11:30pm
(Kid’s Day Activities 10am – 3pm)
Sunday July 12- 11am-8pm
Bastille Days Address:
825 N. Jefferson Street/Cathedral Square
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Website
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July 10, 2026 – July 12, 2026
Festa Italiana
Check out Flag-Throwers of the Florentine, direct from Italy. For music, check out great acts across six stages, including the Children’s Stage. Headliners include Anthony Crivello, George Busateri’s Spider George and the Web, Louis Vanaria, The Sicilian Tenors featuring Aaron Caruso, Sam Vitale, and Vincent Riccardi, Agne, Tre Bella, Cory Pesaturo, Graziana Maria Lazzaro, and FLEMT – straight from Italy. Longtime favorite Rick D’Amore makes his return, too!
Magic tricks, food demonstrations, comedians Vince Carone and Carmen Vallone, singers from the Florentine Opera, and more are all performing each day. The UW Marching Band will perform on Sunday, and the Children’s Stage will have all kinds of entertainment throughout the day.
You can also enjoy a romantic gondola ride on the cove, play bocce ball, watch the Copa Festa Italiana Futsal tournament, or compete in Italian Idol. Classic Italian fare and wine tastings, Kids Pizza Making Contest and annual Cannoli Eating Contest. There’s also a traditional Sunday Mass at 11am.
The fireworks go off every Festa evening around 10pm, and they’re a blast! (No pun intended. Okay, fine, pun intended.)
Admission tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door; Children 12 and under are admitted free all three days when accompanied by an adult. Festa Italiana is a cashless festival – no cash will be accepted at the box office, ticket windows, or on the grounds.
You can find the grounds under (literally, under) I-794 along Milwaukee’s lakefront. U.S. 18 ends right by the North Gate, and swinging nearby are I-43, I-94, and Highways 32, 38, 57, 59, and 145.
Festa Italiana Address:
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-223-2808
Website
July 11, 2026 – September 6, 2026
Bristol Renaissance Faire
Bristol Renaissance Faire runs Saturdays and Sundays July 5th though Labor Day, September 1st (yes, it runs that Monday and that’s the only Monday.)
The Kid’s Kingdom features the Castle Stage where children can get knighted, a face-painting area (don’t worry, it washes off eventually), hobbit houses, an entrance area with five huge thrones that provide great photo opportunities, and an air-conditioned rest area.
A giant turkey leg slathered in barbecue sauce is an essential part of the Bristol Renaissance Faire experience, but they also offer everything from Cornish pasties and bakery goods to vegan items and gelato. The number of entertainment stages now totals sixteen. Comedic sword-fighting, ropewalking, juggling, fire-whipping, acrobatics, chalk art, a variety of musicians, and more. The Marketplace offers the work of nearly 175 artisans and crafters; you can find Scottish kilts, leather masks, bamboo flutes, jester socks, stage-combat-approved swords, steampunkery, and much more. Glass blowing and blacksmithing activities frequently happen in the Marketplace as well as a variety of other crafting.
Tickets range from $40 for adults to $15 for children ages 5-12. Seniors (62+) and Military with ID are $38. Kids 4 and under are free. Season passes can be purchased for $225. You can also get discounted tickets at Menard’s and if you join Friends of the Faire you can also get discounts. U.S. 41, I-41/94, Highway 165, and the state line border the “Fairegrounds,” with U.S. 45 and Highway 50 also getting you close!
Bristol Renaissance Faire Location:
12550 120th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53142
(877) 395-7773
Website
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July 24, 2026 – July 26, 2026
Taste of Wisconsin
Admission is FREE for everybody! And while you can enjoy great food, music, and more, you can also explore the HarborPark area, the Kenosha Public Museum, the Civil War Museum, the Dinosaur Discovery Museum, the Southport Light Station & Museum, take rides on the Kenosha Trolley, and more! Taste of Wisconsin happens in Kenosha’s HarborPark area on the edge of downtown. You’ll find it just east of Highway 32 between the east ends of Highways 50 and 158. Enjoy!
Taste of Wisconsin Address:
HarborPark
5400 6th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 496-9400
Website
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