Sure, Valentine’s Day may have been a couple weeks ago, but love is in the air this month here in Milwaukee. It may not always come wrapped in bows or dipped in chocolate or come with a dozen red roses, but Milwaukee news is a gift that comes from the heart. Anyway, here are five more reasons to fall in love with MKE this February.

 

VM Engagement

Romantically MKE

How can you not be romantic about site visits? When you book in Milwaukee, even site visits can be the site of romance. Our team is not only ready to realize your meeting beyond your wildest dreams, but we are also eager to make sure your time in our destination is life-changing, as one meeting planner found out at the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. We were thrilled to be a part of this special memory for her and her (now) fiancé, and can’t wait to host her group in the near future (and hear all the wedding planning details, of course).

 

A large crowd moves through the bustling Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee during the day, with the downtown skyline visible in the background. A red building with the Summerfest smiley-face logo serves as the festival store. Above, colorful gondolas on the Skyglider transport people across the venue. The scene is filled with booths, food stands, and signage under a clear sky.

Summerfest Lineup Announced

In case you missed it, Summerfest released the full lineup for 2026, and there’s something for you, no matter what kind of beats you’re into. In fact, it’s a lineup so strong, you can clearly see why AFAR Magazine named Summerfest one of the must-attend cultural events of the year!

 

With artists from nearly every genre and generation, this year’s lineup features some of the hottest artists, music icons and rising stars, with names like Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, Don Toliver, Father John Misty, Charlie Wilson, Megadeath, The Mountain Goats, Cody Johnson and so many more all rocking the docks along Lake Michigan this summer. Taking place this year on June 18-20, 25-27 and July 2-4, the world’s largest music festival is throwing a party, and you’re all invited.

 

Tom's Watch Bar

Deer District Development

Across from Fiserv Forum, Deer District is green and growing. In the past few months, the entertainment district connected to the home of the Milwaukee Bucks has added new offerings that’ll breathe fresh life into the plaza and have you coming back, starting with Tom’s Watch Bar.

 

The national chain opened its doors in October 2025, bringing a trusted brand to the former MECCA Sports Bar Space. Inside, you’ll find a sports fan’s oasis, with over 50 TVs covering just about every angle of the two-story bar and restaurant, including a massive 42-foot-wide screen above the bar. With both indoor and outdoor spaces available for private rental, the stadium-adjacent space can hold up to 1,200 people for a reception and is the perfect place for a team outing or happy hour before a Bucks game or concert.

 

Tom’s Watch Bar is just the latest development in Deer District. Later this year, the Moxy Hotel is expected to break ground, bringing a new 156-room hotel to the shadow of Fiserv Forum. The upscale, casual hotel brand with a playful personality is known for its stylish shared spaces and check-in at the hotel bar, where guests are welcomed with a cocktail. While plenty of work has yet to be done on this new property, we can’t wait to welcome even more groups to our destination when the Moxy opens in 2027.

 

Wide view of a live concert inside Landmark Credit Union Live, with a band performing on a brightly lit stage and a large crowd gathered on the main floor and balcony seating.

Venue Spotlight: Landmark Credit Union Live

Another addition to Deer District, the long-awaited FPC Live project, the recently named Landmark Credit Union Live music venue, is mic-checking for its debut this month! Greeting locals with an open house on February 25, the venue kicks things off with a bang as high-energy rock group Rainbow Kitten Surprise christens the stage for its maiden voyage on February 27. Beyond RKS, the 4,500-capacity Landmark Credit Union Live already has amassed a stacked lineup of headliners, including BossMan DLow, Mt. Joy, Ari Lennox, Yellowcard, Billy Currington and more. Peep the lineup and make your plans here.

 

Landmark Credit Union Live will also bring a series of new private event spaces throughout the three-story space, including the music hall, a second-floor lounge and an outdoor terrace that overlooks the excitement of Deer District. A model of flexibility, Landmark Credit Union Live can host groups of any size, ranging from 25 to 3,000+. Learn more here.

 

–21 and the WI Senior State Meet from February 27 through March 1.

 

Wide view of a live concert inside Landmark Credit Union Live, with a band performing on a brightly lit stage and a large crowd gathered on the main floor and balcony seating.

On the Road

The Visit Milwaukee team is out and about at tradeshows across the country every day, working to showcase the very best of what our city has to offer and connecting with meeting planners to book their events in Milwaukee. Here's where our team is headed: 

 

  • Account Executive Katie Lawrence is attending the 2026 MPI Educational today, just an hour west in Madison, Wis.
  • Next week, Director of Sports Milwaukee Marissa Werner is making the trip to Columbus, Ohio, for the 2026 SportsETA CE Summit, taking place on January 26-28.
  • On January 26-28, National Account Executive Ray Valles is heading out to Pittsburgh, Pa., for 2026 Connect North.
  • To close out the month, National Account & Tourism Sales Executive, Megan Husband, is visiting the Wisconsin Dells for the 2026 Circle Wisconsin Annual Meeting on January 29.
  • Then, at the beginning of February, Megan is traveling to the 2026 RCMA Emerge event in Lexington, Ky., on February 10-12.
  • And finally, on February 10-12, National Account Executive Chad Chappell and Laura Nelson are flying out to Spokane, Wash., for the 2026 AMCI Annual Meeting.