Milwaukee in September is unstoppable. From cultural celebrations that bring the world to our backyard to neighborhood festivals that showcase the heart of our community, every weekend offers a chance to experience something unforgettable. Mark your calendar, gather your crew and dive into the food, music and traditions that make this city shine. September is Milwaukee at its best, and you will not want to miss a moment of it.

A young girl running into the distance holding a string attached to a kite shaped like a butterfly with yellow coloring on the body and black stripes and blue accents throughout the edges, all will bright green grass and the city skyline in the background.

Gift of Wings Frank Mots International Kite Festival

Sept. 6-7 | Veterans Park

Picture this: a crisp September breeze, the lake lapping softly nearby and more than 600 kites launching into the sky with a grand midday flourish. This spectacle, hosted at Veterans Park, makes watching the Grand Launch an unbeatable highlight. Bring your own kite or marvel at the artistry soaring above Milwaukee’s lakefront. Let it fly!

 

St. Francis Days 

September 4-6 | Milton Vretenar Memorial Park 

Celebrate over 60 years of community tradition with carnival rides, classic games, live music and local flavor at St. Francis Days. The three-day festival features eight bands across multiple genres, wristband ride specials, a Sunday morning polka mass and a cornhole tournament.  

 

Wisconsin Highland Games 

September 4-6 | Waukesha County Expo Center 

Celebrate Celtic culture with bagpipes, Highland dancing and some of the most thrilling feats of strength you’ll see all summer. Watch athletes take on traditional events like caber tossing, stone put and hammer throw. Between competitions, explore a bustling vendor village, sample Scottish fare and enjoy nonstop entertainment rooted in centuries of tradition. 

 

Caribbean & Latin American Festival

September 5 | Harbor District

The Caribbean & Latin American Festival brings food, music and tradition to Humboldt Park. Local bands perform reggae, rumba and salsa throughout the afternoon, and the Limbo Dance Contest invites festivalgoers to take part and see how low they can go. 

 

Third Ward Art Festival 

September 5-6 | Historic Third Ward

Nearly 200 artists from across the country line the streets of Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward during this two-day juried art festival. Discover original works in painting, photography, sculpture, glass, jewelry, and mixed media while exploring one of the city’s most walkable and creative neighborhoods.

 

TosaFest

Sept. 5-6 | Wauwatosa

Celebrate community spirit and support a neighborhood impacted by recent floods by visiting TosaFest in the heart of Wauwatosa Village. This free street festival kicks off on Friday, running from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and continues on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The festival features live music across three stages, five beer gardens, a Family Friendly KidsFest with free inflatables and local favorites like the Draft & Vessel Oktoberfest. With something to excite every age, TosaFest blends family fun, creative play and local flavor. Find your TosaFest here.

 

Wheels on Main 

September 6 | Downtown West Bend 

Classic cars, craft beverages, and small-town charm roll into one at Wheels on Main. This free-to-attend Labor Day weekend tradition brings more than 450 cars to historic downtown West Bend, where families can stroll the streets, enjoy live entertainment, explore kids' activities, and take in one of the region’s biggest celebrations of car culture. 

 

 

China Lights

Sept. 12-Nov. 2 | Boerner Botanical Garden in Whitnall Park

Step into a Magical Forest as Boerner Botanical Gardens in Whitnall Park glow with more than 40 lantern displays. Highlights include a 20-foot butterfly dome you can walk through, talking pumpkin lanterns and glowing creatures that bring fall fantasy to life. Tickets are timed-entry beginning at 5:30 p.m. And, on October 13, don’t miss a special 21+ night with exclusive performances, glow accessories and drinks under the stars. Light up your fall at China Lights.

A performer in a red hoodie stands on an outdoor stage facing a massive crowd at sunset. Thousands of fans pack the venue, many holding up phones to capture the moment, while bright stadium lights and food stand signs glow in the background.

Tacos and Tequila Festival

Sept. 13 | Franklin Field

Turn up the heat at Milwaukee’s ultimate adult fiesta when the Tacos & Tequila Festival returns on September 13. Taking place at Franklin Field, the night features a stacked lineup of ’90s and 2000s hip-hop hall-of-famers, including Lil Jon, Timbaland, B.O.B., Trick Daddy, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Yung Joc and DJ Ashton Martin. Alongside the music, enjoy chef-inspired street tacos, craft margaritas, tequila shot bars and a tasting lounge, Lucha Libre wrestling, a Chihuahua beauty pageant and more! Give it a shot!

 

Dialogues Documentary Festival

Sept. 18-21 | East Side

This four-day festival at the Oriental and Downer Theatres brings 30+ documentaries to Milwaukee for a weekend of filmmaker Q&As, panels and community conversations. Highlights from the 2025 lineup include “Arrest the Midwife,” tackling reproductive justice; the heartwarming “Cat Town, USA;” the dazzling pop-culture history “It’s Dorothy!;” Milwaukee-made short “Malignant Practice;” the inspiring “Wicket;” and a shorts program celebrating life over 60. Presented by Potawatomi Casino | Hotel, the festival transforms cinema into dialogue, blending powerful stories with the chance to connect, reflect, and be inspired. See it in September!

 

Cedarburg Wine & Harvest Festival

Sept. 20 | Cedarburg

Cedarburg’s fall fest doesn’t believe in keeping things tidy. Grapes get stomped to a pulp at 1 and 3 p.m. both days, and on Sunday, giant pumpkins hit the water for the Pumpkin Regatta at 2 p.m. The whole downtown turns into one long block party with bands on the corner, vendors stacked along Washington Avenue, and food trucks serving the flavors of fall. Kids take over with hayrides, pumpkin painting, and their own festival corner, while Cedar Creek Winery keeps the adults happily sipping. Fall in love with Cedarburg at this fest.

A smiling couple at an outdoor festival holds colorful tropical drinks, one served in a hollowed pineapple and the other in a purple cup with fruit garnishes. Their baby sits in a stroller between them, while other festivalgoers and inflatable attractions are visible in the background.

Puerto Rican Festival of Wisconsin

Sept. 21 | Henry Maier Festival Park

Celebrate Puerto Rico along the lakefront in its new home at Henry Maier Festival Park! The festival turns the grounds into a cultural village. Enjoy live performances by top Puerto Rican artists, sizzling frituras and authentic dishes like empanadillas and arroz con gandules, rhythmic bomba and plena dance shows, salsa lessons and more. Kids get in on the fun too with a buzzing Kids Zone filled with bounce houses, crafts and games. Savor the final summer fest!

 

Harbor Fest

Sept. 28 | Harbor View Plaza

Bring the family to Harbor Fest and celebrate Milwaukee’s waterfront in full swing. Harbor View Plaza hosts free boat rides offering scenic views of the harbor’s renewal, a kid-friendly Sturgeon Blessing and baby sturgeon release where you can sponsor a fish and even track its growth, and take a guided behind-the-scenes tour of UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences with hands-on science exhibits. Welcoming more than 4,500 visitors, Harbor Fest is the perfect blend of environmental discovery and waterfront fun. Make waves!

 

First Responders Fest 

September 30 | Hart Park 

First Responders Fest is a laid-back evening at Hart Park with live music, good food and a chance to connect with Milwaukee-area first responders. From 5 to 8 p.m., families can enjoy music, activities and the Packers game against the New York Jets on a 13-foot screen. First responders eat free and receive a t-shirt and beverage of choice, with a short presentation honoring those in attendance. Proceeds help fund scholarships for students planning to enter first responder careers. 

 

Find your fest, book your stay and plan your getaway today in the City of Festivals!