Spring: a season of growth and renewal. A season of new beginnings and melting snow. A season with signs of light and full of life everywhere you look. As the weather starts to warm, Milwaukee is packed with festivals nearly every weekend, with something for everyone from film fanatics to tequila lovers, tattoo enthusiasts to bar crawl boosters, all in the City of Festivals. Here’s what’s coming this season.
Hog Fest
Thursday, March 5 | Fiserv Forum
Go the whole HOG at Fiserv Forum! HOG Fest is back, and it's bringing some of the best hard rock groups to Deer District. It's a full, one-night-only fest with bands like Three Days Grace, I Prevail, Sleep Theory and Funeral Portrait all taking the stage. Don't miss out! Catch the wall-to-wall energy and hear your favorites all in one place.
Shamrock Shuffle
Saturday, March 7 | Various Locations
If you like bar crawls, this is your lucky day! One of the biggest St. Patrick's Day parties in the state is coming up quick, and you’re invited. Join the celebration on the street of your choice, with stops on Water Street, Third Street, Brady Street and Walker's Point. Your ticket comes with a themed t-shirt (who doesn’t love those?) with a pass that lets you skip the cover fees and earns you food and drink specials all day long. The crawl is for all (21+)!
Passion Park Fest
Saturday, March 7 | Uptowner
Festivals are our passion, and if you’ve read this far, there’s a good chance they’re yours, too. Let us introduce you to the Passion Park Fest. Now in its third year, this annual festival brings more than 45 musicians, producers, raconteurs and outright entertainers to The Uptowner in the Riverwest neighborhood for three days of music, fun and passion. It will be a weekend you don’t want to miss. Get your wristbands here.
Milwaukee Film Fest
April 16-30 | Oriental & Downer Theatres
Get your popcorn ready! The Milwaukee Film Festival returns to the Downer and Oriental Theatres in April, but there’s no time like the present to plan your Film Fest calendar. Featuring future award-winning classics and inspiring local indie productions that elevate unique stories, shorts, and animated films, there’s something sure to suit your cinematic tastes. See them all at one of the coolest and largest Midwest film festivals.
Milwaukee Zine Fest
Saturday, April 18 | Milwaukee Public Library – Central
There’s no scene like a zine scene, and The Milwaukee Zine Consortium is here to prove it. This one-day fest will bring 100+ vendors to the Milwaukee Public Library’s Central branch, making it one of the largest events of its kind in the Midwest. Stop by to test a typewriter, make a letterpress print, construct a flipbook, learn about zine culture and pick up some craft finds at this one-of-a-kind creative event. It’ll be amaZINEng.
Art in the Green
April 25-26 | Mitchell Park Domes
Spring is always in full bloom under the arched dome roofs, but in April, there’s even more to marvel at inside this local icon. Each year, the Mitchell Park Domes host this popular art fest for two days of art, food and horticultural majesty. Stroll through the aisles to find your favorite flora and fauna as well as expertly crafted woodwork, jewelry, paintings, ceramics and other artistic masterpieces. Jam to live music and appreciate the artwork as you stroll.
Dan Jansen Family Fest
May 22-24 | Konkel Park
More than 20 years before Jordan Stolz raced his way to a gold medal, local speedskater Dan Jansen etched Wisconsin’s name in the Olympic storybook, earning gold in the 1994 games in Lillehammer. It was such an achievement that the Greenfield community named a park after him, home to an ice skating rink, and now a four-day festival. Taking place over three days in May, this festival has a little bit of everything. Food, live music, cheer performances, yoga, and even a car show? Yeah, this is one you’re going to want to see for yourself.
Milwaukee Tattoo Festival
May 29-31 | Baird Center
It’s a festival focused on ink and art. We’ll let that sink in. The Milwaukee Tattoo Festival brings more than 400 tattoo artists together for a weekend of ink, art and attitude. Creativity takes center stage with live tattooing, jaw-dropping sideshows and contests that prove tattoos really are forever. Think ink and find your next masterpiece.
Tacos & Tequila Festival
Saturday, May 30 | Franklin Field
Tuesdays are for tacos, but Saturday, May 30, is reserved for tacos AND tequila, and also tons of live music and fun all day long. This year, the Tacos & Tequila Festival is bringing even more big names to the mainstage, with performances by Shaggy, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy! But there’s so much more! There’s an exotic car show, luchador wrestling, a chihuahua beauty pageant and, oh, those tacos and tequila samples that the festival is named for.
BikerFest Block Party
Saturday, May 30 | East Side Neighborhood
Rev up to the warmer weather with this one. Rumbling into the city’s East Side for a one-day fest that roars with activities for the whole family, the BikerFest Block Party is bringing a community-powered block party where everyone is welcome, with unity at the heart of it. And motorcycles. So many motorcycles. Don’t miss out on this feel-good day filled with music, food and fun, with plenty to do for everyone.
The Locust Street Festival of Music & Art
Sunday, May 31 | Riverwest Neighborhood
B double E double R U N, beer run. For 47 years, the Locust Street Festival has partied hard. For one day only, you get to savor the pre-summer festival vibes with a big block party. There are four stages for live music, tons of local vendors and sensational food and beverage, including offerings from several area breweries. The headliner of this one, though, has to be the Locust Street Beer Run, a high-octane race that really puts your “will run for beer” mantra to the test. You’ll endure 1.6 miles, but get to sample four delicious beers along the way. It’s time to find out what all the buzz is about for yourself.
