Milwaukee, WI, The City of Festivals | Local Special Events

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Ice Bear Fest

City of Festivals

Milwaukee doesn’t wait for a season to celebrate. The calendar stays packed, the stages stay loud, and the streets stay busy all year long. Big moments come fast: massive sing-along crowds at Summerfest, revved-up energy and hometown pride at the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival and long-standing traditions on full display at Mexican Fiesta. Neighborhood celebrations matter just as much, with Bay View Bash bringing packed streets, local music and cold drinks into the mix. Film lovers get their moment too, thanks to the Milwaukee Film Festival, where screenings, conversations and late nights take over the city. No matter the month, there’s always something worth planning around. Start mapping out your year with our 2026 festival calendar.

2026

January

1/1 - 39th Annual Cool Fool Kite & Snow Carving Festival

1/3 - N/A Day: A Dry January Beverage Festival

1/17 - MobCraft N/A Fest

1/18 - Winterfest at Boerner Botanical Gardens

1/31 - Ice Bear Fest

February

2/7 - Mittenfest

2/7 - Brewsology Beer Fest

2/21 - Food & Froth

2/21-2/22 – Mama Tried Motorcycle Show

2/21-2/22 – Cedarburg Winter Festival

2/25-2/26 - Jazz Heritage Festival

March

3/1 - Baconfest

3/7 - Shamrock Shuffle

3/20-3/22 - Passion Park Fest

April

4/16-4/30 – Milwaukee Film Festival

4/18 - Milwaukee Zine Fest

May

5/22-5/24 - Dan Jansen Family Fest

5/29-5/31 - Milwaukee Tattoo Festival

5/31 - Locust Street Festival

June

6/4-6/6 - PrideFest

6/5-6/6 - Art 64

6/5-6/7 - Milwaukee Metal Fest

6/5-6/8 - Tosa Greek Fest

6/7 - West Allis A La Carte

6/12-6/14 - Lakefront Festival of Art

6/12-6/14 - Polish Fest

6/18-6/20 – Summerfest Weekend 1

6/25-6/27 – Summerfest Weekend 2

6/27-6/28 - Cedarburg Strawberry Festival

July

7/2-7/4 – Summerfest Weekend 3

7/9-7/12 – Harley-Davidson Homecoming™ Festival

7/9-7/12 - Bastille Days

7/10-7/12 – Festa Italiana

7/1-7/12 - Whitefish Bay Art Fest

7/17-7/19 - Port Fish Days

7/18 – 6th Annual Falls Lavender Fest

7/18-7/19 – 56th Annual Midsummer Festival of the Arts

7/19 – Armenian Fest

7/20-7/27 – South Milwaukee Heritage Days
7/24-7/26 – Germanfest

7/25 – Milwaukee Brewfest

7/25-7/26 - The Waterstone Bank Air & Water Show

7/30-8/2 - Greendale Village Days

August

8/1 - Black Arts Fest MKE

81-8/2 - Art & Chalk Fest

8/6-8/16 – Wisconsin State Fair

8/13-8/16 – Irish Fest

8/21-8/22 – Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

8/21-8/23 – Mexican Fiesta

8/28-8/29 – Country in the Burg

8/29 – Brew City Cigar Festival

September

9/4-9/6 – Wisconsin Highland Games

9/5-9/6 – Third Ward Art Festival

9/11-9/12 – TosaFest

9/12 – Ervtoberfest

9/12 – Shorewood Feast

9/19 – Bay View Bash

9/19-9/20 – Freshwater Food & Wine Festival

9/19-9/20 – Cedarburg Wine & Harvest Festival

9/26 – Bayside Fall Fest

9/27 – Harbor Fest

October

10/2-10/3 – Milwaukee Oktoberfest

10/3-10/4 – Cedarburg Oktoberfest

10/8 - Zoo Brew

10/9-10/11 – Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Festival

10/9-10/11 – Our Lady of Lourdes Oktoberfest

November

11/7-11/8 - Trainfest

11/20-11/22 - Holiday Folk Fair International

Festivals Happening This Week!