MidwestWeekends.com — Your Travel Guide to the Upper Midwest

Events for "Milwaukee, WI"

January

  • Cool Fool Kite Festival (Jan. 1)

    Milwaukee, WI

    In addition to kite-flying, there will be ice sculptures and free hot chocolate, coffee and snacks in the lakefront Veterans Park.


March

  • St. Patrick's Day parade (Mar. 9)

    Milwaukee, WI

    The big parade starts at noon, starting at Third and Wisconsin downtown and followed by music, dancing and pipes and drums at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center.


  • Ghost Ships Festival (Mar. 15 – 16)

    Milwaukee, WI

    This trade show, at the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport Hotel, is devoted to Great Lakes maritime history and scuba diving. The exhibit hall is free and open to the public.


  • Egg Day (Mar. 30)

    Milwaukee, WI

    There will be crafts, face-painting, bubble art and treats at the Hop-to-it Bunny Hunt, plus a parade at the Milwaukee County Zoo.


June

  • Ride for the Arts (Jun 2)

    Milwaukee, WI

    This bicycle ride along the Lake Michigan lakefront includes routes of 5, 12, 25, 50 and 75 miles. The three longer routes will include the Hoan Bridge on I-794, which will be closed to cars for two hours, and the longest route goes as far north as Port Washington.

    The rides start and end at the Summerfest grounds, and there's a party afterward.


  • Polish Fest (Jun 14 – 16)

    Milwaukee, WI

    This big festival on the lakefront features lots of rollicking, zydeco-laced polka and hearty food.


  • Summerfest (Jun 26 – 30)

    Milwaukee, WI

    They call this the world's largest music festival. Big-name musicians perform on 11 stages along Lake Michigan.


July

  • Summerfest (Jul 2 – 7)

    Milwaukee, WI

    They call this the world's largest music festival. Big-name musicians perform on 11 stages along Lake Michigan.


  • Bastille Days (Jul 11 – 14)

    Milwaukee, WI

    Look for minstrels, beignets, French lessons, a Mardi Gras celebration and a 43-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower in Cathedral Square Park.


  • Festa Italiana (Jul 18 – 21)

    Milwaukee, WI

    A celebration of all things Italian at the lakefront Henry Maier Festival Park.


  • German Fest (Jul 25 – 28)

    Milwaukee, WI

    Look for dachshunds, dirndls and lots of oompah music at this big party at Henry Maier Festival Park on Lake Michigan.


August

  • Air and Water Show (Aug. 3 – 4)

    Milwaukee, WI

    This show, between Bradford and McKinley beaches on the lakefront, features the Air Force Thunderbirds, Army Black Daggers and many aerobatics.


  • Irish Fest (Aug. 15 – 18)

    Milwaukee, WI

    The nation's largest Irish festival features more than 300 entertainers on 17 stages, plus children's activities and demonstrations by Irish dog breeds. In Henry Maier Festival Park.


  • Mexican Fiesta (Aug. 23 – 25)

    Milwaukee, WI

    Enjoy the best of Mexican culture at the Henry Maier festival park on Lake Michigan.


  • Harley-Davidson 110th Anniversary (Aug. 29 – Sep 1)

    Milwaukee, WI

    Festivities include a music festival at the lakefront Summerfest grounds. Headliners include Kid Rock, Aerosmith, Toby Keith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Katey Sagal & The Forest Rangers, the Doobie Brothers and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.


September

  • Indian Summer Festival (Sep. 6 – 8)

    Milwaukee, WI

    This lakefront festival features a powwow, canoe rides, Aztec dancers, lacrosse lessons and fireworks.


  • Rock the Green (Sep. 14)

    Milwaukee, WI

    This "near-zero waste'' music festival in Veterans Park on the lakefront features six bands.


November

  • Veterans Day Parade (Nov. 9)

    Milwaukee, WI

    It's at 11 a.m. downtown.


  • Trainfest (Nov. 9 – 10)

    Milwaukee, WI

    The nation's largest operating model railroad show includes more than 60 scenic railroads, clinics for hobbyists and a Kids' Activity Zone with racing trains, face painting and a Circus Train.


  • Holiday Lights Festival (Nov. 21)

    Milwaukee, WI

    The season-long lights festival begins with music, tree-lighting and hot chocolate in Red Arrow Park, then moves across the river to Pere Marquette Park for a family fashion show, variety show, fireworks and free tours on the Jingle Bus.


  • Holiday Parade (Nov. 23)

    Milwaukee, WI

    It'll have floats, giant helium balloon figures, 20 bands and a live Nativity scene with animals. 9:30 a.m.


December

  • Christmas in the Ward (Dec. 6 – 7)

    Milwaukee, WI

    Festivities in the rejuvenated Third Ward near downtown start with tree lighting and a performance by Trinity Irish Dancers, followed by 6:15 p.m. fireworks, carriage rides, carolers, reindeer, street entertainers and a cookie sale.


  • WinterFest (Dec. 19 – 31)

    Milwaukee, WI

    An indoor festival with skating, rides, a slide, rock walls, snowball throw, sports activities and a giant snow globe at Frontier Airlines Center downtown.