Summerfest ★ 4.8
Summerfest, on the Maier Festival Park lakefront since 1968, is the world's largest music festival, with three June-July weekends, 800+ performances and food.
Focus: Mixed American
Food festivals in Milwaukee worth planning a trip around, by month.
Festivals through the year
Wisconsin State Fair ★ 4.7
Wisconsin State Fair on the West Allis fairgrounds runs 11 days in early August since 1851, with the signature cream puff, cheese on a stick.
Focus: Wisconsin classics
German Fest Milwaukee ★ 4.5
German Fest at Henry Maier Festival Park in late July is the largest German-heritage festival in the US, with bratwurst, schnitzel, polka and Hofbrau steins.
Focus: German
Polish Fest Milwaukee ★ 4.5
Polish Fest at Henry Maier Festival Park in mid-June is the largest Polish festival in the US, with pierogi, paczki, kielbasa, polka music and Polish.
Focus: Polish
Festa Italiana Milwaukee ★ 4.5
Festa Italiana at Henry Maier Festival Park in mid-July is Milwaukee's Italian-American heritage festival, with Sicilian sausage and peppers, cannoli.
Focus: Italian-American
Bastille Days ★ 4.6
Bastille Days at Cathedral Square Park on North Jefferson Street downtown is a free four-day French festival in mid-July with crepes, French wine.
Focus: French
Milwaukee Irish Fest ★ 4.6
Milwaukee Irish Fest at Henry Maier Festival Park in mid-August is the largest Irish festival in the US, with Irish stew, fish and chips, Guinness and 100+.
Focus: Irish
Mexican Fiesta ★ 4.5
Mexican Fiesta at Henry Maier Festival Park in late August is Milwaukee's Mexican-American heritage festival with tacos, mariachi, lucha libre and Mexican.
Focus: Mexican
Holiday Folk Fair International ★ 4.4
Holiday Folk Fair International at Wisconsin State Fair Park since 1944 is billed as the largest indoor international festival in America, with 60+ ethnic groups and food vendors.
Focus: International
PrideFest Milwaukee ★ 4.5
PrideFest Milwaukee at Henry Maier Festival Park in early June is one of America's largest LGBTQ pride festivals with three days of music, food vendors.
Focus: Mixed American