Top 12 Festivals In Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1. Doors Open Milwaukee

Go on and celebrate the history and culture of this city with the locals. Doors Open is a two-day event that features the offers of Milwaukee via a tour through over a hundred buildings downtown plus the neighborhoods. A unique quality about this experience is that you will find out the behind-the-scenes of Milwaukee’s famous landmarks—even the usually restricted ones! And the best part is that it is free! This is an excellent way to have a family bonding. The kids can develop their appreciation for history through this tour too.

Doors Open Milwaukee

Address: 235 E Michigan St, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Website: Doors Open Milwaukee

Takes place: September

Price: Free

2. NEWaukee's Night Market

What’s more pleasing than just seeing glamorous city lights at night? Finding a busy street with lots of people and local businesses! NEWaukee’s Night Market gives an avenue for the local businesses to be recognized by both residents and travelers in such an exciting setting. Besides the bustling market, people in the event can enjoy live performances by local artists! This is a free event, so if you are close to the avenue, don’t hesitate to drop by. Turn your night in Milwaukee into something memorable by being more intimate with the local setting through this night market.

NEWaukee's Night Market

Address: W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Website: NEWaukee’s Night Market

Takes place: June to September

Price: Free

3. Milwaukee Film Festival

Besides the businesses, the filmmaking scene here in Milwaukee is also lively. Do you want to get a glimpse of the quality of indie films? Attend the film festival held in October. This is recognized as one of the biggest film festivals not only locally but in the entire United States! As the city is aiming to be a center for film culture, anticipate many notable films made by every kind of people—newbies to the seasoned ones. The event lasts for fifteen days, so there is plenty of opportunities to attend. To the film lovers out there, do not miss this big event while you’re here in Milwaukee!

Milwaukee Film Festival

Address: 1037 W McKinley Ave #200, Milwaukee, WI 53205

Website: Milwaukee Film Festival

Takes place: Usually held in October

Price: 10 USD

4. Harbor Fest

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The city wanted to show locals and tourists the potential of what used to be a quiet harbor, so they created this event! It became such a big hit that Harbor Fest is now a highly anticipated festival held every September. There are lots of happenings to witness, and thankfully, there is a neat program provided for participants’ guide. Everyone of all ages can have fun thanks to the variety of activities here, including a boat parade, UWM School of Freshwater Sciences Tour, kids’ artmaking, wall climbing, fishing lessons, and so much more! Lots of stalls are also in the area in case you need some delicious food or refreshing drinks.

Harbor Fest

Address: 833 E Michigan St, Suite 1800, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Website: Harbor Fest

Takes place: September

Price: Free

5. Bay View Bash [Last event in 2019]

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Get your head bopping to some feel-good music during Bay View Bash! During this celebration of the local scene in terms of food, art, crafts, books, and music, you are set to have a wholesome experience as you get to know the community. In addition, the proceeds from this event are allocated for promoting the well-being of the place through Bay View Community Fund Inc., so you are helping the community toward further development! Stay from late morning ‘til nighttime to see all the interesting highlights. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures!

Bay View Bash

Address: Potter & Clement on Kinnickinnic Ave, Bay View, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Website: Bay View Bash

Takes place: September

Price: Free

6. Petfest

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Both two-legged and four-legged creatures are invited to this event, and it will surely be a whole lot of fun! Bring your pooch or merely go to see a lot of cute dogs and cats as they attend the annual Petfest. This is the moment for the furry creatures to gather, socialize, and learn new skills! Pet-focused activities include trick training, dock swimming, pet presentations, agility courses, lure courses, and much more. There will be food, music, and family-friendly activities too! The festival has free admission and parking, although it is best to be early to secure your parking slot—there will surely be many people (and dogs!) attending!

Petfest

Address: 200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Website: Petfest

Takes place: September

Price: Free

7. Big Pig BBQ Fest [Last event in 2019]

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The love for outdoors plus food as convenient as barbecue will always be a timeless combination to many people. Did you know that here in Milwaukee, there is a festival dedicated to that? Big Pig BBQ Fest during the Labor Day is undoubtedly one of the highly anticipated events in the city since there will be not just one but over 15 restaurants who will compete to get the BBQ King crown! Get a taste of their delicious barbecue and help decide who deserves the prize! On top of these, you will be enjoying some live music and yummy beverages to pair with your barbecue.

Big Pig BBQ Fest

Address: 200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Website: Big Pig BBQ Fest

Takes place: Labor Day weekend

Price: 4 USD

8. Pride Fest

Milwaukee, being recognized as the city of festivals, boasts its openness and diversity. With that, it also becomes more colorful! Through Pride Fest, it is easy to see the welcoming atmosphere of the city. Witness colors surrounding the streets, adding life to the otherwise dull grey roads. Get to see the dance pavilion. Listen to awesome music played by live DJs. See performances from great artists. Dance your heart out during the dance party! There is so much life these days at this festival.

Pride Fest

Address: Henry W. Maier Festival Park, 200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Website: Pride Fest

Takes place: June

Price: Free

9. Milwaukee Rally

Milwaukee Rally is the city’s prestigious local event that attracts so many people that they flood the streets! Uncountable riders from around the world drive along the avenue. Breathtaking stunts with bikes are showcased later on. Live music coming from some of the most talented artists is played at the huge stage. An app is also available for download via App Store or Google Play to guide you through the happenings at this one-of-a-kind event. Groove to the music as you enjoy delicious street food! This celebration of everything Harley-Davidson is full of life!

Milwaukee Rally

Address: 11310 W Silver Spring Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53225

Website: Milwaukee Rally

Takes place: September

Price: 5 USD

10. Milwaukee Makers Market

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

There is a generous manner on Milwaukee’s governance when it comes to small business enterprises, and that is evident through the festivals aimed to support them. Another event to look forward to is Milwaukee Makers Market, where you will find many stalls from the local business owners, local online shops, artists, and even freelance designers, among many others. You’ll find it fascinating to see the variety of shops in this marketplace, so take the time to know their offers.

Milwaukee Makers Market

Address: Discovery World, 500 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Website: Milwaukee Makers Market

Takes place: April to December

Price: Free

11. Punk Fest

Bring on that punk rock vibe and wear something a bit crazy as you go to Punk Fest of Milwaukee! At this festival, there will be nothing but fun and funky music. It is such a great night to remember! The website updates the lineup annually, which are numerous and could take place at different locations. An awesome feature you have to take note of is that the bands are also local—and there are a lot! They were wrong when they said that punk’s glory days are over. Just look at how a lot of people and artists participate in this genre!

Punk Fest

Address: The Local, 807 S 5th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Website: Punk Fest

Takes place: August to September

Price: Free

12. Valley Week Milwaukee

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Menomonee Valley is an area close to the heart of the community. That is why this festival is created—to emphasize the growth of the place and showcase how it operates now. Besides learning the history and development of the region, participants may also join this one-week event, featuring 12 activities including the beer run, job fair, river cruise, nature walk, and so much more! Sign yourself up for a unique experience here in Milwaukee through this festival.

Valley Week Milwaukee

Address: Menomonee River Valley, Milwaukee, WI

Website: Valley Week Milwaukee

Takes place: September to October

Price: 35 USD

Have an interesting time in Milwaukee

With events happening here all year round, there is no wrong time to visit the place. What you will notice about the city is its openness to diversity, creating an inviting atmosphere for everyone—from anywhere around the globe. These festivals that are well-thought-of and meticulously planned make it more intriguing for both locals and tourists. Anticipate these events with them and have an unforgettable experience!