Top 15 Festivals In Wisconsin, USA

festivals in wisconsin
Anaanya
Anaanya 
Updated
| 6 min read

Wisconsin is known for its natural beauty—two bordering lakes, lush green farms, and dense forests. If some people were looking for the perfect place to host an event or festival, Wisconsin would definitely be on their list! Music concerts by the lakeside, wine and harvest festivals by the farm, and summer festivals in pleasant weather—festivals are just as much a part of Wisconsin as the lakes and farms of the city. If you love attending festivals and are looking for the next big event of the year, here are some of the top festivals in Wisconsin, USA.

1. Warrens Cranberry Festival

• Today is the last day of the Warrens Cranberry Festival!! Come out and join us for the Parade at 1:00 pm. Booths open until 5.

Posted by Warrens Cranberry Festival on Sunday, 29 September 2019

Warrens Cranberry Festival is basically the largest arts and crafts festival in all of the United States. Every year, in September, thousands and thousands of people come to Wisconsin to attend this ever-popular festival. Hundreds and hundreds of booths are set up, which range from flea market booths to kiosks selling valuable antiques. There are art and craft booths as well, along with a farmers market. To see the vendor list or the event schedule of the festival, check out the website.

Warrens Cranberry Festival

Address: 402 Pine St, Warrens, WI

Website: Warrens Cranberry Festival

Takes place: September

Price: Free

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2. Oktoberfest, La Crosse


Oktoberfest held in La Crosse is one of the largest American celebrations of a popular German tradition. More than hundreds of thousands of people come to watch this long parade, drink beer with their fellow Oktoberfest celebrators, and just be merry. The crowd is always great, the beer is obviously amazing, and there is a fun vibe throughout. If you can’t make it to Germany for Oktoberfest, you might as well go to La Crosse. PS. Do read the guidelines as well as the rules and regulations for this festival on the website.

Oktoberfest

Address: 1 Oktoberfest Strasse, La Crosse, WI

Website: Oktoberfest

Takes place: September to October

Price: From 10 USD

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3. Morel Mushroom Festival

The Morels are coming in! The American Legion is now buying Morels at Mushroom Headquarters.

Posted by Muscoda Morel Mushroom Festival on Friday, 12 May 2017

Morel Mushroom Festival is for everyone! With pancake breakfasts and various flea markets, along with dance floors for teenagers and fireworks for the family to enjoy at night, this festival is loved by one and all. If you really want to take your entire household to a fun-filled gathering, you should take them to Morel Mushroom Festival! This event has wine tasting, beer tasting, and art and crafts stalls—it’s totally family-oriented. PS. Don’t forget to try the famous fried morel mushrooms!

Morel Mushroom Festival

Address: Victora Riverside Park, WI

Website: Morel Mushroom Festival

Takes place: May

Price: Free

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4. Summerfest

Judas Priest 2799-2010-30-01
Source: Photo by user Judas_Priest_2799... used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Summerfest is an annual music festival that is always held in Milwaukee. This is one of the hottest and most happening musical festivals in the world, not to mention one of the largest. Spread over 11 days, this event has over 800 bands and artists and over 1 million attendees. The first Summerfest took place in 1986, and the tradition has continued ever since, with the crowds increasing in numbers over the years. If you’re in the mood to put your dancing shoes on and show off your best fashionionable outfit, this gathering is the place to be.

Summerfest

Address: American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Milwaukee, WI

Website: Summerfest

Takes place: June to July

Price: 23 USD

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5. Brat Fest


Brat Fest in an annual fundraiser that takes place in Madison every Memorial Day, and it claims to be the world’s largest brat fest! This festival has events for all age groups, from music concerts for adults and teenagers to a carnival for the kids. There is also a kids’ zone for the little ones, an array of food stall for the foodies, and cold beers to help attendees relax on a warm summer day—indeed this is a festival that will make everyone happy. To know about the full band lineup and learn about the upcoming events, make sure to check out the website regularly.

Brat Fest

Address: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI

Website: Brat Fest

Takes place: May

Price: 10 USD

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6. Wine and Harvest Fest

Expecting a beautiful weekend in Cedarburg at the 47th Annual Wine & Harvest Festival, Sept. 21-22, 2019, in Downtown...

Posted by Festivals of Cedarburg on Thursday, 19 September 2019

Wine and Harvest Fest, as the name suggests, is all about seasonal produce and award-winning wines. Though the celebration is not limited to just those. This festival has artisan food, wine tasting, and unique stalls that sell one-of-a-kind bags, boots, skincare products, and whatnot. There is also a local farmers’ market, artwork on display, and live music—basically, this festival has something for everyone. If you take your family to the annual Wine and Harvest Fest even just once, you and the entire household will probably end up going every year! For details about the event schedule, please check the website.

Wine and Harvest Fest

Address: The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, N58 W6194 Columbia Rd, Cedarburg, WI

Website: Wine and Harvest Fest

Takes place: September

Price: Free

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7. Applefest

Posted by Bayfield Apple Festival on Monday, 8 October 2018

Applefest is an annual celebration in Bayfield that is popularly known as the fall harvest festival. This festival attracts around 60,000 visitors every year, if not more. With live music, apple-peeling contests, an endless number of food booths, and the most popular attraction—a grand parade that goes through the city—this festival is truly a whole lot of fun. If you’re visiting Bayfield during the month of October, then you must spend your day at Applefest—you will absolutely love it.

Applefest

Address: 42 S Broad St, Bayfield, WI

Website: Applefest

Takes place: October

Price: Free

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8. Rock USA Music Festival

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Rock USA Music Festival is a rock music and camping festival. Basically, if you’re a big fan of rock music and you like to go camping, then you can combine your two favourite things by going to Rock USA Music Festival! This is one of the most loved rock music festivals in all of the United States, so it is definitely worth attending. To know about the band lineup, to buy tickets, or to just get general information about what to expect at this concert, do check out the website.

Rock USA Music Festival

Address: Ford Festival Park, 4125 S Washburn St, Oshkosh, WI

Website: Rock USA Music Festival

Takes place: July

Price: 800 USD

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9. St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Posted by Shamrock Club of Wisconsin St. Patrick's Parade on Wednesday, 14 March 2018

St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place in the heart of the city, in downtown Milwaukee in March. This parade has over 100 units of Irish dancing, drums and pipes, Irish themed floats, and so much more. It doesn’t matter if you’re just passing through Milwaukee or you’re visiting for the weekend—if you’re here in the month of March, you must go watch the parade. PS. This St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the sixth-oldest parade in all of America!

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Address: The Avenue MKE, 275 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI

Website: St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Takes place:March

Price: Free

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10. Festa Italiana [Last event in 2019]


If you’re in the mood for Italian entertainment, then Festa Italiana in Milwaukee is the festival for you! Traditional Italian acts and theatre, Italian music, fun Italian games like a ride in a gondola, and of course, authentic and delicious Italian food—what’s not to love about this festival? This event is ideal for kids and adults alike, and you can plan a fun trip with the whole family to Milwaukee to enjoy this cultural spectacle. PS. Wine tastings and cooking competitions are a big part of this festival too, so ready your stomach for a gastronomical adventure like no other.

Festa Italiana

Address: 200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI

Website: Festa Italiana

Takes place:July

Price: 13 USD

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11. Milwaukee Irish Fest

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


The ever-popular Milwaukee Irish Fest takes place in August, and this festival is highly anticipated all year round! This event is the largest of its kind around the world—which celebrates Celtic music and the Celtic culture. This gathering boasts over 17 different stages and more than 100 acts, artists, and performances, so you can think of this event as a power-packed spectacle. If you love good music and you want to experience the Celtic culture, then you must visit Milwaukee Irish Fest!

Milwaukee Irish Fest

Address: Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee, WI

Website: Milwaukee Irish Fest

Takes place: August

Price: 5 - 35 USD

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12. Great American Moose Fest [Event has passed]

Great American Moose Fest
Source: Pexels

Great American Moose Fest of Montello is a rather popular two-day festival. With activities ranging from pancake-eating contests to cartoon auctions, a fun scavenger hunt, and an exciting carnival for the kids, this festival is definitely a family favorite. As for the adults, there is live music and lots of beer, so while your kids are busy playing, you can just sit back and relax. You can rest assured that the little ones will love this event, and so will you.

Great American Moose Fest

Address: Downtown Montello, Hwy 23, Montello, WI

Takes place: May

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13. Harry Potter Festival [Event has passed]

Posted by Belinda Brown on Saturday, 21 October 2017

Harry Potter Festival that takes place in Jefferson is a huge hit among Harry Potter fans. If you’re a fellow Potter-head, then you must check out this fabulous festival. Featuring butterbeer and a muggles bar, and even unique potion wines, this festival is for like-minded Harry Potter fans to interact and connect. This spectacle is hosted by Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, and you can always check out the event details on its Facebook page.

Harry Potter Festival

Address: 206 S Main St, Jefferson, WI

Takes place: October

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14. Indian Summer Festival [Event has passed]

Posted by Indian Summer Festival on Saturday, 15 September 2018

Indian Summer Festival is a cultural and ethnic festival that is held in Milwaukee annually. Here, you will find a large number of vendors with Native American products, most of which are very unique. Think of this as a Native American celebration where you will get to see folk dances, learn about the history and culture of Native Americans, and buy some authentic goods. This celebration is definitely worth a visit, so mark your calendar now.

Indian Summer Festival

Address: 10809 W Lincoln Ave #101, Milwaukee, WI

Website: Indian Summer Festival

Takes place: September

Price: Free

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15. Summer Set Music and Camping Festival [Event has passed]

Happy New Year Summer Set fam. The festival have been an amazing journey for the past six years, and we have cherished...

Posted by Summer Set Music & Camping Festival on Friday, 5 January 2018

Think of Summer Set Music and Camping Festival in Somerset as a three-day party outdoors! This festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually, and this number is only expected to increase. Just imagine this—majestic art installations, graphic screens, and unique stages. A concert in a lush green garden with nothing but the night sky above your head—that’s what you should expect from Summer Set Music and Camping Festival! It’s simply grand!

Summer Set Music and Camping Festival

Address: Somerset Amphitheater, 715 Spring St, Somerset, WI

Website: Summer Set Music and Camping Festival

Takes place: August

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Which ones are you attending?

Whether you’re in the mood to experience a wholesome festival with the family or you want to join a music event with your friends—or maybe you want to engage in a cultural gathering—well, Wisconsin has it all. So, which of these festivals in Wisconsin, USA, are you attending first?

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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A freelance content writer by profession, Anaanya is an avid traveller whose main goal in life is to visit as many new places as possible. Anaanya enjoys travelling, not just because of her love...Read more

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