While Summerfest and the State Fair get the most of the attention, Milwaukee’s many ethnic and neighborhood festivals are high on the short list of factors that make the city so vibrant in summer. And high on the short list of experts on these festivals are the local photographers who criss-cross the city every summer to visually document them.
Jon Mattrisch and his wife Krisha, both native Milwaukeeans, have spent much of the last three years living in their Ford Transit van, traveling the country and sharing their journey on Instagram. But their summers are for Milwaukee, and they return with a full docket of beloved festivals to attend.
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While Summerfest and the State Fair get the most of the attention, Milwaukee’s many “The energy at each of these festivals is something else,” says Mattrisch. “It’s this release that people have of being stuck indoors during winter and snow and cold weather. And now there’s this beautiful sunshine. … People don’t take it for granted.” The Midwest’s signature friendliness is on full display, too, he adds.
To photographer Nate Vomhof, the magic of the city’s festivals is their community focus. “The location of these festivals is very neighborhood specific,” he says, citing Locust Street Festival of Music and Art and Center Street Daze Festival as examples. “They tie neighborhoods together, and bring people that are actually neighbors together. But they also allow residents from across the city to come and enjoy the different neighborhoods.”
Here, Mattrisch and Vomhof share some of their favorite summer neighborhood and ethnic fests.
1. Polish Fest
JUNE 13-15
Mattrisch advocates for this fest even for those who don’t share his Polish heritage for its abundance of pierogies in various flavors and for the Sobieski vodka tasting experience. “It’s really informative,” says Mattrisch, “and you learn quite a bit about vodka making and Sobieski’s history.”
2. Juneteenth
JUNE 19
Vomhof enjoys Juneteenth not just for the big parade and other festivities, but also for its ability to attract people who may not otherwise realize the degree of Bronzeville’s recent revitalization. “The parade takes place on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, which has seen incredible investment in recent years,” he explains. “Anytime we can celebrate our neighborhoods, that’s a win.”
3. Bastille Days
JULY 17-20
The Storm the Bastille Run/Walk, which opens one of America’s largest French-themed festivals, unites Milwaukee in a unique way, Vomhof says. His favorite spot to watch – and shoot – is at the race’s corner on East Wisconsin Avenue with the Milwaukee Art Museum as a stunning backdrop.
4. Brady Street Music Festival
JULY 26
Reimagining Brady Street as a more pedestrian-friendly environment is a concept that has been debated for years. This annual full-day, multistage festival – and its closure of Brady to all motorized vehicles – proves the historic street can thrive under that concept, says Mattrisch, who’ll be enjoying live music, easy-to-eat empanadas from La Masa and a local craft beer or two.
