This story is part of our Summer Guide from the June Issue of Milwaukee Magazine. To read our full guide to summer fun, order your copy today!
1. Outta Sight Kite Flight
JUNE 4-5 | KENOSHA
See 100-plus-foot kites, stunt demonstrations and even kite-making workshops for the kids.
2. Up North BeerFest
JUNE 10-11 | EAGLE RIVER
This beloved celebration of suds takes place at Hi-Pines Campground and features more than 20 Wisconsin and other Midwest breweries serving unlimited samples of 100-plus beers with live music and food vendors. The main event is Saturday afternoon, but a premier ticket gets you access to a Friday tasting of special-release beers that will not be available Saturday, as well as “heavy hors d’oeuvres.”
Also check out: Door County Beer Festival | June 18, Baileys Harbor
Nominations are open for the 2024 Unity Awards!
Know an individual or group committed to bridging divides in our community? Nominate them for a Unity Award by Oct. 31.
3. Blue Ox Music Festival
JUNE 23-25 | EAU CLAIRE
Focusing on Bluegrass and Americana, this three-day music festival brings in more than 35 national and regional acts playing on three stages. This year’s lineup includes Béla Fleck, Old Crow Medicine Show and Wisconsin’s own Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. Bring your own instrument for campground jam sessions and instrument workshops. Plenty of food and beverages are for sale and free (unreserved) tent camping is included with your ticket.
Also check out: Mile of Music | Aug. 4-7, Appleton
4. 50th Anniversary Iola Car Show
JULY 7-9 | IOLA
If you see one car show this summer, make it this one: 2,500 show cars, plus hundreds for sale, and 4,000 vendors.
5. Taste ’n Glow Balloon Fest
JULY 8-10 | WAUSAU
For starters, there will be 30 hot air balloons with morning and evening balloon liftoffs. Then add live bands, a car show, abundant kids’ activities, a lumberjack show – including some chainsaw carving and an amateur log-rolling competition – a craft show and flea market, and dirt flingers, a truck and tractor pull competition.
Also check out: Lakeshore Balloon Glow | Aug. 19, Manitowoc
6. Art Fair on the Square
JULY 9-10 | MADISON
More than 500 artists of all mediums from around the country set up in booths around the State Capitol for this free event.
7. Bristol Renaissance Fair
JULY 9-SEPT 5 | KENOSHA
Step back into the past on one of nine weekends at this family friendly fair featuring hundreds of costumed cast members.
8. Blueberry Festival
JULY 21-24 | IRON RIVER
Celebrating the local harvest from blueberry pie to blueberry mead, this fest includes a parade, tractor pull, pie-eating contest, cardboard boat race and Sunday morning polka Mass.
9. Pulaski Polka Days
JULY 21-24 | PULASKI
No one polkas like Pulaski polkas. Their annual fest lasts four days with three stages. The celebration opens with fireworks, and Sunday features a parade. Other attractions include an arts and crafts fair, pancake breakfast and Ms. Pulaski Polka Days pageant.
If you’re a first-timer, no worries: free dance lessons on Friday and Saturday.
Also check out: New Glarus Polkafest | June 10-11, New Glarus
10. Midwest Fire Fest
JULY 23-24 | CAMBRIDGE
This celebration of all things created with fire, heat and smoke features plenty of items made on site, from pottery to forging and hot glass.
11. EAA AirVenture
JULY 25-31 | OSHKOSH
The Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual seven-day convention and fly-in brings together nearly 3,000 historic, experimental or otherwise notable aircraft, many of them parked for up-close viewing. Daily air shows include formation flying, acrobatics and even some pyrotechnics. You can purchase rides in historic planes, such as WWII-era bombers, or attend films, presentations and workshops.
Also check out: Chippewa Valley Air Show | June 4-5, Eau Claire
12. Lumberjack World Championships
JULY 28-30 | HAYWARD
The skills of a lumberjack featured in breathtaking competition: log-rolling, chopping and sawing, speed climbing, axe-throwing and boom-running.
13. Burger Fest
AUG. 12-13 | SEYMOUR
The alleged birthplace of the hamburger, Seymour celebrates the all-American sandwich with a parade, bun race, eating competition and kids’ games.
14. Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Fest
AUG. 18-21 | SUN PRAIRIE
If the 80 tons of fine sweet corn aren’t enough, there are also carnival rides, live music, a beer tent and a parade.
15. Potosi Area Firemen’s Annual Catfish Festival
AUG. 12-14 | POTOSI
Beyond the delectable 1,300 pounds of catfish fillets, expect bean bag and euchre tournaments, tractor pulls and the crowning of Little Miss Catfish Queen.
