Here are some of the festivals celebrating an array of cultures and heritages coming up:
Date: May 4
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Humboldt Park, 3000 S Howell Avenue, Milwaukee
Cinco de Mayo kicks off festival season in the Badger State. From taco trucks to traditional music, dance and foods, to a tamale eating contest, a chihuahua beauty contest, singing competition, car show, carnival, soccer clinic, bounce house and more, those in the Milwaukee area will certainly want to come check out what Cinco de Mayo Festival is all about.
Learn more, here.
Dates: May 16 to 18
Times: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Location: Various locations throughout Stoughton
This Norwegian Heritage Festival features a rosemaling exhibit and sale, a quilt show and hardanger exhibity, a bunad style show, viking games and more. Come join in on festival traditions and Norwegian traditions alike.
Learn more, here.
Dates: May 30 to June 1
Times: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, 200 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
(Photo courtesy of Festa Italiana)
Complete with cooking demonstrations, ceremonies, cocktail demos, a sauce competition, Italian Idol and more, there is certainly something for everyone at Festa Italiana. Don’t forget about Saturday’s special fireworks show, the raffle or endless supply of tasty foods to try.
Learn more, here.
Date: June 7
Time: Opens at 9 a.m.
Location: Croatian Park, 9100 S. 76th Street, Franklin
(Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Highland Games)
The Milwaukee Highland Games are set to kick off with bagpipe bands, Highland dancers, Scottish foods, athletic events, sheepdogs and more. Festival-goers will also certainly want to check out the vendors this year, which tout originality and quality products.
Learn more, here.
Dates: June 6 to 8
Times: 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
Location: St. Constantine & Helen Greek Church, 2160 N Wauwatosa Avenue, Wauwatosa
(Spectrum News 1)
Celebrate Greek culture with live music from local Greek musicians and traditional food, such as lamb, souvlaki, gyros, loukoumades, saganaki and pastries. The festival, as well as parking, is free.
Learn more, here.
Dates: June 13 to 15
Times: Noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, with mass starting at 10 a.m.
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, 200 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
This festival aims to pass on Polish heritage to future generatiosn by highlighting arts, culture and traditions. Enjoy live music and dance, try out traditional Polish fare, check out the Little Miss Polish Fest Pageant, check out vendors, try out cultural workshops and more.
Learn more, here.
Date: July 12
Times: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Lakeshore State Park, 500 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
(Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival)
Celebrate Chinese culture on the shore of Lake Michigan watching the annual dragon boat races. Teams of 20 rowers, a drummer and a steerer race to out-paddle each other in brightly colored boats with dragon heads adorning their bows. The festival also features traditional dances, martial arts demonstrations, and a wide selection of asian food.
Learn more, here.
Dates: July 17 to 20
Times: TBA
Location: Cathedral Square Park, 520 E Wells Street, Milwaukee
(Spectrum News 1/Kevin Schwaller)
Celebrate French culture at one of the largest French-themed festivals in the country, which is visited by over 250,000 people each year. The four-day celebration is free. Enjoy French and Cajun food, live music and performances, and reenact a bit of French history with the Storm the Bastille 5k run and 2k walk.
Learn more, here.
Date: July 20
Times: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: St. John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church, 7825 W. Layton Avenue, Milwaukee
(Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Armenian Fest)
Listen to nonstop live music, eat Armenian food made from old family recipes and shop for antiques, arts and crafts at Armenian Fest. The festival began as an annual Armenian community summer picnic in the 1930s, and has continued to grow since then.
Learn more, here.
Dates: July 25 to 27
Times: 3 p.m. to midnight Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, 200 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
(Photo courtesy of German Fest)
Dive into German culture with a festival’s musikgarten, karneval, dance, brews, a dachshund derby, timbersports and more. A traditional worship service will also be held on the last day.
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Learn more, here.
Dates: Aug. 10 to 11
Times: Noon to 7 p.m.
Location: Rotary Park, 4100 Highland Road, Mequon
Enjoy traditional kosher food, including pastrami and knishes, as well as live music, a petting zoo and an interactive reenactment of 19th century shtetl village life.
Learn more, here.
Dates: Aug. 14 to 17
Times: 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday; 4 to 11 p.m. Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, 200 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
Milwaukee Irish Fest brings countless musical acts, plenty of Irish dancers, an Irish marketplace full of tasty authentic treats, yummy foods and tons of shopping oppurtunities for anyone to enjoy. Plus, try out an Irish language workshop, explore genealogy, try out Gaelic football and snuggle up with Celtic canines.
Learn more, here.
Date: Aug. 16
Times: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Torpy Park, 806 US-51, Minocqua
Watch a day of dragon boat races on Lake Minocqua. The festival also features food, a beer garden and family-friendly activities.
Learn more, here.
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Dates: Aug. 21 to 24
Times: TBA
Location: Regner Park, 800 N Main Street, West Bend
(Photo courtesy of West Bend German Fest)
From traditional German fare, such as bratwurst and a slew of brews, to Wisconsin classics, including cheese curds, of course, there will be plenty of nibbles to indulge in during this West Bend festival. The event will also feature live music, a bags tournament, a sheepshead tournament and kids zone.
Learn more, here.
Dates: Aug. 22 to 24
Times: Noon to midnight
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, 200 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
(Photo courtesy of Mexican Fiesta)
Experience Mexican culture at the 2025 Mexican Fiesta, with a mix of folk and contemporary live music and dance, delicious food, a car show full of classic and custom vehicles, and plenty more. The cultural pavilion features arts and crafts by more than 150 Mexican and Latin American artisans. The fiesta also helps fund education for Wisconsin’s Hispanic community. Since 1987, it has raised over $1.7 million for scholarships.
Learn more, here.
Date: Sept. 21
Times: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Henry Maier Festival Park, 200 N Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
Wisconsin’s largest Puerto Rican festival is moving to the Henry Maier Festival Park this year for its 12th annual celebration. Experience a taste of the island in Milwaukee with authentic food, live music and dancing. Tickets go on sale May 5.
Learn more, here.
