Check out our events calendar to find Wisconsin’s coolest festivals, concerts, exhibits and more.

Timber! The Lumberjack World Championships (Aug. 1–3 this year) is an annual competition and festival taking place over three days in Hayward, featuring some of the world’s best displays in sawing, chopping, climbing and log rolling. In addition, you can check out the lumberjack shop, which sells gifts and clothing; refuel at the vendor booth area; or have a refreshing drink at the beer garden.

This international contest was first held in 1960. Ever since, the event has grown into a significant competition, attracting about 100 competitors from all over the world. In all, the participants compete for prize money of over $50,000 in 21 events.

Calendar of Events

From flashy fireworks to state fair fun, there are so many things to do in Wisconsin this summer.

May 18–19
Civil War Living History Days
This free, educational and family-friendly experience in Milton features reenactments, cannon demonstrations, a visit from a President Lincoln reenactor and lots of American history.

May 18–19
Ellison Bay Arts Spring Art Crawl
Explore the galleries, shops and outdoor amenities of downtown Ellison Bay and check out what the Door County town has to offer during this popular spring art crawl.

May 18–19
Janesville Renaissance Faire
Travel to the past with a day of medieval-themed activities, vendors, food and entertainment along the Rock River at Janesville’s Traxler Park. Huzzah!

May 24–26
Brat Fest
Billed as the world’s largest brat fest, this Madison fundraiser has been offering a mix of drinks, fun and music from nationally known artists—plus sausages (lots and lots of sausages)—since 1983. Sink your teeth into this Memorial Day weekend tradition in Wisconsin’s capital.

May 31–June 2
Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival
Little Chute invites you to “get your cheese on” at this community festival in Doyle Park. Beyond activities and samples related to the event’s dairy namesake, this long-running affair features a wealth of food vendors, rides, live entertainers, a petting zoo, a parade and more.

June 6–9
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Grand Prix
North America’s premier open-wheel series will bring some of the world’s best competitive drivers to Sheboygan County to race at speeds nearing 240 miles per hour. In addition to the INDYCAR action itself, Road America will host activities for all ages each day of the series. (For AAA Member-exclusive discounts on sporting events and more, visit AAA.com/Tickets.)

June 7–9
Walleye Weekend
This free, fish-focused Fond du Lac festival brings 50,000 folks to Lakeside Park over the course of three days each June with an a-lure-ing combination of live music, food, sporting events and other bits of family-focused fun.

June 8
BrillionFest
On the second Saturday of June, Brillion hosts 15 hours of fun at the Brillion Fire Department. Over the course of the day, the community undertaking features a car show, food and retail vendors, carnival games, inflatables and live music.

June 8
Osceola Rhubarb Fest
Osceola residents come together every June for a festival that celebrates the arrival of rhubarb (and with it, spring) but also serves up so much more. Mill Pond Park plays host to a day of fun that features a craft fair, a bake sale, kids activities and other amenities that help make Rhubarb Fest “one sweet celebration” in Polk County.

June 15
Strawberry Fest
Sweet things await in Waupaca as Jefferson Street shuts down for a soiree centered on a popular fruit. The event brings more than 100 vendors to town, as well as live music, sales on strawberries and strawberry shortcake, a silent auction, trivia, and numerous other attractions that are sure to make for a “berry” good time.

June 20–22, June 27–29, July 4–6
Summerfest
Wisconsin boasts lots of festivals, but only one can accurately call itself the world’s largest music festival. Summerfest will bring hundreds of musical acts to Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park over the course of nine days in late June and early July.

June 21–23
Musky Fest
Hayward is home to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. The northwest Wisconsin town is also the site of a long-standing annual festival that’s named after a massive freshwater fish. This year’s installment, the 74th edition for those keeping count, will bring thousands to town for a Musky Run, a carnival, a parade, live music, kids activities, food and the crowning of the Musky Festival Queen.

June 27–29
Blue Ox Music Festival
Formerly a campground, the 150-acre parcel of land now known as The Pines Music Park has been bringing some of the biggest and best names in modern bluegrass, folk and Americana to Eau Claire each summer since 2015. Aside from the music you’ll hear on three stages, attendees can enjoy great local food and beverages, browse a row of area retailers, or even camp out for the weekend to take in the full Blue Ox experience.

July 3–6
Riverfest
Since 1983, this festival has brought something for everyone to Riverside Park in La Crosse over the Fourth of July weekend. This year’s installment features food, fireworks and entertainment from headlining musicians Drake Milligan and Josh Ross.

July 4
Fourth on the Shore
Celebrate Independence Day on the shore of Lake Michigan. This Manitowoc mainstay features a winning mix of food trucks, live music, family activities, fireworks and more.

July 4
Gills Rock Celebrates 4th of July
Make your way to Door County this July 4 to spend the evening enjoying a boat parade, food and beverages, music, fireworks, and a fish fry fundraiser for the Death’s Door Maritime Museum.

July 4
July Jubilee
The town might be called Winter, but they go all out for this summer celebration that features a color run and 10K race, a pie social, a rib dinner, and two parades.

July 4–6
Mid-Western Rodeo
For more than 60 years, Manawa has put the western in Midwestern with its annual rodeo. The weekend’s festivities also boast nightly rodeo dances, a parade and a “stampede” run-walk.

July 11–13
Iola Car Show & Swap Meet
Buckle up! The 52nd annual event will return, bringing thousands of classic cars, swap meet vendors and motor vehicle enthusiasts to Iola in the process.

July 22–28
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Known as “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” this week-long undertaking finds pilots and airplane aficionados from all over the world flying to Oshkosh to partake in daily air shows, workshops, forums and special guest appearances.

July 26–28
German Fest
A Milwaukee tradition since 1981, Wisconsin’s premier celebration of German culture brings music, cuisine, activities and even a Dachshund Derby to Henry Maier Festival Park.

July 26–28
Two Rivers SnowFest
After more than 20 years away, this summer festival returned to Two Rivers in 2021 and has brought live music, family activities and a downtown parade back to the community.

Aug. 1–4
Mile of Music
Join more than 200 artists from across the musical spectrum at 40 venues for four nights of free concerts when Mile 11 comes to downtown Appleton.

Aug. 1–11
Wisconsin State Fair
Bask in the wonder of all things Wisconsin during this massive 11-day event that brings close to a million folks to West Allis every summer to enjoy Original Cream Puffs (and other indulgent fair food), fun and games, shopping, competitions, and world-class entertainers.

Aug. 2–3
Johnsonville Brat Days
Link up with friends at this sausage-centric celebration in Sheboygan that features rides, live entertainment, a marketplace, a parade, and lots and lots of brats.

Aug. 9–10
Waukesha Rotary BluesFest
Naga-Waukee Park near Delafield will host two days of music, including some of Wisconsin’s best names in blues and nationally renowned acts like Ally Venable, GA-20, The Dig 3 and Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.

Aug. 11
Green Bay Scaled Up Expo
Animal lovers of all ages are invited to interact with thousands of snakes, lizards, tortoises, frogs and other cold-blooded creatures when this traveling expo makes its way to Radisson Hotel in Green Bay.

Aug. 16–18
North Hudson Pepper Fest
Spice up your summer with a three-day event that promises big-time flavor in the small village of North Hudson. There will be entertainment, Italian food, contests and the crowning of Pepper Fest Royalty.

Aug. 31–Sept. 1
Taste of Madison
Come to Capitol Square in Madison to feast on tasty treats from 80 local food vendors while enjoying live music on two stages.

Sept. 6–8
Platteville Dairy Days
Platteville will play host to three days filled with festival food, carnival attractions, flea markets, cattle and goat shows, and more. Holy cow!

Sept. 7–8
Bayfield Festival of Arts
Bayfield’s Memorial Park will host a juried fine art show on the shore of Lake Superior that features exceptional works from a variety of painters, potters, sculptors, photographers and other artists.

Sept. 21
Apple Harvest Festival
Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha will mark the arrival of autumn with a scavenger hunt, crafts, oodles of apple desserts and a silent auction at this fruit-focused fest that has family-friendly fun at its core.

Sept. 21
Bay View Bash
Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood will be alive with activity when its annual block party brings local and touring talent, dozens of food and retail vendors, and other activities to bustling Kinnickinnic Avenue.

Sept. 21
Petfest
Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee will host this free fest that’s sure to be a doggone good time for people and pets of all ages.

Sept. 27–29
Warrens Cranberry Festival
Wisconsin’s state fruit will take center stage in Warrens. This year’s installment, the 51st annual event, will offer attendees a sweet assortment of arts and crafts, festival fare, a parade, marsh tours, and more.

Sept. 28
Beef-A-Rama
Where’s the beef? For more than 50 years, it’s been in downtown Minocqua when Beef-A-Rama brings meat, live music and community-oriented entertainment to the north woods hub the last Saturday in September.