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Wisconsin Best Food and Drink Festivals 

Food, Wine, Spirits and Beer Festivals listed also include surrounding areas that host signature events.

Milwaukee

Mil Brewfest
MIl Oktob

Madison

Green Bay

 Eau Claire

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Best food and drink festivals in Milwaukee Wisconsin

A Taste and Thirst Odyssey: Exploring Wisconsin's Best Food, Wine, and Beer Festivals

Wisconsin, known for its charming landscapes and friendly communities, also boasts a vibrant culinary scene that comes alive through its diverse food, wine, and beer festivals. Let's take a journey through the bustling cities of Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison to discover the best events that celebrate the rich flavors and spirits of the region.

Milwaukee Wisconsin: A Haven for the Best Food and Drink Festivals

Milwaukee Taco Fest: September

 

The largest celebration of Mexican street food in Wisconsin draws thousands of hungry visitors each summer to Henry Maier Festival Park along Milwaukee's lakefront. Milwaukee Taco Fest features over 30 local restaurants and food trucks serving traditional and creative tacos, including popular vendors like Mazorca Tacos, Pedro's South American Food, and Café Corazón. Festival attendees can enjoy freshly made margaritas, Mexican beer, and an extensive tequila tasting experience while watching professional lucha libre wrestling matches throughout the day.

 

Live mariachi bands and regional Latin music groups perform across multiple stages, with past performers including La Sonora Dinamita and Fulanito. The family-friendly event includes a hot pepper eating contest, chihuahua beauty pageant, and taco-eating competitions that add extra entertainment between meals. The festival typically hosts around 5,000 attendees who vote for their favorite tacos in multiple categories, with winners receiving the coveted Golden Taco trophy.

Milwaukee Brew Fest: July

 

The long-standing summer beer festival takes place on the Milwaukee lakefront grounds at McKinley Park, drawing more than 4,500 attendees from across Wisconsin and neighboring states. Beer enthusiasts can sample over 200 craft beers and ciders from 50 different breweries, including local favorites like Lakefront Brewery, Third Space Brewing, and Milwaukee Brewing Company. Popular food vendors offer a range of festival fare including smoked meats from Iron Grate BBQ, pretzels from Milwaukee Pretzel Company, and gourmet cheese curds from Clock Shadow Creamery.

 

The festival features live music on two stages throughout the day, with past performances by local bands like Chicken Wire Empire and The WhiskeyBelles. A commemorative sampling glass is included with admission, while VIP ticket holders receive early entry, exclusive beer tastings, and access to a climate-controlled tent with private restrooms. The event includes unique attractions like beer education seminars, home brewing demonstrations, and a "meet the brewers" area where attendees can speak directly with craft beer makers.

Milwaukee Food Truck & Beer Festival: June

 

Each year, Milwaukee's biggest food and beverage gathering draws thousands of hungry attendees to the Milwaukee County Sports Complex. The festival hosts 32 food trucks featuring local favorites like Stuffed MKE, Real Dogs MKE, Flour Girl & Flame, Meat on the Street, and Tatay's Truck, serving everything from gourmet tacos to artisanal pizzas and Filipino fusion cuisine. Local breweries including Lakefront, Good City, and Third Space showcase their craft beers alongside seltzers and non-alcoholic options in the beer garden area.

 

Live music at the festival features local Milwaukee bands like The WhiskeyBelles and Brothers By Choice performing on the main stage throughout the day. Kids can enjoy the family fun zone complete with face painting, balloon artists, and a designated play area with bouncy houses. The event includes a "People's Choice" competition where attendees vote for their favorite food truck and brewery, plus a special VIP area offering early admission and exclusive food tastings.

Cedarburg Wine & Harvest Festival: September

 

Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Cedarburg, Wisconsin, this beloved autumn gathering draws over 250,000 visitors annually to celebrate the grape harvest season. Cedar Creek Settlement, the former woolen mill turned winery, serves as the festival's main hub, where attendees can sample local wines, including the signature Cedar Creek Winery varieties and specialty harvest wines from surrounding Wisconsin vineyards. More than 300 local artisans and food vendors line the streets, including popular spots like The Chocolate Factory, Amy's Gourmet Apples, and The Farmstead, offering everything from gourmet cheese plates to freshly baked apple pies.

 

The Silver Creek Folk Stage and Cedar Creek Settlement Courtyard showcase continuous live music performances from regional favorites like The Acoustix and The Flood Brothers Band throughout the weekend. The festival features unique attractions such as grape stomping competitions, a grape spitting contest, hay rides through the historic district, and the crowd-favorite Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off where local growers compete for bragging rights. Festival-goers can also enjoy guided tours of the Cedar Creek Winery's underground cellars, where masters explain the wine-making process while offering samples of their award-winning varieties.

 

Uncorked Wine Festival: November

 

A summer evening of wine tasting and live entertainment draws thousands of enthusiasts to Milwaukee's historic riverside venue. The Uncorked Wine Festival transforms the Harley-Davidson Museum into an after-hours tasting paradise featuring over 100 varieties of wines, champagnes, and specialty spirits. Guests explore the museum's iconic motorcycle exhibits while sampling an extensive selection of wines and innovative canned cocktail offerings.

 

Local food vendors provide perfectly paired small bites and appetizers to complement the diverse beverage selection. The festival atmosphere comes alive with music echoing through the museum's unique industrial-chic spaces. Full access to the museum's galleries offers an distinctive backdrop for this sophisticated yet relaxed summer wine-tasting experience.

beer festivals in green bay

Green Bay Wisconsin: Where Festival Sips & Samples Take Center Stage

Rails and Ales Beer Festival: February

 

This annual celebration of craft beer culture brings thousands of enthusiastic beer lovers to the historic National Railroad Museum, where vintage trains provide a unique backdrop for sampling. Local and regional breweries showcase more than 100 different craft beers, including seasonal releases and limited-edition brews, while food trucks serve up everything from artisanal pretzels to gourmet sliders. Attendees can explore the museum's impressive collection of locomotives while enjoying live music performances throughout the scenic grounds.

 

Festival-goers have the opportunity to meet brewmasters and learn about the craft brewing process through educational demonstrations and tasting sessions. The family-friendly atmosphere includes dedicated spaces for lawn games, photo opportunities with historic trains, and special exhibits highlighting the connection between railroads and America's brewing heritage. The festival's distinctive setting among railway artifacts and restored passenger cars creates an atmosphere unlike any other beer festival in the Midwest. 

Minocqua Beef-a-Rama: September

 

This northern Wisconsin festival celebrates beef in every possible way from roasted and carved sandwiches to grilled steaks and smoked specialties. The Minocqua Beef-a-Rama, hosted in downtown Minocqua's island business district, draws over 10,000 attendees annually to sample offerings from 35 food vendors including local favorites like Alexander's Crown and The Boathouse. Festival highlights include a beef-eating contest, the Prime Choice Craft Fair with 75 artisans, and a morning 5K run called the Rump Roast Run.

 

Live music echoes across the grounds from two stages featuring Wisconsin bands like The LP's and Art Stevenson & High Water performing country and bluegrass tunes. The signature event involves local businesses competing in the "Roast Parade" where teams push decorated roasting units down main street while showing off their prime cuts of beef.

 

Appleton Oktoberfest: September

 

This bustling fall celebration in northeast Wisconsin draws over 100,000 attendees for its weekend celebration of German heritage and culture. Appleton Oktoberfest spans multiple blocks of College Avenue in the heart of downtown, offering authentic German cuisine from more than 75 food vendors including local favorites like Mark's Eastside serving traditional schnitzel and Rye serving imported bratwurst. Live polka and folk music fill the streets from multiple stages, with performances by the Wisconsin-based band The Happy Schnapps Combo and Jerry Schneider's Polka Band keeping crowds dancing throughout the day.

 

Festival highlights include the traditional keg-tapping ceremony, lederhosen costume contests, beer barrel races, and a dedicated family fun area featuring carnival games and activities for children. The festival features six beer tents serving both domestic and imported German beers, including special seasonal brews from local craft breweries like Stone Arch and Fox River Brewing Company. Along with the main festival area, the celebration includes a classic car show, arts and crafts marketplace with over 100 vendors, and the popular License to Cruise event featuring vintage automobiles along College Avenue.

food festivals in green bay

Madison Wisconsin: Food and Drink Festivals for the Senses

Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship: April

 

The largest competition of its kind in the Midwest draws thousands of grilled cheese enthusiasts, both amateur and professional chefs, to Iowa County Fairgrounds in Wisconsin. Over 40 cheese vendors showcase their products, including well-known Wisconsin favorites like Roth Cheese, Carr Valley Cheese, Hook's Cheese Company, and Uplands Cheese. Local breweries and wineries complement the cheese offerings with craft beer and wine tastings, while food trucks serve up creative grilled cheese variations, mac and cheese dishes, and local dairy-based desserts.

 

The festival features three competition categories - Classic, Professional Chef, and Amateur - with competitors vying for cash prizes and the coveted Golden Spatula Award. Live music from regional folk and bluegrass bands fills the air throughout the day, including performances by Art Stevenson & High Water and The Dang-Its. The event includes hands-on cooking demonstrations by Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers, a kids' grilled cheese making station, and cheese carving exhibitions by professional food artists.

Taste of Madison: August

 

The downtown Capitol Square and surrounding streets in Madison transform into one of Wisconsin's largest outdoor food festivals each Labor Day weekend. The Taste of Madison welcomes more than 80 restaurant vendors serving everything from local cheese curds and bratwurst to international cuisine like empanadas from La Taguara and Thai curry from Sa-Bai Thong. Live music fills the air from multiple stages featuring local and regional bands performing rock, country, and jazz throughout the weekend.

 

Festival attendees, typically numbering around 250,000 over the two-day event, can sample craft beers from local breweries including New Glarus Brewing Company and Capital Brewery, alongside wines and cocktails from area distilleries. The family-friendly atmosphere includes dedicated kids' activities, cooking demonstrations from local chefs, and a special marketplace featuring local artisans and craftspeople. A portion of all beverage sales goes directly to local non-profit organizations, making this celebration of food and community a meaningful contributor to Madison's charitable causes.

Great Taste of the Midwest Beer Festival: August

 

Beer enthusiasts gather in Madison, Wisconsin for a single day celebration that has become one of America's premier craft beer festivals. The Great Taste of the Midwest, hosted at Olin Park along the shores of Lake Monona, welcomes over 6,000 attendees who sample from more than 200 Midwest breweries offering 1,400 different craft beers. Notable participating breweries include Bell's Brewery, New Glarus Brewing Company, Surly Brewing, and Three Floyds Brewing, serving everything from classic lagers to barrel-aged stouts and experimental brews.

 

Local food vendors offer artisanal cheese plates, bratwurst, and wood-fired pizzas to complement the extensive beer selection. The festival features live music throughout the day on two stages, with local Madison bands providing a mix of blues, rock, and folk music. The event includes unique features like the Real Ale Tent, serving naturally carbonated cask-conditioned ales, and educational sessions where brewers discuss their craft and brewing techniques.

In Wisconsin's cities, these food and drink festivals are more than just opportunities to eat, drink, and be merry, they are celebrations of the rich culinary traditions that make each city unique. Whether you're a foodie, wine enthusiast, or beer lover, Wisconsin has a festival waiting for you, promising a delightful journey through the flavors of the Badger State.

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