festivals

Milwaukee has often been referred to as the “city of festivals” and a “city of immigrants.” Those two nicknames come to life every summer, when thousands of people flock to the lakefront to take in ethnic festivals. 

Each one is held on a separate weekend at the Henry Maier Festival Park, also known as the Summerfest grounds.

>>First Time in 53-Year History, Summerfest Canceled

When you think of entertainment and culture in Milwaukee, what comes to mind? Is it beer, is it cheese or is it brats? What about festivals, especially this time of year?

I live in France, and I came to Milwaukee in July to spend part of the summer working in the WUWM newsroom. As I was learning about the city, one of the things that caught my eye was the number of ethnic festivals. 

On Saturday, dozens of ornate boats will set sail on Lake Michigan for a race unlike any other in the area. The annual Dragon Boat Festival is in its seventh year here in Milwaukee. But the tradition began more than 2,000 years ago in what is now mainland China.

Lorna Young and Susa Siy are both organizers for Milwaukee’s Dragon Boat Festival. They joined Lake Effect’s Joy Powers in studio. Siy starts by explaining the folklore about the Dragon Boat Festival’s origins:

In just a few days, the gates to the Henry Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront will swing open and welcome the hundreds of thousands of concert goers who descend on the city each year for Summerfest.

It’s easily the city’s - and the state’s - most popular music festival. But just last weekend, western Wisconsin played host to the third edition of a music festival that is also making a name for itself. Eaux Claires is the creation of musician Justin Vernon, better known as the front man of Bon Iver.

Despite the landmark Supreme Court ruling last year that legalized gay marriage, there still are many hurdles for the LGBTQ community to overcome. Some of these issues include adoption, housing rights, workplace equality and transgender rights.

Yet, there is still plenty to celebrate at this year's PrideFest.

While there are no guillotines on Milwaukee’s Cathedral Square, many people are having their cake (or beignets) and eating it too this weekend.

The annual Bastille Days celebration features French food and culture, along with a traditional evening run to storm the Bastille in honor of the French Revolution.

We’re in the midst of ethnic festival season in Milwaukee. Events such as Polish Fest, German Fest, and Festa Italiana have already passed. Many are looking ahead to Irish Fest this weekend, or Mexican Fiesta next weekend.

We are in full festival swing in Milwaukee. This weekend is the annual celebration of all things Italian, also known as Festa Italiana. And in between bocce games, gondola rides, and fast Ferraris, you can also find special guests like internationally renowned chef Maria Liberati. Liberati in an award winning author and blogger of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking series, and the newest one is called Da Vinci style.

For many, it would not be summer in Milwaukee without our lineup of ethnic festivals. 

This weekend in Milwaukee, festival-goers will celebrate a culture of laziness, drinking, and the sometimes unfocused thoughts that go along with both.