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    Firkin Fest

    4.2 (26 reviews)

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    Brenner
    Christine F.

    I made it. Thanks YelpMKE! We got there about a half hour early and walked around the entirely wrong way. It would have been helpful if there were signs for the beginning of the line. We went to the ViP entrance and were directed to a line that wrapped around the block. ID's and tickets checked and we were ushered inside the fence to pick up our glasses and corral ourselves behind some police tape. Finally they released the tape and we ran to the nearest booth like a bunch of speed dating drunkies. The trend was fruity this year which I am not a fan of. One was so sour I had to spit it out right away. They have fancy buckets for that and not just the grass. They also had water to rinse out your glass. The firkins go fast so I suggest trying those first. My favorites were Lightening Bug a chocolate stout from Brenner. (not because George and Mark were there) a beer from Title Town which the name escapes me, the new Lust with cranberry from St. Francis Brewery, and another which I got their business card. I will update later. There were local celebrities there too like Katrina from Master Chef. Everyone was quiet drunk and not rowdy drunk which was a plus. The port-o-potties were of course nasty.... We had the grilled cheese which was pretty unremarkable. No special bread and $5.00 to boot. They also had prepackaged soft pretzels and cheese for $2.00 along with a taco stand. I really enjoyed talking to the brewers and learning more about the beer. I regret sampling so much. We all know what too much beer does. Anywhoo, it was a fun time and I would do it again! I am a people watcher and there was certainly some good entertainment along with a great band that walked around. It was a great chance to try some of the all so many micro breweries.

    Business.
    Nell B.

    I like Firkin Fest. This is my second year in a row working the yelp! booth at the festival, but I've had full reign to enjoy the suds. VIPs get in an hour early then the general admission crowds (3pm vs 4pm), and use the additional time to run around and try everything before lines start. The thing that makes this festival stand out is the MKE pride - this is specifically a Milwaukee Craft Beer festival. While it is a sanctioned 1 block x 1 block area, the size still manages to fit tons of beer vendors. There are also some historic tents set up as not many other cities can boast of the beer pride and knowledge that Milwaukee does. There are also a couple vendors like Fyxation selling their leather branded "bike drink holders" and a vendor who sold candles made from beer bottles and coasters made from the labels. Cool stuff, but limited. The lack of the fifth star is due to the lack of FOOD options. I get it, this is a beer festival, but packing a bunch of flip-flop wearing, beer guzzling Wisconsinites into a tiny cube and providing a grilled cheese/cheese curd tent for stomach lining just seems irresponsible. **In their defense, a couple food vendors packed up and quit due to questionable weather this year (which turned out to be awesome!) so maybe they did work on that a little.

    Rachel F.

    I really, really like this fest. For three years now I've attended to rep Yelp, but have a blast meeting fun brewery folks and attendees alike. The demographic is a good one... people that hit up Firkin do so because they know and love beer, generally speaking. The breweries bring their A game with interesting craft options and stellar line-ups, and the number and depth of breweries repped is solid, too. You'll see Oskar Blues next to Big Bay, Potosi and Ommegang and Lakefront and Bell's. It's all over the map in the best way possible. The fest itself - both in terms of attendance as well as spatially - is big enough to boast tons of unique options, but small enough to be navigable, too. I enjoy this. It's the biggest small beer festival, if that makes any sense. I'd love to dole out five stars, but can't because having more food vendors/options would be nice. It's also good for beer drinking folks to eat a food after the sample a few too many brews. Just sayin'. As I noted previously, I'd definitely spring for this festival were I not on-hand in a Yelp capacity. It's tons of fun! If you like/love beer and like/love MKE, this one's for you.

    Snack time!
    Jennifer A.

    The weather was quite beautiful, and much cooler, for this year's Firkin Fest in Milwaukee. It made for an enjoyable evening with food, froth, friends and of course, firkins. What is a firkin? About fourty of the breweries bring special 1/4 barrels of new or existing brews they have altered, aged or infused with fruit, tea, squid ink...you name it. Most brought to the fest are science experiments gone very right. These rare and delicious treats are highly coveted in the beer nerd society. This was my first Firkin Fest experience. It is a fairly young festival in the scheme of things but this one is here to stay. A variety of notable and up-and-coming breweries setup camp in Cathedral Square Park in downtown Milwaukee. There is a general area as well as a VIP area with additional samples and tables, based on your ticket selection. The will call ticket pickup was efficient, as well as the line. Security came around in line to check identification and scan in tickets to make for a speedy and efficient entry into the fest. Once in, there were enough people to make it interesting but it was by no means crowded. There were plenty of places to stand at a bistro table or rest in the grass in between imbibes. Beer memorabilia/historical exhibits, vendor/sponsor booths (like Yelp!) and food vendors were also scattered around the grounds to enjoy with live music to boot. I enjoyed a Banh Mi sandwich and Sprecher Beer Kettle Chips from Rumpus Room - not too spicy and very delicious. Now the beer. There were plenty of different breweries and styles present to please any palate. Standouts from the 2013 fest were: Burnheart's firkin of Central Waters Fat Elvis, 3 Sheeps firkin of Really Squiddy Waterslides (featuring squid ink), Sweet Mullet's firkin of Jalapeno Jorge and Founders Frangelic Mountain Brown. I also saw that New Glarus had several 750ml bottles of the new Strawberry Rhubarb, but alas, I was not VIP and the bottles were empty. Sad face. What would I change to make this festival even better? First and foremost - glassware. This is the first time I have ever been to a beer festival and was handed a pint glass. It may seem like a "good idea" at first but not when trying to sample a wide variety of beers with less waste. The pour line was 3 ounces, which was one to two too many for "tasting". With the larger glasses, the staff had a tendency to over pour. Once the festival grows, more beer will run out faster. Not to mention, it also helps to not over serve your festival guests and keep things solid. Second, more rinse areas. Many festivals have a rinse station at each brewery or side of the tent. There were a few times were I had to go hunting. I observed many other folks pouring on the ground, which can just get messy. This would help keep the ground dry and less sticky and allow for more hydrating and rinsing. Third, more restrooms. At one point the line was about ten minutes. A few more would do the trick. Lastly, a few more food options would not hurt. I did not see many vegetarian options (aside from deep fried pickles and cheese curds) and nothing much in the way of vegan cuisine. Perhaps stir fry with rice, tamales or crepes would work. I am an omnivore, but there were few items that were not fried or very heavy, which is why I chose the Banh Mi. It was delicious, but I may have also indulged in another treat too. Overall, I was impressed. I enjoyed talking and getting to know more of my Yelp friends. A special shout out to Yelp for the tickets as well. From reading past reviews, the festival keeps improving and evolving every year. With that being said, I am already looking forward to next year and plan to spread the word among my ber nerd companions.

    Tony K.

    With this being my first Beer Festival, I have to say I was overall very satisfied. If anything it has lit the fire within to try other festivals! There were nice variety of breweries on tap.. Especially appreciated all the local breweries in attendance, but I kinda felt the placement and layout of it all was a bit odd. Another thing i definitely wanted was more food vendors... and actually I have to point out George T.'s review which compares it to the Beer Lovers Fest in Glendale. Nicely said George. My favorite part - getting to hang with my bro for a relaxing afternoon, the featured Home Brewers tent and well... the Yelp tent! They provided some beer pong, corn hole, and ring toss... FUN stuff for sure! Will I attend again? Not sure. I have been eyeing up the Beer Lovers Fest in Glendale for a few years now - and I think I'd like to try that out next time around. Firkin I think (like Rachel F.) is well on it's way to being a bit hit. Gotta start somewhere!

    Before beer
    Kristy K.

    Beer, Beer and more Beer! We had a freakin good time at yesterday's Firkin Fest. The rain could not stop us. There were so many samples to try, it's hard to pick favorites, but that won't stop me from trying. My favorite of the day was the Bell's Sparkle Berry. Full of berry flavor, but not the sweetness. It was perfect. I'm so sad that it's not one we can get normally. It was so bright and refreshing that we went back for several tastes. Another standout for me was the Chocolate Stout from Central Waters, It was clearly the best stout of the fest. Other favorites breweries included Mob Craft, Brenner, and 3 Sheeps. With so much beer, it would be nice to have a few more food options. Honestly, the best food on site was the Fritos I brought in my purse. The bathroom situation was about as good as it can get for an outdoor festival in the park, and there was never a line. All in all, it was a great time, and I hope to be back again next year. So many beers, so little time

    That's a "sample" here. Notice the head creeping over the side of my 3.75 inch koozie. Prolly double the normal sample size.
    Joseph W.

    Firkin A, this event is pretty firkin insane! A fantastic little craft beer fest in Downtown Milwaukee at Cathedral Square Park. Plenty of options for any beer lover out there, well over a hundred craft beers, even meads and hard cider. Well worth the price of admission. I want to second everything on Jennifer B.'s review. Her description of the event is spot on. As far as the beer went, I had some of the most delicious beers I have ever tasted at this event. There was a really good mix of smaller to mid-size brewers, along a small few of the large breweries. A good showing of most of our local breweries, along with breweries from the UK, Massachusetts, Cali, the Midwest, Brooklyn and many other spots. Here are my highlights- 3 Sheep's Really Cool Waterslides with Squid Ink Firkin- Holy cow, a beer with great citrus notes, followed by the slight sting of squid ink. An absolutely incredible infused craft beer. Milwaukee Brewing Company's Polish Moon- With that name, how can you go wrong? I love my sweet beers, and this one hits the spot. Sixpoint's Apollo- Where was this brewery the last time I was in NY? If I would have caught wind of it, it would have took a tour! Anyways, I'm going to hunt down a pack of these bad boys this week. The fruity tartness makes for a unique beer. Potosi's Belgian Tripel with Strawberries Firkin- Second favorite of the day. The Belgian Tripel would have been good alone, the added strawberries blew it out of this atmosphere. And my favorite, Titletown's Green 19 IPA. I have a real love/hate relationship with IPA's, but I'm loving this one. The only beer I went for a second helping, this IPA is slightly spicy but has some bold citrus notes. Awesome. Beers were definitely the highlight of this event, along with the Extra Crispy Brass Band, who ditched the stage for a little bit during the evening and played throughout the crowd. Very Cool. A very special shout out to Yelp, who not only gave out tickets to this as an Elite Ticket Giveaway (which I was a very grateful recipient of), but also had Rachel and friends giving out swag such as koozies and pretzel necklaces. Thanks to them, after my fellow beer nerd friend had to cancel last minute, I got to spend some quality father-son time with the old man. It was great to be able to bring him to an event like this, considering he took me on my first craft brewery tour long before I was of legal age. Yelp is the truth. Keeping this event from a five stars is a couple things. One is the rinsing stations. Like Jennifer B. said, they could benefit from more stations. Even if someone would just go around and refill the water containers and dump the pails, that would be just fine. After about a hour in, my glass went without rinsing through many tastes and I got carpal tunnel from shaking out my glass so much to get those last little drops out before the next glass. Good thing I started off with the squid ink beer. Another thing was the food. While they had some good options, I had my first bit of trouble in my new life as a Pesco-Vegetarian. I try to stay away from meat totally, but it was almost impossible. I keep my eating of fish to a minimum, but I would have settled for some if they had it. Almost everything had non-fish meat in it, from all 5 vendors represented. I ended up eating beer battered cheese curds and cheese pizza (how's that for clogging the arteries). While I wasn't expecting much in the way of food, it could have been a little more diverse than it was. If you don't eat meat, make sure to fill up before the fest. This fest is the real deal, and I'll be back!

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    Great opportunity to taste different styles of beers and hang with friends! Many Brewers from Wisconsin and even home brewers!

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    Review Highlights - Firkin Fest

    A variety of notable and up-and-coming breweries setup camp in Cathedral Square Park in downtown Milwaukee.

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    Brady Street Festival - Brady St Festival, mid afternoon, 7/30/22.

    Brady Street Festival

    4.1(24 reviews)
    0.9 miLower East Side, East Village

    Brady Street Festival 2022 was back and people were out with a vengeance. I was in New Orleans this…read morepast spring, and I don't think Bourbon Street on a Saturday night holds a candle to the frenetic drunk energy on Saturday night at Brady Street Festival, actually. Pros- One of the most diverse festivals in Milwaukee, good food vendors, good music lineups, good artisan vendors Cons- Overly Crowded, sprawling, a drunk fest with music (as an aside?), a surcharge on credit cards at Festival drink tents, people getting overserved Dryhootch Veterans house had a great R&B Veterans band, good food- Nomad staff were working hard and had a great party out back, as well. The main music stages have good local acts in a variety of styles, such as Negative Positive, Browns Crew, GuhGuhGoldDuhDuh (haha) throughout the day. I got some great tacos, and Elotes Mexican Street Corn. There is a lot of good food vendors here. Brady Street Festival is really great for the bars on Brady- as they set up shop w/slushies, liquor drinks, Mai Tais and the like, and the bars are bustling. But aye, there's the rub- our crowd of music dancers and watchers of De La Buena got physically plowed by people who by 7pm were already...plowed! Of course Brady Street Festival is 100% Brady Street, glad to have you back.

    First time going to The Brady Street Festival it was a good experience. Went with my daughter and…read moremy grandson. Well I wanted to eat some of their food but my daughter said another time, Iwanted some of the waffle fries that was in one of the stands. I had great people saying hi to me, got along fine with some people there. Got a free shirt but just walking by a shirt stand. Thank you, at least they was nice. Maybe if they have the Festival again for next year I'll be there ready for anything and eat the food, have more fun. Stay a bit longer. Love that they had bikers doing great stunts and the guys that with the drums doing stepping music. Took a pic of The Godfathers picture they had outside a restaurant. Thank you.

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    Brady Street Festival - Brady St Festival, mid afternoon, looking east, 7/30/22.

    Brady St Festival, mid afternoon, looking east, 7/30/22.

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    Festa Italiana - Dick Contino with Sally Jackson and Rita Rinelli at the Festa Italiana.

    Festa Italiana

    3.3(12 reviews)
    0.6 miHistoric Third Ward

    My first Festa Italiana in over 10 years and it's still an okay fest. I found free street parking…read morenearby- but most parking within easy walking distance is just $8. Buy tix ahead of time online to save a few bucks, or check for deals, like bringing in a red Sendik's bag for free admission. This small fest is nice that it's not that crowded, and has a mix of Italian cultural elements, with normal entertainment options. I enjoyed getting caught up in a parade with the UW marching band, Festa dignitaries in old cars, some Firenze drill team, and oversized puppets. There's lots of wine here, but few good beer options. Food options are limited and fairly pricey. I had a good but small entree of lasagna w/vodka sauce from diCarlo's, and also some excellent roast corn. Of the better non-Italian entertainment, the Heart cover band Dog 'n' Butterfly was excellent, and Gin Blossoms weren't bad, as their set overlapped an excellent fireworks display that could be heard for miles and miles, apparently.

    This was my first time attending the Festa Italians, wish I knew you could bring a sendiks bag…read moreinstead of paying $13. I was a bit disappointed after finding that out but then again I decided last minute to stop by. Easy parking right across from the entrance which was $10, not a lot of selection for food. And not that many venue were there, I was told it's fun at night however I made it there 3 or 4pm in the afternoon. The roast corn was pretty good (I didn't get to have any my friend did) love the mini donuts which I had 7 of those :). Overall it was just okay.

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    Summerfest - A sustainable straw!!

    Summerfest

    3.7(253 reviews)
    0.8 miHistoric Third Ward

    Summerfest is what you make of it. For us, it's evolved over the years! We've gone twice this…read moreyear for shorter periods of time to see specific bands, one at the BMO pavilion and a few at the U.S. Cellular stage. We enjoyed listening to a few other bands as we walked around. The Latin music day was fun - loved the energy, and people were really enjoying it. Bonus points for having an NA beer option available and easier to locate this year! Lots of great food and drink options available, as always. The very high prices for food and beverages are a bit of a bummer. At least dropping the price of bottled water would be a nice move. Since we know what to expect with prices, we tend to just eat before and then enjoy on something fun vs have our whole meal there, and avoid the super pricey drinks. Our favorite things to do every year are to take stroll by the lakefront, ride the sky glider, enjoy a "famous" Saz's sampler platter together, and of course catch lots of live music. We tend to splurge and park in a well-lit lot close by so it's easy in and easy out, but we've also taken the Connect bus from Tosa in the past. The bar and restaurant shuttles are a great option we will probably explore next year. Downloading the app is great to check out stage schedules and find your favorite eats. We used it for our tickets this year as well. We felt like the grounds were clean, bathrooms were clean and lines weren't too long, and security kept the entry lines moving quickly, and we had a great experience the nights we attended. We'll be back!

    As a life-long Milwaukeean, I've had plenty of experiences over the years at the World's Largest…read moreMusic Festival. I go back and forth on my excitement to attend, because being so large, there can certainly be unruly crowds, wildly long lines, and a bit of chaos. But hey I guess that's any festival! This year we decided to get tickets to a concert at the Amphitheater and walk the grounds beforehand. Honestly overall it was a fantastic night! We were with a group of nine people on a Friday night, and surprisingly it was easy to get through the crowds. We really enjoyed checking out this years vendors scattered about, stopping at various small stages to see the acts, and of course indulging in food and drink. Are prices astronomical, however? Beyond. Definitely be prepared to spend plenty of money - a simple canned beer or slice of pizza will set ya back. I was impressed with how quick the entrance process was on this visit. I feel like the staff was on point keeping things swift, safe, and easy. Parking on the other hand is always a tough one, so highly rec taking a shuttle from a local bar/restaurant (which is what we did). The easiest and cheapest option for sure! It's honestly great to see the tourism this fest brings to Milwaukee, and all of the local love it shares. Definitely puts our wonderful city on the map.

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    Riverwest24

    Riverwest24

    4.8(11 reviews)
    2.1 miRiverwest

    It's so great to see a community of people who work together to help make this event happen year to…read moreyear. Talk about a group people who love celebrating for more than just 24 hours. I had a chance to experience this event on a reservoir rd aka twizzler alley this is an open road event with intersection spotters at a few locations hopefully in the future they could have more volunteers help warn bikers as they approach some of the most heavily traveled sections day and night. it made me nervous watching how fast they go and how easy a collision can occur Riverwest is a community that cares. Roll on Thank you sponsors and community volunteers! 36/2016

    RW24 is as good as the soul of a city can breathe out! It is the culmination of good vibes and…read moremasterful planning, uh hum, or at least flying by the seat of your pants. My Milwaukee neighborhood of Riverwest is alive more than usual for a full 24 hours of parties and camaraderie. Anywhere you walk the streets are shut down or at least barricaded off. A buzz is in the air from an event so killer, only a Milwaukee neighborhood nestled on the West side of the river could dare pull it off. All things Riverwest are in full swing, all hands on deck for a truly good time. Most streets are a mayhem of elated pandemonium to show the world or at least Wisconsin how much it means for a neighborhood to come together. Some sleep and others don't. Either way by the time the 24 is up any involved are feeling it. Long live the RW24!

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    Booth st check point

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    Oktoberfest Milwaukee

    Oktoberfest Milwaukee

    4.2(33 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$

    Great atmosphere, nice selection of beers but unfortunately the food is definitely not as good as…read moreseveral years ago. The $25 half chicken was overcooked and dry, and since last year the $30 pork wasn't so good we didn't even try it. However, the entertainment was nice and overall very enjoyable.

    It's been a long time since I've been to this Oktoberfest. Finally made a return over the weekend…read moreand totally forgot what a big, electric crowd it brings! Parking was a wild time, as they were directing people to an entirely different lot down the way, so it was a bit of hike to get to the entrance. Once we parked, we waited in like for 10 minutes or to get through the gates. I was tipped off the downland the Bavarian's app ahead of time, which got me $5 off my entry (and it was free from my little kiddo in tow). If you're looking for all the great German beer, German music, and German cuisine, this is your place! It's so fun to see how many attendees dress to theme in their lederhosens, dirndls, and hats. Some of the staff dress up as well, and of course those preforming on stage! We came to find out this isn't the greatest fest to take young kids, as the crowds are big, the lines are long, and the music (be it so fun and festive), is really loud. I'm sure we would have stayed longer if it was an adult-only trip. In any case, the food and drink are fare price. I'm now regretting not ordering the traditional pretzel and sausage options, but splitting a tasty platter of tenders and fries with my son hit the spot. Being pregnant, I'm not drinking, but friends we were with has nothing but great things to say about their German pints. The beer steins are of course an option which is a fun touch. Hot tip: if you can book a table reservation ahead of time, do so! That's what we did and it was a good call since this place is poppin. Happy official Fall! Enjoy!

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    Jazz in the Park - Now it's really summer!

    Jazz in the Park

    4.6(21 reviews)
    0.1 miEast Town, Downtown
    $

    This summer event is free and very much worth it. With perfect weather, my co-workers and I enjoyed…read morea lovely evening at Cathedral Square Park. Makes you wonder why you had not done this before. Everybody brings a cooler or a basket with food; and the event organizers kindly ask that you purchase your beverages with the vendors. That's how the can make a profit and support the event (makes sense). Drinks are about $6 per cup. This is my first "Jazz in the Park" and I'll definitely come better prepared next time. Besides my chair, I'll bring a book (for the wait) and snacks! There weren't really many options this time. Happy "Jazz in the Park"! Fun fact: "Jazz in the Park" has its own mascot! You can see it dancing around the park. Great for kids!

    "who played last night?" "oh, God, how do I know? It's not…read morelike I ever go to hear the music." I didn't start going to jazz until i moved away from Cathedral Square (well, so I'm 12 blocks away now instead of 1 block,) but I still feel like this is my neighborhood gettogether (as opposed to say, chill on the hill or tosa tonight.) So in the interest of repping home base and all, I have to increase it to 5 stars. That, and really, does summer in milwaukee get any better than sitting on the grass in cathedral square with a bottle of wine (Louises will even deliver a whole pizza to your staked out spot,) or roaming the grounds with a watermelon mojito in hand? I think not. It's always better the hotter the weather gets. There's all kinds of other stuff available for purchase, from kettle corn to beer and wine to tacos to risotto! And you'll see all sorts of milwaukee and neighborhood characters here for good measure. Disclaimer: the music and performers are generally very good...but I'm just more there for the festive atmosphere. Be sure to stop in one of the neighboring restaurants or bars around the square before or definitely after Jazz in the Park ends for the full effect. See you there!

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    Jazz in the Park
    Jazz in the Park
    Jazz in the Park

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    Firkin Fest - festivals - Updated May 2026

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