The Milwaukee Night Market is one of my favorite events in the summer/fall in MKE. The music,…read morepeople, variety of food, crafts & clothing booths make it so easy worth while. I love that you can park in the Avenue parking structure for $3 for 3 hours! Such a steal when trying to figure out where do that downtown. Everyone who works the event is so friendly, it's extremely clean and well organized. You need to check this out! Only a few nights a summer!

This is a cool little thing that I'm glad we have, as long as people don't make trouble. They block…read moreoff several blocks of Wisconsin Ave with tons of vendors, giving it a farmers' market type vibe. Having traveled throughout Southeast Asia, I'm glad we have something comparable to the fun, safe experiences I've had over there. I just wish we could gather in large numbers as peacefully as they do over there.

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.

Love Germanfest. They have the best food, the best beer and the best music of all the summer…read morefestivals. Tip-if you have military id, you and a family member can in for free any day or time during the festival.

We attended German Fest last weekend and had a great time!…read moreWe got to see the opening tapping of the Fest Keg and listened to many speeches before the keg was tapped. There was even a short play about waking up who appeared to be the village idiot by people wearing green fur capes with hats with really long feathers in them!! Lots of food and music and what was most relaxing of all, was finding a picnic table in the shade, overlooking Lake Michigan, with a delicious cup of Fest Bier. I love these grounds which also are home to the famous Summerfest. It's nice to be able to take a break and find a table to just sit at and watch the lake after a busy day of stage-hopping and eating and drinking the featured victuals. This is a great fest to explore German food and culture. The only bummer was no one actually played all the Alpine Horns I saw being carted around!

2025 update: Bastille Days is better than ever. I Stormed the Bastille again! A race that jumps off…read moreat 9pm on night 1 of the Festival, over 5,000 runners/walkers participated this year. It's a fun one that goes through the streets of Milwaukee and ends with a free beer/water. The food was better than ever this year, as Lupi & Iris and others joined the vendors. It's easy to find great full meals and lots to snack on, including beignets. Entertainment was great with Radio Radio 80s, Robin Pluer a fest favorite for 36 years, and Hot N Crispy Brass Band brings a NOLA style to the music. You can take the Hop to Bastille Days. If you haven't been to one of Milwaukee's best ethnic festivals in awhile, Allons-Y!

Loved our first Bastille Days! We have always had something going every year so we finally got to…read moremake it and so happy about it. Loved that they had menus and pricing available beforehand. The only one that was inconsistent (cost more) was the crepe vendor. Wasn't a long wait at most places which was surprising considering the crowd, even on a Sunday. Crepe line was the only one longer and we ended up not waiting for it. Great music at the smaller stage and more rock/acoustic at the main stages. Easy to get free parking a few blocks away and plenty to check out. Will definitely be back and aim for a Friday or Saturday to see the can-can dancers!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

Five stars all the way for yet another addition to the Milwaukee festival arena. The Walkers Point…read more5th Street Festival is literally an extravaganza of phenomenal proportions. Taking place on the economic mecca known as Fifth Street this event is seeing its second season in production. It is also experiencing the revitalization of an area that was once a desolate section of Milwaukee with next to not much in it as many neighborhoods once were. The whole street is shut down and blocked off to traffic, for just this one special day. The North stage and South stage server as the pillars between everything that lie within. From Nomad, Hamburger Mary's, Mob Craft Beer and Fuel Café, to name a few, along with Milwauke staples like Too Much Rock for One Hand or the Var Gallery, this is another stellar representation of all things Milwaukee. For this particular day one couldn't ask for much more than what it was, crisp, sunny and cool. The street was alive and there was plenty of people soaking up the first official day of fall. Walkers Fifth Street Festival is morphing into holding its own down in the slightly hipster-ish and oh so trendy scene of Walker's Point. Keep this going! It's a good thing indeed!