Eat Your Way Through The State Fair

The 2026 Wisconsin State Fair. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.

Wisconsin State Fair season is upon us!

Get ready for Cream Puffs, bizarre food items, live music and more at Wisconsin State Fair Park for the next couple of weeks. Take a self-guided bike tour of Milwaukee’s East Side with the Rolling Bike Party, and celebrate the Historic Third Ward neighborhood’s 50th birthday at the Third Ward Moon Festival. And if you’re a cat lover, be sure to swing by the Oriental Theatre for CatVideoFest.

August 6-16: Wisconsin State Fair

The aroma of fried food and farm animals has never smelled sweeter than when the Wisconsin State Fair returns to Milwaukee every summer. That time is finally here, and per usual, guests can expect plenty of cream puffs, weird food items, live entertainment and more. Don’t miss out Sporkies and Drinkies Finalist items like the Color-Changing Swamp Juice or Deep-Fried Horchata Balls, and be sure to check out performances by acts like John Mulaney and The Isley Brothers with the Commodores. For a complete list of scheduled events and to purchase tickets, visit the Wisconsin State Fair’s website.

August 7-9: Third Ward Moon Festival

The Historic Third Ward neighborhood is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the Third Ward Moon Festival, an open-air celebration of art, community and creativity. The three-day event will feature larger-than-life public art, live entertainment, vendors and more. Guests can participate in interactive art exhibits and wellness exercises. The event will feature Museum of the Moon, a world-renowned work of art by Luke Jerram, suspended above the Catalano Square fountain. The festival is free to attend and will run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit the Historic Third Ward’s website.

August 7: CatVideoFest 

Do you often find yourself doom scrolling on your phone and stopping to watch every cat video you see? If so, then CatVideoFest is right up your alley. The Oriental Theatre has partnered with Second Hand Purrs to curate a compilation of the best and latest cat videos – from animations to music videos and more – that will be shown on the big screen. All proceeds from sold tickets will be donated to local shelters. CatVideoFest will start at 7 p.m.

August 8: Rolling Bike Party

Summer is fleeting, but it isn’t over yet – there’s still time to get out there and enjoy a bike ride or two. This weekend you can explore Milwaukee’s East Side via the Rolling Bike Party, a self-guided tour that will take cyclists on the Oak Leaf Trail and through neighborhoods while making stops at local businesses along the way. Participating businesses will be offering discounts and family-friendly activities for those who stop. The Rolling Bike Party is a ride-at  your-own-pace experience and will run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit the East Side’s website.

August 9: Red Magic Art Festival

Celebrate Native American heritage and art at the Red Magic Art Festival, a free single-day experience that will take place at Jackson Park. The event will host dozens of Native vendors and performers and will feature family-friendly activities like face painting and interactive art experiences like crafting corn husk dolls. The event will also feature a lineup of food and beverages for sale. For more information, visit the Red Magic Art Festival’s Facebook event page.

August 9: Sopra Mare

If at this point you haven’t had your fill of live music outdoors, the Villa Terrace’s Sopra Mare daytime concert series is back, bringing live music performances to the museum’s courtyard. The free concert series will feature a performance by acoustic bolero group Death is a Business. During the concert, the museum and gardens will be free to access. Villa Terrace will also offer complimentary coffee, and encourages guests to bring their own coffees if preferred. Sopra Mare will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.