VISIT Milwaukee Launches City of Festivals Campaign

MILWAUKEE — (May 27, 2022) For the first time since 2019, Milwaukee’s summer season will feature a full lineup of festivals, making 2022 the perfect year to experience the City of Festivals.

To help boost attendance and draw in visitors from around the region, VISIT Milwaukee is launching a paid and earned media marketing campaign. 

“Festival season in Milwaukee is a summer-long stream of nonstop smiles and belly laughs,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee. “Even in the pandemic, in 2021, Mexican Fiesta still saw attendance of 85,000 and Irish Fest draws nearly 40 percent of its attendees from the outside market. You better believe the 2022 festival season will be one of Milwaukee’s best to date!”

In celebration of the return to a packed festival schedule, VISIT Milwaukee has teamed up with Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, to provide an “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Tickets” giveaway. The package includes two tickets to Halsey’s July 2 performance at Summerfest’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater, a hotel stays at Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown, round-trip airfare from Spirit Airlines, and restaurant gift cards. To kick off the campaign, VISIT Milwaukee awarded lucky social media followers a package of festival tickets as part of the “Ultimate City of Festivals Giveaway” during National Travel and Tourism Week. 

VISIT Milwaukee will also be sharing entertaining social media content surrounding all the summer fun, launching a paid media campaign, as well as a guide to festival season. The markets targeted by these materials include Chicago, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, and other cities within a six-hour drive of Milwaukee. Finally, VISIT Milwaukee is working with several hyper-talented social media influencers to promote the festivals with engaging and authentic content.

Milwaukee’s festivals run the gamut of fun, ranging from massive cultural celebrations to musical bashes, all of which reflect the many cultures and talents of the community. No matter which festivals you attend, you’ll be sure to have a safe and authentic Milwaukee experience.

Explore the following selection of festivals to give you a taste of what Milwaukee has brewing.

• Art 64, June 3 – June 4. A bracket-style tournament where artists will be asked to create a work of art on a predetermined theme within two hours. 
• PrideFest, June 2 – June 4. Wisconsin’s largest LGBTQ+ festival since 1987 is a highlight of Pride Month.
• Milwaukee Highland Games, June 4. One of Wisconsin’s oldest traditional Scottish celebrations featuring bagpipes, Highland dancing, working sheepdogs and more.
• Polish Fest, June 10 – June 12. A tip of the cap to Milwaukee’s strong and vibrant Polish community with an arts and culture focus.
• Tosa Geek Fest, June 10 – June 12. Milwaukee suburban event in Wauwatosa featuring live Greek music, food, and fun.
• 5th Street Bike Fest, June 11. Celebration of Mexican and Polish influences on the Walker’s Point neighborhood taking place during the last day of Wisconsin Bike Week.
• Summer Soulstice Music Festival, June 18. Soak up the summer sun at this East Side celebration featuring three live music stages, activities for kids, and an arts fair.
• Juneteenth festivities, June 19. In 1971, Juneteenth festivities debuted in Milwaukee, making it one of the first northern cities to honor this holiday remembering when nearly 2,000 troops marched to Galveston Bay, Texas to announce to about 250,000 enslaved Black people that they were finally free.
• Summerfest, June 23 – June 25, June 30 – July 2, July 7 – July 9. “The World’s Largest Music Festival” is a cornerstone to any Milwaukee summer.
• Cedarburg Strawberry Festival, June 25 – June 26. An annual celebration of the sweet red fruit with live music, craft fairs, shopping, children’s activities, contests, and more in charming downtown Cedarburg. 
• Port Fish Day, July 15 – July 16. Annual event north of Milwaukee celebrating Port Washington, one of Wisconsin’s most enchanting Lake Michigan harbor towns.
• Bastille Days, July 14 – July 17. One of the nation’s largest French-themed celebrations featuring everything from can-can dances to a Storm the Bastille 5K.
• Brady Street Fest, July 30. Colossal street party on a popular Milwaukee thoroughfare featuring live music, entertainment, shopping, and more. 
• Milwaukee Brewfest, July 30. McKinley Park event allowing visitors to taste some of the world’s best beer while enjoying the beauty of Lake Michigan.
• German Fest, July 29 – July 31. The landmark 40th anniversary celebration of German culture and traditions features everything from a culture village to a Dachshund Derby Race.
• Wisconsin State Fair, Aug. 4 – Aug. 14. Known as the “best 11 days of summer,” this event offers live music, games, racing pigs, rides, and the iconic cream puff dessert.
• Black Arts Fest MKE, Aug. 6. An homage to African and African American culture in a positive atmosphere unifying people of all ages.
• Milwaukee Irish Fest, Aug. 18 – Aug. 21. The world’s largest celebration of Celtic music and culture all taking place along the shores of Lake Michigan.
• Mexican Fiesta, Aug. 26 – Aug. 28. The sounds, culture, and taste of Mexico come to Milwaukee’s lakefront. 

To view and share engaging City of Festivals graphics, click here. 

ABOUT VISIT MILWAUKEE
VISIT Milwaukee is a community asset that markets the destination as a top choice for business, convention, and leisure travel to national and international visitors to increase the economic impact of tourism in the region. VISIT Milwaukee has over 700 members, including hotels/motels, restaurants, attractions, services, and area businesses. The Wisconsin Center District, which is undergoing a large-scale expansion slated for completion in 2024, and Potawatomi Hotel & Casino are strategic partners with VISIT Milwaukee, providing funding support for conventions and tourism programs. For more information call (800) 554-1448 or visit https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/. 

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.