Festivals and events around the Midwest and Northern Wisconsin

dosekies

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Instead of one big trip this year, we are thinking of taking a couple of long weekend vacations throughout the year. I was thinking of trying to find some fun festivals or events that we could base our trips around. We frequently visit northern Wisconsin around the Rhinelander area, so anything driving distance from that would be cool. Or anything that could be a weekend trip within driving distance from where we live in the Chicago suburbs!
 
Instead of one big trip this year, we are thinking of taking a couple of long weekend vacations throughout the year. I was thinking of trying to find some fun festivals or events that we could base our trips around. We frequently visit northern Wisconsin around the Rhinelander area, so anything driving distance from that would be cool. Or anything that could be a weekend trip within driving distance from where we live in the Chicago suburbs!

Have you ever driven up from Chicago to Milwaukee for Summerfest? Huge music festival every summer (end of June/beg of July), lots of stages. Or the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis in August? Or the Bristol Renaissance Fair - shouldn't be far for you.

The Wisconsin Dells are always fun in the summer!
 

Have you ever driven up from Chicago to Milwaukee for Summerfest? Huge music festival every summer (end of June/beg of July), lots of stages. Or the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis in August? Or the Bristol Renaissance Fair - shouldn't be far for you.

The Wisconsin Dells are always fun in the summer!

I haven't been to Summeriest in forever, so I am hoping there are some good bands this summer to go see! And the Ren Fair is fantastic! We go at least 2 times each summer. Didn't even think about the Dells, that would be a good little getaway.
 
I love the Wisconsin State Fair in Milwaukee. We drove up every year from the Chicago area. The Taste of Madison is also fun. We go early and go to the Farmers market and then relax before the taste begins. It's all around the capital building.

Our other two favorite fests are Irish Fest and Indian Summer Festival that take place on the fairgrounds in Milwaukee.

We have also had fun driving to Louisville which isn't too far from Chicago. We toured the Slugger factory, Churchill Downs and a few other things.
 
Hmm well there is Kansas City Irish Fest (as well as Weston, MO's one), Kansas City Renaissance festival, the Missouri State Fair and Kansas State Fairs (haven't been in a few years though so don't know if they are still good or not), there's multiple cities around me that do ___ {insert city's name) days like Old Shawnee Days, Old Settlers Day (for Olathe), Santa-Cali-Gon Days festival (Oregon trail celebration type thing) there's the Overland Park Fall Festival, the American Royal (BBQ related but has carnival rides, etc), etc

Throughout the above though some things are much larger than other things but depending on the weekend you could have several overlapping festivals
 
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There's always Door County in northeastern WI. Just beautiful with lots of wineries and such. They typically have an apple/cherry blossom festival some point. Lots of festivals for other events all throughout the year as well. If you're into Polish food/polkas, our little town (Pulaski, WI just north of Green Bay) has Polka Days every July. It's a 4-day festival culminating in a LOOOONG parade on Sunday.
 
We really like the Cedarburg Strawberry festival. Also if you are an art fan and haven't been to the Lakefront of Festival of Art in Milwaukee I'd recommend it.
 
There is the food and wine fest at Kohler in late October, about an hour north of Milwaukee.
 
You are a train ride away from Holland and Grand Rapids Mi. It is a beautiful ride. We have Tulip Festival the first week of May in Holland. At the end of Aug into Oct we have Art Prize in Grand Rapids. Beautiful city filled with art and artists from around the world open to public judging.
 




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