Isthmus' 2026 summer festival calendar: August

Don't forget to fest before summer's end.

by

Arts

Let's face it: For many, it's been difficult to feel festive in Madison recently, for very valid reasons. But making time for joy is also important and often, these events support community programs. Summer events large and small offer the chance to hear a band for the first time, cheat on your diet with some fair food, enjoy an arts and crafts market, and many other activities. 

Our annual roundup of summer activities is split between festivals in Madison and around Dane County, as well as those farther afield. We're trying something a bit different this year in breaking up the calendar into sections to make it a bit easier to navigate, but you can also find the whole summer posted here. More detailed schedules for music-focused fests can be found as they are announced in the calendar listings and our music/arts summer calendar post. It's advisable to check event websites and social media for last-minute schedule changes or potential cancellations. Updates to these lists will continue all summer as more information is announced; changes and new events can be emailed to [email protected]. 

Dane County

Next Level Park Street Music Fest: Peboga showcase, 3:30-8 p.m., Aug. 1, Madison Labor Temple, with health screenings; also, 5K run 9 a.m. pebogaorg.com.

North Star Fest: North Star Neighborhood Assn. event, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Aug. 1, Pocket Park, Madison, with kids' activities, food carts, music. facebook.com/northstarfest.

Belleville Music Festival: 1-9 p.m., Aug. 1, Community Park, Belleville, plus food/beer vendors. bellevillemusicfestival.com.

National Mustard Day: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 1, National Mustard Museum, Middleton, with music, kids' activities, food. mustardmuseum.com.

Madison Comedy Week: Aug. 3-8, various venues, Madison. madisoncomedyweek.net.

Art on Main: Plein air painting competition, art market and more, Aug. 7-8, Main Street, Cambridge. wisconsinarthub.com.

Black Earth Field Days: Aug. 7-8, Community Park, Black Earth, with parade noon and fireworks at dusk on Saturday. facebook.com/BEventsBEWI.

Utica Fest: Aug. 7-9, Utica Community Association Park, Utica (between Cambridge & Stoughton) with softball tournament, tractor/truck pulls, music, raffles, beer tent. facebook.com/UticaParkWisconsin.

Samtalä | Musicians in Dialogue: Formerly Stoughton Chamber Music Festival: Aug. 8, Stoughton Library (kids' concert); Aug. 14-15, Stoughton Opera House; Aug. 21-22, Chorus Public House, all in Stoughton. samtalamusic.org.

Future Ghost Fest: All-ages music/camping fest, noon-11 p.m., Aug. 8, The Vines, Sauk City. futureghost.club.

Ride the Drive: Car-free streets for riding, walking, skating, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Aug. 9, Madison; activities at Lakefront Porch Park, McPike Park and Capitol Square. ridethedrive.com. 608-266-4711.

Schenk's Corners Block Party: 5-10 p.m. on Aug. 14 and 3-10 p.m., Aug. 15, outside Alchemy Cafe. facebook.com/schenksblockparty.

Agora Art Fair: 100+ artists, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 15, 5500 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Fitchburg, with music, Cycropia Aerial Dance, kite exhibit, food, beer. agoraartfair.com. 608-277-2606.

Eken Park Festival: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Aug. 15, Eken Park, Madison, with music, kids’ activities. facebook.com/ekenparkfest.

Africa Fest: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Aug. 15 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Aug. 16, McPike Park, Madison. Entertainment, vendors, food. africanassociationofmadison.org. 608-258-0261.

Stoughton Coffee Break Festival: 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Aug. 15, Racetrack Park, Stoughton. stoughtonwi.com. 608-873-7912.

Gandy Dancer Festival: Noon-8 p.m., Aug. 15, Westland Promenade, Mazomanie, with bluegrass music, kids' entertainment & activities, demonstrations, exhibits, food. gandydancerfestival.org.

Curd Fest: Fresh & fried creations, 3-6 p.m., Aug. 15, Breese Stevens Field, Madison, plus music by RailHopper and Finding North, food carts, kids' activities, contests, demonstrations. Early entry at 1:30 p.m. available. breesestevensfield.com.

Magic Pride Festival: OutReach LGBTQ celebration, 1-6 p.m., Aug. 16, Warner Park, Madison. outreachmagicfestival.org.

Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival: Aug. 19-23, Angell Park, Sun Prairie. Sweet corn sold Saturday and Sunday. sunprairiecornfest.com. 608-837-4547.

Ukraine Fest: Friends of Ukraine-Madison Ukrainian Independence Day celebration, Aug. 22, Olin Park, with entertainment, kids' activities, vendors, food. friendsofukrainemadison.org.

Wisconsin Pottery Association Show & Sale: Annual event, with 50-plus dealers, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Aug. 22, Alliant Energy Center, Madison. wisconsinpottery.org.

Black on State: Annual block party, 6-9 p.m., Aug. 22, top of State Street. instagram.com/blackonstate.

Middleton Good Neighbor Festival: Aug. 28-30, Middleton High School, Middleton, with arts and crafts, carnival, music stages. goodneighborfestival.com. 800-688-5694.

Orton Park Festival: Marquette Neighborhood Association fundraiser, Aug. 28-30, Orton Park, Madison. marquette-neighborhood.org.

Road trips

Art & Chalk Fest: Juried arts/crafts festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 1-2, Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend, with music, kids' activities, food. Free admission. artchalkfest.com. 262-247-9638.

Black Arts Fest MKE: Celebrating African & African American culture, noon-10 p.m., Aug. 1, Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee. blackartsfestmke.com.

Tallman Arts Festival: Artisans, food and entertainment, Aug. 1-2, Lincoln-Tallman House, Janesville. rchs.us. 608-756-4509.

Firefest: Kids' activities, food, noon-8 p.m., Aug. 2, New Glarus Fire Department. facebook.com/NewGlarusFire.

Volksfest: Swiss Independence Day celebration, noon, Aug. 2, Wilhelm Tell Shooting Park, New Glarus. facebook.com/VolkFestNewGlarus.

Door County Jazz Festival: Aug. 2-8, various locations, Door County. doorcountyjazzfestival.com.

Peninsula Music Festival: Symphony Series: Aug. 4-22, Door Community Auditorium, Fish Creek. musicfestival.com.

Paint the Point: Annual plein air art competition, Aug. 5-8, Mineral Point, with 40+ artists; observers welcome. Saturday: Quick paint competition 8 a.m., art show & sale 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 304 High St. artsmp.org.

People Fest: Aug. 6-8, Driftless Music Gardens, Yuba, with People Brothers Band, many others. driftlessmusicgardens.com.

Green Lake County Fair: Aug. 6-9, Fairgrounds, Green Lake. greenlake.extension.wisc.edu/fair. 920-294-4032.

Wisconsin State Fair: Gates open 8 a.m., Aug. 6-16, State Fair Park, West Allis, with agricultural and commercial exhibits, carnival, entertainment and more. Headliners: Hairball, Aug. 6; Nelly, Aug. 7; Bailey Zimmerman, Aug. 8; Wynonna Judd, Melissa Etheridge, Aug. 9; For King + Country, Rachael Lampa, Aug. 10; Isley Brothers, Commodores, Aug. 11; John Mulaney, Aug. 12; All-American Rejects, Aug. 13; Lindsey Stirling, PVRIS, Aug. 14; AJR, Aug. 15; Beach Boys, Aug. 16 wistatefair.com. 800-884-FAIR.

XRoads41: Music festival, Aug. 6-8, Oshkosh Festivals Park, Oshkosh. xroads41.com.

Wisconsin Square and Round Dance Convention: Aug. 7-9, Sheraton Convention Center, Brookfield, with workshops, dances. wisquaredanceconvention.org.

Third Ward Moon Festival: Historic Third Ward Association event, 5-11 p.m. on Aug. 7, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Aug. 8 and 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Aug. 9, Catalano Square area, Milwaukee, with music, dance, visual art, kids' activities, vendors. historicthirdward.org.

Covered Bridge Days: Aug. 7-9, throughout Brodhead, with music tractor pull, food. brodheadchamber.com. 608-897-8411.

White Oak Folk Fest: Aug. 7-9, White Oak Savanna Events Farm, Dodgeville. whiteoakfolkfest.com.

Shawano Folk Festival: Aug. 7-9, Mielke Park, Shawano, with evening concerts 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, daytime music and workshops starting 10 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. shawanofestival.org.

Green Lake Fine Art Show: More than 70 artists, Aug. 8-9, Town Square Community Center, Green Lake. greenlaketownsquare.org.

Glass Arts Festival: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 8, Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, Neenah, with juried exhibition, music, kids' activities, glassblowing demos. bmmglass.com.

Vibe High: Music/arts camping festival for all ages, Sept. 11-13, Sweet Minihaha Campground, Brodhead, with live painting by Chuck Hues, kids' activities, vendors. vibehighproductions.com.

Milwaukee Irish Fest: Aug. 13-16, Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee. Irish festival with dance, music, food. irishfest.com. 414-476-3378.

LarryFest: Kickapoo Valley Music Association bluegrass music & camping festival, Aug. 13-15, S2096 24 Valley Road, La Farge. larryfest.org.

Cradle of American Haiku Festival: Aug. 14-16, Mineral Point. facebook.com/events/929234416654201.

Oconomowoc Festival of Arts: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 15-16, Fowler Park, Oconomowoc. Juried exhibition of works by 110 artists, on the lake, with three music stages, food. oconomowocarts.org.

Juneau County Fair: Aug. 19-23, Mauston. juneaucountyfair.com. 608-547-2426.

Grant County Fair: Aug. 19-23, Lancaster. Grandstand Wednesday: stock car racing; Thursday: monster trucks; Friday: motorcycle supercross racing; Saturday: tractor/truck pull; Sunday: demo derby. funonforty.co.grant.wi.gov. 608-723-2135.

Dodge County Fair: Aug. 19-23, Beaver Dam. Grandstand Wednesday: Badger State Truck/Tractor Pull;  Thursday: Phil Vassar; Friday: Vincent Mason; Saturday: George Thorogood; Sunday: truck pull & demo derby. dodgecountyfairgrounds.com. 920-885-3586.

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival: Aug. 20-22, The Fitzgerald and Pabst Theater, Milwaukee. freshcoastjazz.com.

Wilhelm Tell Festival: Aug. 21-23, Wilhelm Tell Grounds and downtown New Glarus. wilhelmtellfestival.org. 608-527-2095.

Mexican Fiesta: Noon-midnight, Aug. 21-23, Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds), Milwaukee. mexicanfiesta.org. 414-383-7066.

Avrom Farm Party: Music, camping & food festival, Aug. 21-23, Avrom Farm, Ripon. Headliners: Friday: NNAMDI: Saturday: Indigo Di Souza. avromfarmparty.com.

Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club Show: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 21-23, show grounds north of Baraboo. Vintage ag/industrial equipment (parade at 2 p.m. daily), big flea market. badgersteamandgas.com.

Potosi Brewfest: Aug. 22, Holiday Gardens Event Center, Potosi, with 60-plus vendors, music, games. potosibrewery.com.

New Glarus Art in the Park: Annual event, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 22, Village Park, New Glarus, with music, food & drink. newglarusartinthepark.com.

Central Wisconsin State Fair: Aug. 25-30, Fairgrounds Park, Marshfield. Grandstand Wednesday: Hairball; Thursday: Home Free; Friday: Chris Young; Saturday: Blackberry Smoke; Sunday: C. Check Bucking Bulls. centralwisconsinstatefair.com.

Crawford County Fair: Aug. 27-30, Fairgrounds, Gays Mills. crawfordcountywisconsinfair.com.

Great River Folk Festival: Aug. 28-30, Riverside Park, LaCrosse; headliner: Watkins Family Hour. greatriverfolkfest.org.

Country in the Burg: 5:45 p.m., Aug. 28-29 Cedar Creek Park, Cedarburg. countryintheburg.com.

Soil Fest: UW Soil Health & Agroecological Living Lab and Savanna Sanctuary event, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 29, White Oak Savanna Events Farm, Dodgeville, with 5K 9 a.m., kids' activities, music. Free. savannasanctuary.org.