When to Visit Milwaukee: A Month-by-Month Guide

While Wisconsin gets a bad rap for its winters (and, truth be told, they are some of the coldest in the country), winter in Milwaukee has its charm. However, warm weather fans are still in luck because the city is filled with festivals, concerts, fairs, and all sorts of unique distractions between spring and fall.

High Season: June to August

Best time for festivals

Warm weather is never guaranteed in Wisconsin; nevertheless, your best bet to avoid the cold is to plan your trip during the summer. Milwaukee is known for its lakefront festivals, and Summerfest, a massive multi-week music festival, draws the largest crowds of out-of-town visitors.

Although Milwaukee is fairly affordable even during high season, expect to pay higher prices during the warm summer months, particularly for accommodations. Downtown Milwaukee and nearby neighborhoods will be the priciest; however, that’s also where you’ll find the most activities.

Shoulder Season: March to May and September to November

Best time for outdoor activities

Cool – but not too cool – weather makes fall and spring the perfect times to explore the city. Milwaukee’s Oak Leaf Trail network offers more than 100 miles of walking and biking trails through urban, suburban, and rural areas, and it passes alongside top attractions like the Milwaukee Art Museum and waterfront parks and restaurants.

Although November and March can sometimes be fairly cold, spring and fall months are generally quite pleasant. As nearly half of the state is covered with trees, Wisconsin is also an ideal destination to catch fall foliage, which usually peaks in late September or early October.

Low Season: December to February

Best time for indoor and artsy events

Winter might be Milwaukee’s slow season, but there’s still plenty to do in town. From holiday markets and ice skating to quirky festivals and winter surfing (yes, really!), you’ll enjoy smaller crowds and lower prices without sacrificing any fun.

January

January is the quietest (and coldest) month of the year in Milwaukee, but for those who can handle the chill, the Polar Bear Plunge is an unforgettable way to ring in the new year – by swimming in icy Lake Michigan with a bunch of strangers!
Key events: Cool Fool Kite Festival, Polar Bear Plunge

February

It’s still freezing outside in February, so Milwaukee keeps the fun indoors. Beer is still the city’s official drink, but with these temperatures, you’re more likely to find hot cider and chocolate.
Key events: Anime Milwaukee, Burnhearts Mitten Fest

March

Higher temperatures mean the snow is beginning to melt just in time for baseball season. In the event that it snows (and it often does in March), the Brewers have a retractable roof on their stadium to keep fans warm and dry.
Key events: St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Brewers’ Opening Day

April

The entire city is in full bloom, and countless gardens and parks are overflowing with tulips, daffodils, and lilacs. Seasonal attractions and walking tours begin opening mid-month.
Key events: Art in Bloom, Milwaukee Film Festival

May

You can begin to feel fairly confident that no snow will fall in Milwaukee this month; however, even if it does, most events are still indoors. For those who prefer outdoor activities, cycling season is getting started.
Key events: Memorial Day

June

Milwaukee’s festival season officially begins in June, with everything from small neighborhood events to community-wide Pride Month celebrations.
Key events: Pride Fest, Juneteenth, Water Lantern Festival

July

Often regarded as the hottest and most humid month of the year, July is the perfect time to kick back and relax at one of Milwaukee’s many beaches. Bradford Beach is near downtown attractions like the Milwaukee Art Museum, making it the perfect place to swim, picnic, bike, or join a game of beach volleyball.
Key events: Riverwest 24 Bike Race, Croatian Fest, Armenian Fest, Milwaukee Brewfest, Festa Italiana

August

There isn’t a weekend without a festival in August, so although the crowds will be thicker, visitors are pretty much guaranteed a good time.
Key events: Wisconsin State Fair, Mexican Fiesta, Milwaukee Fringe Festival, Irish Fest, Waukesha BluesFest, IndiaFest, Bloody Mary Festival

September

Although summer may be over, the weather remains warm and festivals continue in full swing. Milwaukee’s main draw in September is the lakefront festival Summerfest, considered to be the world’s largest outdoor music festival. Summerfest is currently taking place in September, and the organizers may switch it back to summer months at some point in the future. Over at the State Fairgrounds, Harvest Fair gears up for corn mazes, pumpkin carving, and hayrides.
Key events: Summerfest, Third Ward Art Festival, Harvest Fair, Milwaukee Rally

October

Chilly days and even chillier evenings are perfect for exploring Milwaukee by foot or bike. Though the city slows down a bit, you’ll still find at least one festival going on every weekend.
Key events: Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, PrideToberFest, Milwaukee Comedy Festival, Oktoberfest

November

Christmas is significant in Milwaukee, with holiday markets and light displays usually kicking off in late November, including Country Christmas, the state’s largest drive-through holiday light display.
Key events: Holiday Folk Fair International, Country Christmas

December

Aside from the holiday markets, December is a slow – and very cold – month in Milwaukee. The city is essentially shut down on Christmas Day.
Key event: Christkindlmarket