Milwaukee may be the city of festivals — but Wisconsin is essentially the state of festivals.
There are about two dozen music festivals happening around the state from May through August that will draw artists from around the world, and will cover the most popular genres — country, metal, hip-hop, EDM, pop, rock — sometimes, all at the same fest.
But in a state stuffed with music festivals, which ones are worth checking out? We’ve got a full list of the highest-profile Wisconsin music festivals happening this summer (see below), but there are eight in particular that are poised to be the best of the bunch, in chronological order.
Created by Jack Koshick and primarily taking place at the Rave every year from 1987 to 2004, and again in 2007, Milwaukee Metal Fest has enjoyed a second life under the ownership of one of its biggest fans and most frequent performers, Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed. This will be its third consecutive year at the Rave under Jasta’s ownership, with 74 acts playing over three days.
Lineup highlights: Jasta himself will participate in a Stormbreeders of Death (S.O.D.) tribute set alongside Anthrax’s Scott Ian. Costumed band GWAR is doing a special 40th anniversary set. Supergroup Down, led by Pantera’s Phil Anselmo, will also headline, while the Dillinger Escape Plan will perform „Calculating Infinity“ in its entirety.
When and where: May 16 to 18, the Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee.
Price: $75 to $250 per day, $150 for two-day passes, $195 to $750 for three-day passes, at therave.com. A pre-party concert May 16 is free to attend with two-day and three-day passes.
Chippewa Valley Music Festivals, the Cadott company behind long-running Rock Fest and rebranded Hoofbeat (known before this year as Country Fest), are stepping into electronic dance music for the first time this year via Force Fields, locking in some A-list DJs to get the new festival off to a strong start.
Lineup highlights: It’s hard to top the popularity of Marshmello and Rezz, who will headline the first and second nights, respectively, with Liquid Stranger, RL Grime and Flux Pavilion among the most noted names on the bill.
When and where: June 6 and 7, 24447 County Highway S, Cadott.
Price: $89 to $199 for two-day passes available at forcefieldsfestival.com, with additional add-on options, camping passes and more available.
Wisconsin has been the unexpected site of some artist-centered festivals, including Creed’s second annual „Summer of ’99 and Beyond Festival“ at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy this July. But Florida native T-Pain has been hosting Wiscansin Fest in Milwaukee for four years and counting, for good reason: He made „mansion“ rhyme with „Wiscansin“ in his 2008 hit „Can’t Believe It,“ inspiring not only the festival, but a clothing line and funny fake Wiscansin University website.
Lineup highlights: T-Pain has used his connections to assemble a unique lineup year after year, but this fourth installment may be the most inspired yet, including two acts, Colombian artist Feid and R&B veteran Keyshia Cole, who are accustomed to headlining arenas. Other highlights include hip-hop veterans Pusha T, Wale and Jermaine Dupri; rising rapper GloRilla, who headlined a sold-out Eagles Ballroom show at the Rave in March; NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, who’s doing a DJ set behind stage name Diesel; plus Milwaukee artists Djay Mando and NileXNile.
When and where: June 14, the Rave.
Price: $78 to $438.
It’s touted as one of the largest and longest-running music festivals in the world, with 600 artists playing 12 official stages over nine days. But what makes Summerfest, celebrating its 57th anniversary in 2025, special is its wide-ranging lineup that aspires to offer something for everyone.
Lineup highlights: Country and Americana superstars Lainey Wilson and the Lumineers; revered veterans James Taylor, Def Leppard and the Killers; and Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hitmakers Megan Thee Stallion, Hozier and Benson Boone are among the headliners at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest’s largest venue. But the side stage lineup is particularly stellar this year, including Gary Clark Jr. and the Isley Brothers as part of a first-ever Juneteenth celebration; rising Afrobeats star Ayra Starr; potential 2025 song-of-summer contender Alex Warren; what’s likely to be the final Milwaukee appearance by Devo; and the first concert in 12 years from Fountains of Wayne.
When and where: June 19 to 21, 26 to 28 and July 3 to 5, Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee.
Price: $30 for single-day general-admission ticket. $63 for three-day general-admission pass. $130 for nine-day general-admission pass. $75 for single-day Level Up deck access at Miller Lite Oasis, single-day pit access at Miller Lite Oasis or single-day Generac Power Stage pit access (includes same-day Summerfest general admission). Prices vary for reserved seats at the BMO Pavilion, and for tickets to American Family Insurance Amphitheater concerts, which include same-day Summerfest general admission. Tickets are available at the box office and summerfest.com
A decade ago this summer, Minneapolis-based Americana band Pert Near Sandstone launched the Blue Ox Music Festival across the border in Eau Claire, using the band’s connections to amass a rich lineup of acts in the folk, bluegrass, Americana and alt-country realm — including several Wisconsin bands — and this 10th anniversary edition is no exception.
Lineup highlights: Beyond the customary Pert appearance, Blue Ox boasts singer-songwriter Margo Price, crowd-thrilling soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones, rising bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle and former Allman Brothers Band guitarist and Gov’t Mule founding member Warren Haynes — plus lots of winning Wisconsin acts including Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Them Coulee Boys, Ben Mulwana, Armchair Boogie, Long Mama and Ladybird.
When and where: June 26 to 28, The Pines Music Park, 5024 Crescent Ave., Eau Claire.
Price: $139 per day, $259 for two days, $269 for three days at blueoxmusicfestival.com, with additional VIP packages and camping passes available.
Every five years, Harley-Davidson used to rev its engines in its hometown with a huge bash that included booking music’s biggest stars, including Bruce Springsteen and, controversially, Elton John. But for the past three summers, Harley has hosted a Homecoming Festival, with the centerpiece each time being a two-day music festival in Veterans Park. This year, Harley is going all-in on country and Americana music — arguably boasting the strongest lineup among Wisconsin’s many country music festivals this year.
Lineup highlights: Superstar Chris Stapleton will close out Night Two, with Hank Williams Jr. handling headlining duties on Night One. But the undercard carries a lot of weight, including buzzy Americana acts Treaty Oak Revival, Charles Wesley Godwin, Turnpike Troubadours and Sierra Ferrell.
When and where: July 10 to 13, various locations, Milwaukee, with the centerpiece music festival taking place July 11 and 12 at Veterans Park (1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive)
Price: $139 to $370 per day, $149 to $570 for two-day tickets, at hdhomecoming.com, with add-on experiences available.
Pronounced „Crossroads 41,“ the Oshkosh event is one of the newer fest offerings in the state, debuting just last year, but its already declared itself a heavyweight with its year two lineup.
Lineup highlights: Primarily featuring country artists last year, but with classic rockers Journey closing it out, XRoads41 leans even heavier into country in 2025 with superstars Cody Johnson, Kane Brown and Parker McCollum as its headliners, and buzzy artists like Jessie Murph and Koe Wetzel on the undercard. But it’s the unexpected outliers that continue to distinguish XRoads41 from its peers; this year, the lineup includes Nelly (no stranger to country) and, a bit more surprising, Flo Rida.
When and where: Aug. 7 to 9, 4125 S. Washburn St., Oshkosh.
Price: $109 to $209 per day, $159 to $589 for three-day passes, at xroads41.com, with additional add-ons and camping passes available
One of the most distinctive music festivals in Wisconsin — and possibly the country — and certainly one of the best values, Mile of Music again will boast some 200 artists playing at 40 different venues on a mile-long stretch in downtown Appleton — and nearly all of the shows are free.
Lineup highlights: Revealed artists so far hail from as far away as the United Kingdom (Lauren Housely & The Northern Cowboys), but there’s plenty of terrific Milwaukee talent on the bill, too, including Reyna, the Delta Routine, Moonglow and Holy Pinto.
When and where: July 31 to Aug. 3, various locations, Appleton
Price: Free, but Mile of Music offers special „Music-Maker Subscriptions“ with a variety of perks, for $175 or $450, at mileofmusic.com.
Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.