Regardless of the weather, there’s always something sizzling, sparkling or singing across the state

If there’s one thing Wisconsin does with aplomb, it’s celebrate. From lantern-lit gardens to brat-filled block parties, the Badger State knows the best way to mark the seasons is together. Parades, fairs, light shows, and festivals don’t just fill the calendar here, they fill theair with laughter, music and that feeling that you’ve arrived somewhere people love to gather.

Across every season, Circle Wisconsin members are the keepers of that spirit. They host some of the Midwest’s most iconic celebrations, heritage parades that roll through historic downtowns, harvest markets where the cider flows freely, and festivals so beloved they’ve become traditions worth traveling for.

Where Every Season Has Its Stage

Some festivals are so quintessentially Wisconsin they might as well come stamped on thewelcome sign. China Lights (Milwaukee) turns autumn nights into a glowing dreamscape, where hundreds of illuminated sculptures shimmer across the gardens. Das Fest USA (Kenosha) raises a stein to Bavarian tradition with oompah bands, bratwurst, and spontaneous polka that can turn anyone into a dancer. When winter rolls around, Rotary Lights (La Crosse) transforms the riverfront into a glowing wonderland of more than three million lights, drawing over a quarter-million visitors each year.

And then there’s Baraboo’s Big Top Parade, where the circus isn’t just history, it’s home. Organized by Circus World Museum and the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce, this summer spectacular parades through downtown with wagons, marching bands, and calliopes, celebrating Baraboo’s legacy as the birthplace of the Ringling Brothers.

At the fabled Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh, the beloved Nutcracker fairytale returns to the Paine “castle” with a mesmerizing array of sights, sounds and surprises. Explore the settings of the story on self-guided tours, guided tours, and candlelight tours. Along the way, each elaborately decorated room of the historic Paine mansion reveals a newchapter of the story. From the opening party scene with a giant Christmas tree to the Land of Sweets and beyond, follow the adventure of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince. As part of your journey, visit the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cupcake Café for a scrumptious treat.

Want acure for those winter blues? Check out one of the premier winter festival in the Midwest–The Sturgeon Spectacular. Whether you join the always popular Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Championship, the Outdoor Curling Funspiel, Snow Land family activities, or come out to see the awesome snow and ice sculptures and enjoy one of many great restaurants or shops in downtown Fond du Lac, this festival has something for everyone.

The International Wisconsin Ginseng Festival in Wausau celebrates the region’s ginseng industry with a three-day event typically held in September. The festival features ginseng-themed food, tours of ginseng farms, demonstrations, music and cultural performances, with a main hub in downtown Wausau’s City Square Park.

Culture That Lives and Breathes

In Wisconsin, festivals do more than entertain; they tell stories. At Heritage Hill State Historical Park in Green Bay, reenactors trade modern-day sneakers for pioneer boots, recreating 19th-century life so vividly you can almost smell the wood smoke. The John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan turns art into a community connection, hosting fairs that blur the line between exhibition and celebration. And the Mulva Cultural Center (Green Bay), Wisconsin’s newest cultural showpiece, is already shaping up to be a hub for world-class exhibits and gatherings.

Smaller stops offer just as much soul. In Cedarburg, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts honors the region’s creative roots with quilt fairs, fiber festivals, and hands-on workshops that make you want to pick up a needle yourself. And at Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center in Coon Valley, Scandinavian traditions live on through folk music, storytelling, and heritage festivals that feel both nostalgic and fresh.

Since 1981, Milwaukee Irish Fest has been dedicated to celebrating and sharing the rich Celtic heritage with the world. Milwaukee Irish Fest is held annually the third weekend in August along the shores of Lake Michigan at the Henry W. Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee.

Held annually the weekend after Labor Day, the Villa Louis Carriage Classici n Prairie du Chien highlights competitive carriage driving in arena and obstacle classes. The Villa Louis Historic Site was once home to the “Artesian Stock Farm,” a premier Standardbred training facility. The Carriage Classic celebrates the zenith of the stock farm with carriage-driving classes.

Celebrate the working past at the Grohmann Museum’s Lost Arts Festival in Milwaukee. The museum hosts its annual festival celebrating the activities and ways of work captured in the paintings and bronzes in its permanent collection. Artisans will share their expertise and demonstrate their techniques as the museum and its surroundings become a laboratory for the creation of “Lost Arts.” It is a fun and affordable family activity and gives visitors the opportunity to see some of the lost arts of the past.

In Baraboo, the Great Midwest Crane Fest sees thousands of Sandhill Cranes gather near the Wisconsin River before flying south for the winter. During the fest visitors will experience: Wisconsin’s largest crane congregation, guided crane-viewing tours, presentations and workshops and more. You’ll also explore the beautiful landscapes and rich histories that connect the festival hosts, the International Crane Foundation and the Aldo Leopold Foundation.

Fun Food Options

On the last Saturday in September, the smell of beef fills the air and more than 12,000 people fill the streets of downtown Minocqua. For 60 years, Beef-a-Rama has been a premier event drawing visitors back year after year to join in on the one-of-a-kind fun youcan only find in the Northwoods.

The Warrens Cranberry Festival draws thousands of visitors from all over the world. The event continues to grow in popularity every year and isa great place for groups to immerse themselves in the rich culture and history of cranberry farming.

Autumn is the best time of year for those seeking beauty and fall festivals because it’s Bayfield Apple Festival time. Enjoy food and craft vendors all weekend long, live music from Big Top Chautauqua’s Blue Canvas Orchestra and other area musicians at Memorial Park Gazebo for Concerts by the Lake. Don’t miss the crowning of the Apple Festival Queen and/or King, the Spectrum Carnival and the Grand Parade down historic Rittenhouse Avenue on Sunday to wrap up the weekend’s events.

The DMOs Behind the Magic

Every great festival has a team that makes it happen, and Wisconsin’s CVBs and DMOs are some of the best in the business. They’re the quiet heroes behind the banners and bandstands, the ones making sure each celebration runs seamlessly, and that groups find themselves right in the heart of the action.

In Door County, fall means it’s time for the Fall Festival, when harbor towns hum with live music, arts, and all the pumpkin-flavored joy you can handle. To the south, Sheboygan serves up sizzling hometown pride with Brat Days, which has been celebrating Sheboygan since 1953. Brat Days does not charge entry fees to attend the festival or its celebrated live music acts. Enjoy fabulous food, watch competitors try to prevail in the brat eating contest and even play cornhole.

On September 5, 1962, a 20-pound piece of Russian Sputnik IV landed in the middle of thestreet on the corner of N. 8th and Park in Manitowoc. Sputnikfest is the town’s way of bringing the community together to celebrate this momentous event. Named one of the Top Five Funkiest Festivals in the country byReader’s Digest, this wacky festival has become a community and regional favorite, with fun for the entire family. Sputnikfest is a way to celebrate all things sci-fi and space with live music, food, a 5k run/walk, and elaborate alien-themed costumes.

In Green Bay, the festival spirit carries long after football season, with a year-round lineup of food and arts events that keep the city buzzing. Fond du Lac’s Walleye Weekend is pure Wisconsin, part fishing tournament, part concert series, and completely free.

What happens when you combine a vibrant, one-mile stretch of downtown Appleton with 200-plus up-and-coming artists performing free shows with live, original music over four days? You get to experience an unforgettable music-filled weekend with more than 700 incredible shows. Mile of Music kicked off in 2013 as a cover-free festival highlighting handcrafted artistry. The theme quickly caught on with music lovers everywhere and is still the focus today as The Mile continues to make music accessible to everyone. The fest welcomes the finest talent, including singer-songwriters, duos and multi-piece bands showcasing original roots music ranging from indie and folk-rock to soul, to folk, bluegrass and more.

And in the capital city, Destination Madison delivers art and flavor in equal measure with Art Fair on the Square and Taste of Madison, both turning the Capitol into the state’sultimate street festival.