by Jim Collar
It could be argued that there are few better places in the world to spend the summer months than right here in Wisconsin.
Certainly, the winter months leave some of us questioning our residency. Though in the summer, our key challenge is figuring out how to fit all of the fabulous events, great tastes, and gorgeous sights into a few short months. There’s fun to be had over every single weekend from Memorial Day barbecues and camping trips to the Calumet County Fair leading into Labor Day.
It’s a season that is best experienced with all the senses. You hear it in the crack of a bat at Fox Cities Stadium, at concerts in every corner of the state, or in the rising hum of engines at Road America. You see it in the tents of Art at the Park or along the trails of Kaukauna’s 1000 Islands Environmental Center. You taste it in funnel cakes from a food truck or in an ethnic dish crafted with love and served at one of our cultural events.
What makes Wisconsin summers special isn’t just the traditions, places, and events, but the way they layer into a season that feels both familiar and new every year. Our traditions run deep, yet each summer brings its own surprises, its own stories, its own reasons to linger a little longer in the warm evening air.
The Fox Valley’s summer rhythm is shaped by the way people gather. Families spread blankets at outdoor concerts, neighbors meet at farmers’ markets, and crowds wander through car shows. Even simple moments — whether it’s dining outside on a patio, walking along the riverfront, or catching a sunset over Lake Winnebago — feel like small celebrations.
Embrace the challenge and make the most of these precious months ahead. There are plenty of ways to enjoy this beautiful season in this beautiful place, whether you choose to spend nothing, spend a little, or decide to splurge.
The following offer some great ideas and might provide a head start on your summer planning, but they are by no means comprehensive. Ultimately, the very best plans for a perfect Wisconsin summer are your very own.
Release All of Your Oohs and Ahhs
The pops and crackles, booms, and vibrant colors never fail to touch our sense of wonder. This year, our Independence Day fireworks displays will carry additional meaning as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. Make sure to squeeze some fireworks into your perfect Wisconsin summer.
Appleton and Kimberly will light the sky in celebration of our nation on July 3 above Veterans Memorial Park and Sunset Park, respectively. Neenah and Menasha will offer their displays on July 4, along with Green Bay, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Hilbert, and New London.
Don’t limit a gorgeous nighttime display to the holiday. This year’s most impressive fireworks displays in our region will come in August.
The 2026 Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI) Convention returns to Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna from Aug. 8–14. The convention will present “Ignite the Night,” three high-energy, professionally choreographed displays open to the public on Aug. 8, 12, and 14. Tickets to these incredible shows can be purchased at tickets.pgi.org.
Still looking for more? The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will add dazzle to the night skies following Friday and Saturday home games throughout the summer. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Rockers will offer post-game fireworks on June 12, July 2, and July 24.
Get Your Fill at the Fair
If you want to capture the essence of a Wisconsin summer, the fairgrounds are a good place to start.
Our fairs are a grand tradition dating back to the earliest days of our state. From the animals and exhibits to the carnival and food, it’s a timeless experience that’s maintained relevance from generation to generation.
All the fun starts this month in Seymour. The Outagamie County Fair, themed “Barn in the USA,” takes place from June 24-28, featuring nightly motorsports events and music from favorite regional acts. Head to Oshkosh for the Winnebago County Fair, held July 29 through Aug. 2. Enjoy rodeo, tractor pulls, great music, and more. The Fond du Lac County Fair, held July 15-19, will include concerts from Trace Adkins and Night Ranger.
Grab a good pair of walking shoes and prepare to break your diet when the main event of the fair season arrives.
The Wisconsin State Fair will celebrate its 175th anniversary this season, taking place on Aug. 6-16 in West Allis. Come for the exhibitions, animals, and top-tier entertainment, including The Beach Boys, Nelly, and comedian John Mulaney. Stay for the over-the-top concessions, including sweet lemon-berry cheese curds and hot-honey chicken lemonade.
The Calumet County Fair will again close out the summer on Sept. 4-7, and feature a concert from country musician Kip Moore.
Catch a Great Concert at a Better Price at Waterfest
Famous bands. A beautiful venue. Reasonable prices.
The first two items very rarely match up with the third, and that’s a big part of what makes the Waterfest concert series in Oshkosh so special. Waterfest will celebrate its 40th season in 2026, bringing national recording artists and a variety of popular regional acts to the scenic Leach Amphitheater along the Fox River over eight summer Thursdays.
The 2026 season features several notable headlining acts, including original Beach Boy Al Jardine and The Pet Sounds Band on July 30, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas on Aug. 13, and the Little River Band on Aug. 20.
Waterfest’s commitment to staying accessible has made it a favorite among local music fans and a breath of fresh air in an era of exorbitant ticket prices. While many festivals lean into premium pricing, Waterfest keeps admission reasonable with entry as low as $15 for those who arrive before 6 p.m. Veterans enter for free throughout the season. Kids 12 and under can also enter at no cost with a responsible adult, opening great concert experiences to local families.
Community is the entire point.
The concert series is organized by the volunteer-driven nonprofit Waterfest Inc., with the expressed goal of improving quality of life through their events. Any profits are invested into the next year or to cover shortfalls from the year before. Visit waterfest.org for the schedule and additional information.
Hear all your Favorites at a Major Music Festival
Whether you like country, hard rock, or something in between, there’s a good chance that you’ll find your favorite artist on a concert lineup somewhere in the Dairyland over the summer.
Wisconsin is a hotbed for major music festivals, and Milwaukee’s Summerfest bills itself as the world’s largest. Held along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Summerfest will feature more than 600 artists performing across 12 stages. The fun unfolds over three weekends: June 18-20, June 25-27, and July 2-4. Headliners this year include Garth Brooks, Ed Sheeran, Post Malone, and Jelly Roll.
Oshkosh is home to two major festivals, including one of the largest Christian music festivals in the United States. Lifest is expected to draw up to 30,000 attendees each day during its run from July 9-12 at the Sunnyview Expo Center. Headliners include Skillet, CAIN, and Josiah Queen.
Xroads41 in Oshkosh welcomes its biggest lineup yet in its third year. The country festival will welcome the Zac Brown Band, Lainey Wilson, and Jason Aldean as headliners from Aug. 6-8.
Other notable Wisconsin festivals include Rock Fest in Cadott, Rhinelander’s Hodag Country Festival, and the Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire.
Root, Root, Root for the Home Team
Few things are more emblematic of an American summer than a trip to the ballpark. Baseball fills every sense — from the crack of a fastball hitting the mitt to the taste of a cold ice‑cream treat. In the Fox Valley, we’re lucky to have great baseball at every level of the game, all within easy reach.
Start with a visit to Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, home of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The ballpark has seen a wave of recent upgrades, including a beer garden, a giant slide, and new play areas for the kids.
As the High‑A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, the Rattlers give fans a chance to see future Major League stars up close. Current Brewers like Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and Jacob Misiorowski all spent time developing in Grand Chute.
High school fans will want to circle June 15-18, when the state’s top prep teams take over the stadium for the WIAA State Baseball Tournament. The region also boasts summer collegiate action, with the Green Bay Rockers and Fond du Lac Dock Spiders — both Northwoods League teams — playing competitive, wood‑bat baseball within an hour’s drive. Catch them locally during the I‑41 Showdown at Fox Cities Stadium on June 2.
And of course, a summer baseball season isn’t complete without the Brewers and a trip to Milwaukee’s American Family Field, where tailgating, the famous sausage races, and Bernie Brewer’s celebratory slide promise a great time, rain or shine.
Enjoy an Al Fresco Meal
Outdoor dining is satisfying in a way that goes beyond the meal itself. It’s the feeling of stepping out of your routine and letting the outdoors become part of the experience. Food tastes a little brighter when there’s a breeze moving through the table, and conversation feels easier when it drifts into open air.
There are many great restaurants with outdoor seating in the Fox Valley. For a great variety and a picnic atmosphere, make a point to head to a food truck rally.
Area 509, at 1025 N. Badger Ave., in Appleton, hosts the Foodie Frenzy Midweek Rally each Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. They offer a rotating cast of food trucks along with music, games, fire pits, and patio seating.
The Fox Valley Food Truck Association has events throughout the summer, each featuring a variety of trucks, tastes, and options, including entrées, desserts, and novelties. It’s a perfect way to explore new food, and everyone in the family can get something different. For a schedule of events and locations, visit foxvalleyfoodtruckrally.com.
Gear Up for Football Season at Packers Training Camp
Only in Wisconsin would NFL football appear in a summer fun guide, but the Green Bay Packers are something special, and so is our connection to the home team.
Get up close and watch the Packers prepare for their new season during training camp, which begins in late July and runs through August. Unlike many NFL teams that train off-site, the Packers host training camp at home, practicing at Ray Nitschke Field.
Fans can sit in the bleachers or bring lawn chairs or blankets to stand along the fence for a close-up view of practices. Players often stop to sign autographs for fans, particularly after practice, as they walk back to the locker room.
Bring the kids to Titletown and toss around a football on Emplify Health Field, a regulation artificial turf football field in Lambeau’s shadows.
You can also head over to the Lambeau Field Atrium and grab new gear at the Pro Shop, enjoy the Hall of Fame, or grab a great meal.
Training Camp festivities also include Family Night at Lambeau Field, featuring a full practice and scrimmage. Lambeau fills just as it would on a fall Sunday, offering a gameday experience for a fraction of the price.
Catch a Flick Under the Stars
Drive‑in movies are a slice of pure summer, and in the Fox Valley area, the Field of Scenes Drive‑In in Freedom keeps that nostalgic magic alive.
As the grounds begin to fill, families spread blankets in truck beds, kids toss the football in front of the screen, and the smell of popcorn begins to drift across the lot. Prices are reasonable, and each evening includes a double feature.
The grounds include playgrounds for the kids, basketball hoops, and a volleyball net. Enjoy popcorn, or even a meal with options including burgers, brats, and homemade pizzas.
The Appleton Parks and Recreation Department will host several outdoor movie nights in 2026. Families are invited to the Veterans Memorial Park Amphitheater on June 18 for children’s games, followed by a 7 p.m. showing of Zootopia 2. On Aug. 7, come to Erb Park for a showing of Lilo & Stitch. Their Flicks and Sips Series at the Jones Park Amphitheater will feature Back to the Future on July 17 and Hot Rod on Sept. 12. All movies are free to attend.
Oshkosh also has two outdoor movie nights scheduled at Leach Amphitheater, with Trolls showing on June 26 and Daddy Day Camp on July 17.
Dip a Paddle in Wisconsin’s Waters
There is no better place to be than Wisconsin’s scenic waters once summer temperatures hit their peak. Fortunately, boat ownership isn’t a prerequisite to an enjoyable day on our lakes and rivers.
Appleton’s Fox River Kayaking Company offers guided excursions. In Shiocton, Dragonfly Paddlers provides a kayak and a shuttle ride up the Wolf River before you make a slow paddle back to home base.
Self-service kayak rentals are available at multiple Fox Valley parks through the Rent.Fun app in partnership with the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. Rentals cost $20 for the first two hours, which includes a life jacket, kayak, and paddle. They’re available at Telulah Park, Lutz Park, and along Riverheath Way in Appleton. Stations are also available at Kimberly’s Sunset Park, Fritse Park in Fox Crossing, Black Otter Lake in Hortonville, and Herb & Dolly Smith and Doty parks in Neenah.
Those looking for less exertion can rent a tube at Wolf River Trips & Campground along County Road X near New London. Experience gentle rapids as you meander downstream with a cold beverage in hand.
It’s a short drive to an incredible experience on the Chain O’ Lakes in Waupaca County. Rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard from any number of businesses, then enjoy the gorgeous scenery on 22 crystal-clear lakes connected by channels and streams.
Experience Beauty and Creativity at Local Art Events
In the summertime, the very best art galleries are found in the open air.
Appleton’s Art at the Park, hosted by The Trout Museum of Art, returns to City Park and its surrounding streets on July 25-26. The 66th annual event will fill the historic neighborhood with works of more than 200 artists from across the region and country. Visitors can browse paintings, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and mixed‑media works while enjoying live music, food trucks, and hands‑on art projects for kids. The festival also features a Young Artist Marketplace for artists ages 7 to 18 to display and sell their art.
A short drive north, Artfest will transform downtown Green Bay into a vibrant creative corridor on August 22-23. The festival will feature more than 100 artists, live music on multiple stages, interactive art opportunities, and local food and drink vendors.
Oshkosh will also offer the chance to find that perfect, original piece while enjoying a beautiful environment. Faire on the Fox takes place on July 12 at the Leach Amphitheater. The arts and crafts fair will include more than 100 vendors offering garden art, woodwork, glasswork, jewelry, and more. The day will also include food trucks, live music, and demonstrations.
Learn More about Your Neighbors at a Cultural Fest
As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, there is no better time to learn about and connect with the many cultures that form the colorful tapestry known as America. Wisconsin’s many summer cultural celebrations offer a great opportunity to get a better understanding of our friends and neighbors.
Start with the food-focused Fiesta 920, taking place on June 20 at the Resch Expo in Green Bay. Enjoy a full day of food and beverages, live music, and interactive activities.
The Oneida Pow Wow is one of Wisconsin’s most significant indigenous cultural gatherings, bringing together dancers, singers, families, and visitors for a full weekend of celebration. The pow wow will take place on June 26-28 at the Norbert Hill Center, N7210 Seminary Road, in Oneida. Experience contest dancing, grand entries, drum groups, and vendor booths offering Native foods, crafts, beadwork, and artwork.
The first-ever Wisconsin Asian Summer Festival, hosted by the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, will be held on June 13 at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds in Cedarburg. This free public event will bring together community and culture through sports, dance, small-business vendors, and food.
Head to Milwaukee for a wide variety of cultural festivals throughout the summer, including Polish Fest in June; Festa Italiana, Armenian Fest, and German Fest in July; and Irish Fest and Mexican Fiesta in August. Go to visitmilwaukee.org/events/city-of-festivals/ for more details.
Stop and Smell the Flowers
A summer visit to a botanical garden feels like stepping into a living work of art.
The Scheig Center Gardens in Appleton’s Memorial Park, open daily and free to wander, offer an opportunity to explore beauty at your own pace. The gardens unfold in a series of thoughtfully designed spaces, including a native rose garden, a serenity garden alive with butterflies, a wildflower garden, a fragrance garden, and a Veterans Memorial garden that provides a moment of stillness.
Benches encourage you to slow down, breathe in, and notice how the colors and textures shift with the season. Most of the plantings are native to Wisconsin, grounding the experience in the region’s natural beauty.
Just north in Green Bay, the Green Bay Botanical Garden expands that sense of wonder across 47 acres and more than 120,000 plants. What began nearly 50 years ago as an idea among a handful of passionate gardeners has grown into one of the state’s most beloved outdoor destinations. Today, its winding paths, specialty gardens, and seasonal displays provide a vibrant, immersive escape.
Enjoying summer isn’t always about activity. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, a scenic walk, or a quiet moment surrounded by color and singing birds, our local botanical spaces invite you to connect with the wonders of the season.
Local Festivals Focus on Music
Two local community festivals bring in some star power in an effort to draw neighbors together in celebration.
Paperfest returns to Sunset Park in Kimberly July 16–19, with another music lineup that’s incredibly rare to see at a free community festival. On opening night, Smash Mouth headlines the Event Production Systems Sunset Stage. The festival continues with Lauren Alaina on July 17 and Blue Öyster Cult on Saturday night. Many favorite local and regional performers are also on the schedule, along with games, carnival rides, sports, food, and much more. While free to attend, Paperfest has still managed to raise more than $1.35 million over the years to benefit community non-profits.
Just down the road, Greenville’s Catfish Extravaganza combines quirky community fun and a major concert event over two days at Lions Park. The festivities begin July 10 with the beloved catfish races and a free evening performance from local favorites, Ask Your Mother. The next night, July 11, the Catfish Concert will light up the park with a high‑energy country lineup featuring Billy Currington, LoCash, and Shaylen. The Saturday concert is a ticketed event and a major fundraiser for the Greenville Lions, which uses the proceeds to benefit community causes.
Lace Up Your Boots and Spend Some Time in Nature
Wisconsin’s natural beauty is unmatched, and there is no need to travel any great distance to have an awe-inspiring experience.
Bubolz Nature Preserve in Appleton features more than eight miles of trails and also offers educational programs throughout the year. Keep your eyes open for a variety of wildlife while walking through Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha. Its diverse habitats include forested wetlands, cattail marshes, and prairies. You might run across turtles, deer, groundhogs, and muskrats. The reserve is home to more than 160 species of birds.
Kaukauna’s 1000 Islands Environmental Center provides trails through woodlands and wetlands. Watch for bald eagles while listening to the soothing sounds of the Fox River.
Nature lovers can also find refuge at Mosquito Hill Nature Center in New London or Appleton’s Bruce B. Purdy Nature Reserve.
High Cliff State Park near Sherwood offers opportunities to come up close to nature and Wisconsin history. The park is home to several effigy mounds constructed by Native Americans more than 1,000 years ago. Its limestone cliffs are part of the Niagara Escarpment, a 650-mile-long feature stretching from New York through Ontario, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The Friendship State Trail and Wiouwash State Trail offer extensive routes for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Make a Weekend Getaway
Wisconsin is a beautiful state filled with world-class events and fabulous places, and yet, it’s easy to take it for granted.
It’s worth remembering that tourists travel from far and wide each summer to experience what we have every day. A weekend getaway to any one of Wisconsin’s top destinations will not only provide a relaxing escape and great memories, but help you see our wonderful home through a fresh set of eyes.
Door County has the feel of a coastal getaway, when strolling through its quaint towns dotted with galleries, boutiques, and cafés. Visit a cherry orchard or experience the beauty of its five state parks. It’s just the right place if your idea of relaxing includes scenic hikes, fish boils, and awe-inspiring sunsets.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Dells delivers high‑energy fun with a generous side of natural wonder. Hit the slides and recognize why it’s known as the “Waterpark Capital of the World.” Enjoy a boat tour and experience all the beauty of its sandstone cliffs. Make sure to leave enough time for go‑karts and mini‑golf.
Then there’s Lake Geneva, a scenic and charming escape with something for everyone. Visitors can stroll the historic Shore Path, offering close-up views of its historic estates. Cruise the lake on a classic boat, browse boutiques, or unwind at a lakeside resort.
If you’re fortunate enough to live in Wisconsin, a fabulous vacation is only a short drive in any direction.
Experience the High-Octane Thrills of Auto Racing
While some enjoy a comfortable resort, others clamor for the thrill of roaring engines. Wisconsin’s auto racing scene doesn’t disappoint, turning the summer into a showcase of speed, skill, and spectacle. Whether you’re an enthusiast or simply curious, our region offers ideal destinations to feel the vibrations, smell the burning rubber, and hear the whirring of race cars as they fly past your seat.
Wisconsin International Raceway near Kaukauna offers racing on Thursdays on its half-mile asphalt oval track. It also has special events as well as drag racing on select weekends. Outagamie Speedway in Seymour offers racing on Friday nights on its one-third-mile, semi-banked clay oval track.
Meanwhile, one of the nation’s most revered tracks is only a short drive away.
Road America is one of the most important and respected motorsports venues in the United States. Tucked into the rolling hills of Elkhart Lake, the four‑mile circuit is one of the longest permanent road courses in the country. It’s known as the “National Park of Speed” and has hosted most of the major racing series over its history.
It’s a favorite of drivers, and for fans, Road America is equally special. The massive, park-like grounds offer open viewing areas, wooded trails, and a relaxed atmosphere. Families picnic on hillsides, campers fill the infield, and spectators can get remarkably close to the action.
Check Out Some Classic Rides at a Car Show
While racing celebrates power, there are also some wonderful opportunities to appreciate the beauty and history of the automobile.
Experience the gleam of chrome and the low rumble of a classic engine during a summer car show. These gatherings have a certain way of stirring both nostalgia and curiosity, and the Fox Valley has two of the region’s biggest and best right in our neighborhood.
The Appleton Old Car Show returns to Pierce Park on July 19 with more than 1,000 vehicles expected across its shaded grounds. It’s a free, family‑friendly tradition where you can wander rows of restored muscle cars, vintage trucks, antiques, and specialty builds. Add in food trucks and swap‑meet vendors, and the day feels like a block party built around horsepower and history.
Just up the road, the legendary Iola Car Show — one of the largest in the country — will celebrate the car and our country from July 9-11, with this year’s theme, “America’s Car Show and Swap Meet.” Featuring more than 2,500 show cars, 4,000 swap‑meet spaces, and 1,600 campsites, Iola is less a show and more a small city of enthusiasts. Visitors can explore specialty displays, meet builders, hunt for rare parts, or simply soak in the spectacle.
Together, these events offer a summer full of shine, stories, and the unmistakable joy of seeing automotive passion on full display.
Take Flight at EAA AirVenture
Flight enthusiasts all over the world dream about the opportunity to visit EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. Even those in Wisconsin who are only remotely curious owe it to themselves to check out this famous, enormous, world-class event staged right in our own backyard.
AirVenture is the world’s largest aviation gathering with an annual attendance of more than 600,000 people. Its sprawling grounds showcase more than 10,000 aircraft, ranging from vintage biplanes and warbirds to modern, cutting-edge designs.
EAA AirVenture 2026 will spotlight America’s 250th anniversary with major military demonstrations, world‑class aerobatic performers, historic warbirds, and special appearances, making it one of the most expansive lineups in recent years.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, set for July 20-26, is built around the national “Celebrating the Freedom of Flight” theme, honoring 250 years of American history through aviation. The week will feature nine air shows, including night shows on July 22 and 25, blending aerobatics, military power, and heritage aircraft in a way few events can match.
One of the biggest highlights is the return of the B‑29 Superfortress Doc, one of only two flying examples in the world. Doc will be on display in Boeing Plaza, AirVenture’s main showcase area, from July 24-26.
This article was originally published in the June 2026 issue of Appleton Monthly Magazine.
