Milwaukee has earned itself the nickname "City of Festivals" for its extensive summer and fall festivities.
The largest events are the Wisconsin State Fair (held every year in August at the Wisconsin State Fair grounds) and Summerfest, listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the largst music festival in the world. Every year, it attracts over a million visitors to its eleven stages.
Summerfest Grounds
The Summerfest grounds are the site of lots of ethnic or other minority group festivals celebrating Milwaukee's history and diversity throughout the Summer and Fall:
May
Riversplash (the 'start of summer')
June
Polish Fest
Pride Fest (for the LGBT community)
July
Bastille Days
German Fest
Festa Italiana
Greek festival
August and September
Arab World Fest
Irish Fest
Mexican Fiesta
Indian Summer (Native American festival)
African World Festival
The Expo Center
November
Trainfest - America's largest operating model railroad show. Traditionally held the second weekend in November, Trainfest usually attracts over 20,000 visitors from across the country to view dozens of operating layouts, attend clinics and demonstrations, and share model railroading with their kids (there are lots of kids-friendly activities featured.)
Third Ward
Oktoberfest Milwaukee - generally occuring in the in fall.