Sundrenched, Spotted Cow-Soaked, and Deep-Fried: Why Milwaukee Summers Are the Actual Best
- Sarah Smith
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
There’s something magic about a Milwaukee summer. Maybe it’s the collective joy that bursts out of us the second it hits 70 degrees. Maybe it’s the fact that we survive nine months of winter just for this. Or maybe it’s because this city knows how to have a damn good time once the grills are fired up and the lake breeze rolls in.
Whatever the reason—if you’re lucky enough to be in Milwaukee this July and August, welcome. Here’s your local girl’s guide to soaking it all in like a Spotted Cow spilled on a picnic blanket.
1. Bastille Days – July 11–14
Cathedral Square turns into a little French dream, complete with beignets, wine, and a mini Eiffel Tower you can jog around (if you're feeling chaotic). It’s free, it’s festive, and it somehow feels both Euro-chic and very “Midwest aunt on vacation.” And that’s something I will always fully support.
Local love: Grab a beignet, sit under the twinkle lights, and pretend you’re in Paris... but better, because here you can actually find parking.
2. German Fest – July 26–28
One word: Gemütlichkeit. It means coziness, camaraderie, and yes—clinking massive steins while doing the chicken dance next to a 12-piece brass band. German Fest is a joyful, slightly sweaty, high-energy celebration of culture, music, and all the sauerkraut your heart can handle.
Pro tip: Go hungry, dance like nobody’s watching, and bring cash for pretzels the size of your head.
3. Wisconsin State Fair – August 1–11
The Fair is like a love letter to everything weird, wonderful, and quintessential Wisconsin. Cream puffs? Obviously. Pig races? Absolutely. Fried things on sticks you didn’t know could be fried? Yes, and yes again.
Scandi Sconnie favorite moment: Sitting on a bench with powdered sugar on your face, live music in the background, and a strong sense that life is good.
4. Chill on the Hill & Jazz in the Park – All Summer Long
There’s nothing like a summer evening in Milwaukee. Blanket down, snacks out, music floating through the air like you're the main character in a Netflix original. These events are mellow, magical, and always feel like you just stumbled into something special.
Bring: Your friends, your dog, your Tupperware charcuterie board, and that rosé you pretend is for the vibes but really just tastes good.
5. Farmers Markets Are a Way of Life
From South Shore to Tosa to the Deer District, Milwaukee’s farmers markets are bursting with berries, flowers, fresh bread, and small business goodness. It’s how we romanticize our lives here—buying overpriced herbs we’ll forget to use and telling ourselves, this is who I am now. Better than everyone because I bought fresh veggies.
Also: The people-watching is immaculate.
6. Brewery Patio Season (aka Milwaukee’s Love Language)
There is no greater joy than sipping a cold beer on a Milwaukee patio in July. None. We wait all year for this. It’s our reward. It’s our identity. And sure, there are many solid spots—but let’s just say it: Eagle Park and Indeed Brewery are superior.
Eagle Park is what happens when science nerds, hopheads, and local legends make beer in a lab that somehow feels like your favorite cousin’s garage. It’s fun, it’s experimental, and it doesn't have that weird small brewery taste. The patio? Underrated. The beer? Dangerous in the best way.
Indeed Brewing is your artsy friend who’s effortlessly cool and always knows about the best music before it hits Spotify or, God forbid, TikTok. Their patio on 2nd Street is chef’s kiss—the perfect mix of industrial charm and “let’s stay here for three hours and solve world problems over Day Tripper.”
Scandi Sconnie advice: Start at one, end at the other, and order the Fishing for Fishies at Eagle Park. Trust me, your life will change for the better.
In Conclusion…
Milwaukee in the summer is sunshine on cream city brick. It’s grilled corn and bratwurst and an ice cold beer that tastes truly heaven sent. It’s laughter echoing off Lake Michigan, sunsets over the Hoan, brewery patios buzzing with conversation, and the beautiful, unbeatable rhythm of the most underrated city in the entire midwest in bloom.
There’s nowhere else like it—and no better time to be here than now. So breathe it in, love it hard, and don’t forget your sunscreen.
With love (and a half-eaten cream puff),
Sarah
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