FYI-Summer Festivals USA!

I received an email this week informing me of the River Splash Festival this past weekend. The same email mentioned the Gathering Waters Festival this upcoming weekend. Both festivals are annual festivals in Milwaukee, WI. In two weeks, Summerfest (The Worlds Largest Music Festival) starts. That email reminded me of what I love about living in Milwaukee, the festivals. River Splash kicks off the festival season in Milwaukee while hundreds of other festivals take place all over the state of Wisconsin.

My favorite festival in Milwaukee so far is Bastille Days. It is a french themed festival celebrating french culture, food, and music. The festival is held in downtown Milwaukee each year. This year the festival will be July 10th-12th. The festival is within walking distance from where I live and I do not have to worry about parking. There is no charge to enter the festival and no one frowns on anyone bringing their own food and drink. So, if you want to simply walk around, watch people and listen to music while enjoying a homemade sandwich and a soda, this festival might be for you.

Bastille Days is usually the only festival I attend all summer and I treat myself. I buy food at the festival and the food is wonderful. I love the lobster tacos and the roasted corn. I usually buy a wine cooler, fresh lemonade, and water to drink. For a desert, I usually get the turtle cheesecake. I found out that there is a food stand that sells alligator sausage and I plan on trying that this year.

Performers from all over the country perform anything from mime to the tango. Musical acts perform different genres of music. In 2007, I had the pleasure of watching Paul Cebar and his band perform. After the performance, Mr Cebar greeted his fans, sold CD's, and gave out autographs. At the same festival, I met a group of people from Boston visiting Milwaukee for the first time. One of the people I spoke with said that they have nothing like this in Boston. The group from Boston said that they will definitely come back to Milwaukee to attend Bastille Days.

I almost forgot the vendors that come from all over the country selling anything from invisible dogs to garden globes. Most of the vendors wares are reasonably priced and quite a few of them come back year after year to Bastille Days. The festival is not too big and not too small. There is plenty of room for walking, talking, or dancing. And the street performers delight the crowds with their antics.

Lastly, Bastille Days attracts a more mature, settled, crowd and families. People are respectful of one another and want to simply enjoy the music, food, and each other. I like the intimate feel of the festival and being able to navigate myself around without feeling crowded. And there are plenty of places to sit and cool your heels while getting in some good people watching.

What if you are not from Wisconsin? There is hope for those of you if you are not from Wisconsin or do not or can not come to Wisconsin for any of its festivals. You can check in your area to see which festivals are coming. Newspapers are helpful and so are websites like, www.festivalusa.com, and www.greenfestivals.org. I hope that you all will find at least one festival to attend this summer. Get outside, enjoy some good music, eat some good food, and enjoy your friends and family. Have a good weekend.