12 Milwaukee-area food and drink festivals this summer and fall

Some festivals in Wisconsin are just about the food.

Ethnic and community festivals focus on specific beverages or foods relevant to business or culture, and fairs offer regional and new food products. Local restaurants and vendors show off their specialties, and autumn brings harvest foods and wines. Dig in, drink up and bring your appetite to these area festivals.

Wisconsin State Fair

Aug. 1-11; 640 S. 84th St., West Allis

The fair features the Sporkies and Drinkies finalists, cream puffs, foods on a stick, and vendors providing over 100 new foods and beverages this year. Visit wistatefair.com/fair/new-foods.

DAS Fest USA

3-10 p.m. Aug. 2, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 3; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 4; 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale

Feel free to bring your own stein and belly up to the bar for the official Das Fest Bier, helles, dunkel, marzen or hefeweizen, brewed on site at the Bavarian Bierhaus. And bring your appetite for authentic German bratwurst, schnitzel, pretzels and desserts. See dasfestwi.com for more information.

Sprecher Root Beer Bash

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 3; The Yard at Bayshore, 5800 N. Bayshore Drive, Glendale

Get in line for a free root beer float and check out the food truck alley featuring Tiffany’s Dessert Bar, Shorty’s Grilled Cheese, Pina Mexican Eats, Kona Ice, Roll MKE and Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds. See sprecherbrewery.com/blogs/blog/root-beer-bash-2024 for more.

Luxembourg Fest

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 10; Community Park, 106 Beech St., Belgium

Admission is free to the festival with a menu that includes kniddelen, a Luxembourg dumpling; mettwurst, a Luxembourg sausage prepared by Bernie's meats in Port Washington; mustreipen, a version of the traditional blood sausage dish treipen; and gaardebounen, a dish of smoked pork collar with broad beans. The Lions Club will be serving Belgium waffles with strawberries and ice cream. The Luxembourg American Cultural Society will offer a forum Aug. 9 at the Ozaukee Nonprofit Center in Grafton to discuss “Luxembourg Culinary Traditions.” This year’s theme centers on the role of food in shaping cultural identity. For the complete list of activities, visit lacs.lu/luxembourg-fest-week.

The Bloody Mary Festival

11:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 10, with early admission for VIP ticket holders; Aurora Pavilion at Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive

Sample the best bloody marys made by bars and restaurants, plus craft bottled mixes. Each ticket includes unlimited bloody marys, food and drink samples, plus one vote for the People’s Choice award. Tickets online at thebloodymaryfest.com.

Zoo A La Carte

9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 15-17, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 18; 10001 W. Blue Mound Road

Sample food from local restaurants while strolling the Milwaukee County Zoo grounds. New restaurants this year include BBQ Belle, BelAir Cantina, Hopper’s Mini Donuts, Milwaukee Pretzel Co., Pie Craft Pizza, Po’ Manz Food, Summer County Fare, and Wok at the Zoo. Food and beverage vendors will accept credit or debit cards only. Find more information and purchase tickets at milwaukeezoo.org.

Jewish Food Festival

Noon-7 p.m. Aug. 18-19; Rotary Park, 4100 Highland Road, Mequon

Jewish dishes include pastrami sandwiches, stuffed cabbage, crispy falafel, chicken soup with matzo ball, pulled beef brisket, and sweet treats like rugelach and babka. The event includes an Old World European Jewish village, workshops, activities and immersive displays. Admission is free. See jewishfoodmequon.com.

Milwaukee's Original Oktoberfest

Sept. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, Oct. 4-5; 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale

Oktoberfest 2024 in Heidelberg Park at the Bavarian Bierhaus will celebrate over 60 years of authentic German beverages and food, including Usinger’s sausage, Bavarian pretzels, schnitzel and spanferkel. For table reservations, visit thebavarianbierhaus.com.

Taco Fest

Sept. 14; Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive

Local restaurants and vendors bring their best hot sauce to the lakefront for a day of taco tasting, margaritas and chile pepper eating. Lunch or dinner sessions are available. General admission ticket ($25) from noon to 3 p.m. or 5 to 8 p.m. includes four taco tickets; VIP tickets ($50 or $125) include 10 taco tickets, beverages and early admission. See milwaukeetacofest.com.

Cedarburg Wine & Harvest Festival

Sept. 21-22; The Shops of Cedar Creek Settlement, N70 W6340 Bridge Road, Cedarburg

The Wine & Harvest Festival began in 1973 at the Cedar Creek Settlement and continues today with two days of local food and wine products. The Cedar Creek Winery produces regional wines ranging from whites to reds, and seasonal vintages of fruit and berry wines. Purchase wine by the glass, the bottle or the case. A traditional Grape Stomp Competition is held for kids and adults both days. The festival includes grilled foods and specialty beers, gourmet wraps and desserts, coffee and pastries. See the complete festival schedule at cedarcreeksettlement.com.

Apple Fest

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 6; Thiensville Park, 250 Elm St., Thiensville

Pies, turnovers and apple brats are on the menu at this community festival hosted by the Thiensville-Mequon Lions Club. The festival also features fresh apples, cider, a pie baking contest, apple crafts and activities for the kids.

Kohler Food & Wine

Oct. 17-20; Highland Drive, Kohler

Meet chefs, winemakers and culinary innovators at this annual festival, and interact in chef-led demos, unexpected tastings and evening soirees. Kohler has announced the headlining chefs for this year's event will include Scott Conant, known for his Food Network appearances; Andrew Zimmern, a four-time James Beard Award and Emmy-winning TV personality; Maneet Chauhan, author and and permanent judge on Food Network's "Chopped"; Dominique Crenn, the only female chef in the U.S. with three Michelin stars, for her San Francisco restaurant; Ronnie Woo, the executive chef of The Delicious Cook; Michael Hunter, an outdoorsman, forager, hunter, professional chef and cookbook author; and Jamika Pessoa, a celebrity chef, TV host, and influencer. The event sells out quickly, and early registration is recommended. Visit destinationkohler.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 12 Milwaukee-area food festivals this summer and fall