Choosing between festivals

I heard on the radio this morning and from several coworkers that Irish Fest was a blast and totally packed this weekend. Add this to the list of festivals I have yet to experience and want to. 

There are obviously plenty of people who hit up every single festival throughout the summer. As for me, I’m a bit festival-ed out already after going to Summerfest, Festa Italiana, Bastille Days and State Fair. For someone on a limited budget (me) and for someone who doesn’t want to gain 10 pounds during the summer (me), one has to be choosy! 

So I missed Irish Fest for another year, and I’ll also be missing Mexican Fiesta, which starts this Friday, since I’m all booked this weekend. I think I’d love this fest, too. (though I will be IN Mexico in two months, so that makes it a little better!)

I’ll definitely check these two fests out next summer – I just have to pace myself leading up to them!

Your turn: Which Milwaukee summer festival is the best and why?

Comments

[Tracey]

The free ones! Ha, ha, haaaaaa.

I feel like I am getting old. A couple years ago I would have said Summerfest. I still like Riversplah - although the crowd is getting weird. And Bastille Days although this year there were some crowd problems again.
Is Jazz in the Park considered at festival? I consider that one the most relaxed.
What about Strawberry festival in Cedarburg? Harvest fest is coming up too.

[Dave]

Weird as in dirty.

[Andre]

Really, I don't care for the festivals lately. Summerfest is catering to some crowd I don't belong to. Jazz in the Park is packed by the time I get there, and so on.

There are plenty of things to do in Milwaukee without necessarily hitting up the most popular events. The park system seems to be doing better than it has in the past. There's been a lot of music in the parks this year, which is pretty cool.

I guess I'm off-topic. I dunno. I guess I just prefer going to smaller events on a whim than going to something bigger where it's just marginal food and Miller Lite or MGD. I prefer High Life. For chrissakes, it's the Champagne of Beers.

I'd like to see some of the ethnic festivals on the Summerfest grounds, though.

[bluesphee]

I went to Irish Fest last night and it was awesome. Everyone there seems to have a good time too. It's nice to be able to go to a bunch of stages without a plan and guarantee you'll find something pretty damn entertaining. Plus, who doesn't think Irish Wolfhounds are amazing?

As for my favorite festival? It has to be Summerfest or Jazz in the Park. Everyone complains about Jazz in the Park being too crowded but I really don't get that. The more the merrier I say. I can't understand someone not finding ONE concert they want to go to at Summerfest. The main problem with Summerfest is people getting too wasted for a concert like Rusted Root.

[Andre]

"It's nice to be able to go to a bunch of stages without a plan and guarantee you'll find something pretty damn entertaining."

That's a good point.

I think peoples' complaint about Jazz In The Park being too crowded is that unless you show up before five, you're not going to be able to sit down in the park. Or maybe that's just my complaint. And I don't mind that it's too packed for me. I'm glad people are so excited about it.

And it's not that people can't find a single concert to go to at Summerfest. But for people who don't like crowds, most of those bands are second rate and aren't worth all the hassle. Not all, of course, but it's a general statement.

[Charlie Nash]

I liked the State Fair the best. Tons of food, a little bit of country and much better people watching opportunities than Summerfest.