After the rainiest April on record, we turn the calendar to May and the start of the Madison-area community festival season. That means beer tents, live music, parades and carnivals. Here’s a guide to all the local community festivals, which will be updated as more information gets published:
| Events | Dates | Status/Of note |
| Syttende Mai (Stoughton) | May 15-17 | This Norwegian celebration kicks off the summer slate of community events. The former 20-mile run from Madison to Stoughton is now a half-marathon in Stoughton and also includes a 5K version. Activities include the strongman competition called the “Viking Games,” Norwegian dancers, the canoe race down the Yahara River and the quilt show. Main bands: Strings to Roam, The Whiskey Farm |
| Festa Italia (Fitchburg) | May 30-31 | Festa Italia has served as Fitchburg’s de facto community event since the end of Fitchburg Days. Annual highlights include the pasta eating contest, the bocce tournament, cooking demos and the Flags of Italy parade. Main bands: Generation Jones, VO5 |
| Verona Hometown Days | May 29-31 | The once four-day event is now three but still crams in a ton of fun. Fireworks take place on Friday, the annual car show is on Saturday and the big parade is on Sunday, with live music and the famous Spin-the-Wheel each day. Main bands: Foo Foo Dolls, Cherry Pie, Old Soul Society |
| Fireman’s Festival (Cottage Grove) | June 11-14 | Unlike the other festivals that have lopped off a day, this one remains at four days. It includes a parade on Saturday, a car show on Sunday, Home Talent League baseball, a kids’ tractor pull and a half-marathon/5K called Hot 2 Trot. Main bands: Music in the Grove, Angels & Outlaws, Shotgun Jane |
| Oregon Summer Fest | June | The Oregon Chamber of Commerce announced in September 2025 that it was discontinuing Oregon Summer Fest due to “rising costs, decreased participation and a lack of volunteers.” |
| Monona Community Festival | July 3-4 | After years of dwindling volunteer help and funds, event organizers announced the 2024 event would be the last, and that finally got the community to pitch in for the 2025 event. This festival hosts the annual Wisconsin Wife Carry Championship and has Drag Queen Bingo, an art fair, fireworks and my favorite event, the $5,000 hole-in-one challenge. Main bands: Foo Foo Dolls, Granny Shot |
| DeForest Area 4th of July Celebration | July 3-4 | For some reason, this event doesn’t have its own website, and as usual, the schedule still hasn’t been published. The festival has fewer events than other festivals but typically has a parade, car show and the most crowded beer tent of all beer tents, plus pony rides and a pickleball tournament. Main bands: TBD |
| Waunafest | July 23-26 | Waunafest is the biggest community event in the area. It has a gigantic beer tent and two live music stages, as well as a parade, arts and crafts fair, a 10M/5K run and a huge grass volleyball tournament called WaunaSpike. Be warned that finding parking around Centennial Park can be difficult. Main bands: The Retrospecz, Granny Shot |
| Sweet Corn Festival (Sun Prairie) | Aug. 19-23 | As the name implies, you can’t attend this five-day event without eating some of the 75 tons of sweet corn, though for some reason it’s only sold on Saturday and Sunday. Since the festival is held at Angell Park, you will see midget car racing and a tractor pull. Note: unlike the other festivals, there is a charge for admission and parking. Main bands: SuperTuesday, Kings of Radio |
| Middleton Good Neighbor Festival | Aug. 28-30 | Held on the last weekend before Labor Day, this event sports a huge art fair, dog show, 5K run/walk, bingo and a parade on University Avenue. In 2021, the festival switched to an open-campus concept, allowing you to drink throughout most of the grounds instead of only inside the beer tent. Main bands: TBA |
| McFarland Family Festival | Sept. TBA | This festival has a different feel, since it’s not located in a park; rather, it’s scattered throughout downtown. Typically, you can attend a car show, vendor fair and a Homecoming parade, and you can watch a prominent local figure kiss a pig. Main bands: TBA |
| WindsorFest | Sept. TBA | This one-day festival includes family-friendly activities, food and live music. Main band: TBA |
RIP: Cross Plains World Fair, Fitchburg Days, Oregon Summer Fest
Tags: Cottage Grove, Fitchburg, McFarland, Middleton, Monona, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waunakee
