10 Music Festivals Worth Traveling To

Summer has arrived here in the Midwest and it is time to be outside enjoying every minute of it. Celebrate your heritage, dance the night away or relax while watching glowing hot air balloons.

We invited a few travel writers to share their favorites with us, here are the best Midwest summer festivals you won’t want to miss!

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Summer Solstice Indie Music & Craft Beer Festival in Illinois

“The Summer Solstice Indie Music & Craft Beer Festival for music lovers is

June 22nd and June 23rd. It’s one of my favorite events in the region. Excellent lineup and love the spirit of the festival organizers.

Sturgill Simpson and Norah Jones have played this in the past, it’s a great collection of alt-country and indie rock, paired with a great crowd, atmosphere, and setting on the Fox River.” Jim from Enjoy Aurora

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The Des Moines Arts Festival in Iowa

“Des Moines is home to one of the Midwest’s largest arts festival. The Des Moines Arts Festival is held

June 22-24, 2018 and features more than 100 artists, live music, a variety of artist demonstrations, and a large and engaging children’s zone with free activities.

There’s a reason why this festival won the coveted International Festivals & Events Association Grand Pinnacle Award for nine consecutive years!” Kim at Oh My! Omaha

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Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

“If you’re a big music junkie, then Summerfest in Milwaukee is a music festival TRULY worth traveling for! Milwaukee is known as the “City of Festivals” so rest assured that we know how to throw an awesome party.

Summerfest really is the world’s largest music festival, bringing in 800,000 to 900,000 people each year during this 11 day event. Summerfest beats Coachella by a long-shot, which brings in (approximately) a mere 99,000 per day for the three-day event. From over 800 acts and performances total, there are plenty of free stages to enjoy with a general admission ticket.

Even if you don’t attend for a specific artist, there’s so much more to enjoy at this music festival from local Milwaukee and Wisconsin delicacies, fantastic comedy acts, family activities, fireworks, and other special attractions and contests!

Summerfest Fun Facts that you may not know:

• Summerfest was initially started by Mayor Henry Maier after visited Germany’s Oktoberfest. He really wanted to throw a party.
• One of the first suggested names for Summerfest was “Juli Spaß” meaning July Fun in German
• Summerfest grounds were a former U.S. Army missile site, which held nuclear weapons.
• The Summerfest grounds almost became a Disney Theme Park.

Summerfest 2018 runs from

June 27 through July 8th. ” Miranda from Miranda Knudtson

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Fair St. Louis in Missouri

“It’s an exciting summer in St. Louis as the newly renovated Gateway Arch grounds welcome back Fair St. Louis!   While the massive construction project was underway, the annual Independence Day festivities were moved to a temporary home in nearby Forest Park.  Now that the beautiful new layout of the park is complete – visitors will enjoy a terrific new atmosphere. Added bonus – it’s also the debut of the brand Arch museum – part of the $380 million renovation. The fun runs

July 4th – 7th.

 July 4th – the world-renowned St. Louis Symphony will headline the main stage.  If you’ve never heard them perform at Powell Hall, they are absolutely incredible. Other performers include Jason Derulo (July 6th) and Martina McBride (July 7th). The highlight is the evening fireworks display over Arch along the banks of the Mississippi River.  Admission is free on all three days.”  Bill from Bill on the Road

 

Related: Top 10 Things to do in St. Louis

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Eaux Claires Music Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

“Based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Eaux Claires is a two-day music festival like you’ve never experienced before. Organized by Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner of The National, this festival began in 2015 and has since become a site for countless indie music collaborations.

What I love most about attending this festival year after year is that you never know who will show up on stage to collaborate! Don’t forget to also build in some time to explore the city of Eau Claire itself, which is full of cute shops, boutique hotels, and a gorgeous riverwalk. This year’s festival runs

July 6th and 7th.” Megan from Olio in Iowa

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Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wisconsin

“Deemed the best Renaissance Faire all over the country, the Bristol Renaissance Faire is our family’s most highly anticipated events. Get transported to the small town of Bristol, Wisconsin in the 1500s where you’ll find costumed actors singing, dancing, or even engaging in swords fights.

Fairies flit about and only interact with children. As you roam through the town, you’ll find entertaining shows (don’t miss the mud show or the real joust competition), market wares, kid-friendly rides and games powered by hand, and of course, ALL the food and drinks. Any experience at the Ren Faire requires a giant turkey leg, cheese fritters, and mead. Trust me, you and the family will have such a merry good time!

The festival runs weekends only from

July 7th through September 3th. ” Cheryl from O the Places We Go

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Waterford Balloon Festival in Waterford, Wisconsin

“The Waterford Balloonfest in Waterford, WI easily puts joy in your spirit with several days of balloon launches and evening glows. The four-day festival also includes hot air balloon races, tethered balloon rides, helicopter rides, live music, a local vendor fair, kids’ activities, a pancake breakfast and even opportunities to meet balloon pilots.

I love this festival because there is so much space to spread out for a picnic and to relax while watching the balloons float off and there is so many additional activities to enjoy. My favorite childhood summer memory is of watching colorful hot air balloons gently float away. This event brings back those warm and fuzzy memories and is definitely one of those hometown festivals that make summer so special!

Mark your calendars for this year’s Balloonfest

July 19-22, 2018.” Melissa from A Little Time and a Keyboard

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Bix Festival in Davenport, Iowa

“The Bix Festival in the Quad Cities is one of my favorite Midwest summer festivals. The festival commemorates Davenport native and 1920’s jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke. On the last Saturday of July, the Bix7 footrace draws competitive runners from all over the world, alongside casual walkers just there for the party.

The Jazz Festival then runs from

August 2-4 at the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, with three days of live music. This is one of the Quad Cities’ most popular festivals, so book your hotel rooms early!” Leigh from Campfires & Concierges

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Other Fun Things to do in Illinois: Take a Ride on Route 66

Tugfest in LeClaire, Iowa

“The Tugfest is a lot of excitement and challenge for LeClaire, Iowa against Port Byron, Illinois. It began in 1987, with ten 20-member tug teams pulling with all of their strength on a 2,700 foot, 680 pound rope that spans the Mississippi River between LeClaire, Iowa and Port Byron, Illinois.

Each year the teams pull to see who will claim the breath-taking alabaster statue of a Bald Eagle in flight. Over 35,000 people view this spectacular and only tug-of-war across the longest river in the United States.

Tug Fest has been featured in travel, vacation magazines, television programming across the country and has received international notoriety on Germany’s “Inside the USA”, “Galileo XXL”,The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Channel’s “Wreakreation Nation”, and PBS television.

August 9th -11th: Carnival wristband night is on Thursday, 5-10pm; $20 for unlimited rides. Parade and huge fireworks display on Friday evening. Saturday morning there is a 5K Run / 1 Mile Fun Run and kids’ tug is at 11am. The main event, tug-of-war across the Mississippi River between LeClaire, Iowa and Port Byron, Illinois, is from 12:30-2:30pm on Saturday. $5 admission charge to the Levee on Friday and Saturday; kids 12 and under are FREE.” Cindy from Visit LeClaire

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Irish Fair in St. Paul, Minnesota

“The Irish Fair of Minnesota is one of the nation’s most authentic Irish festivals and hosts over 100,000 visitors during its three-day run.  Held in St. Paul’s Harriet Island Regional Park, the festival grounds feature stunning views of the Mississippi River and downtown skyline.

Activities include live music, a marketplace with over 60 vendors and artisans, traditional Irish foods, cultural sessions, dancing, an exhibit of native Irish dogs, and an outdoor Sunday Mass.  The best part?  Admission is free! This year’s fair is being held from

August 10-12th.” Stacy from Tangled Up in Food

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Other Minnesota Road Trip Ideas: A Fun-Filled Weekend in the Twin Cities

Maha Music Festival in Omaha, Nebraska

“Omaha has, for as long as I can remember, been known as a great underground music scene. Home to Saddle Creek Records and the location of the Century Link, both gives The Big O plenty of chances for phenomenal acts, musicians and festivals to visit our city, one being the annual music Maha Festival, going on 10 years now! That Maha Festival is now simultaneous with “Summer,” “Omaha,” and “Great Music!”

Past festivals have featured Death Cab For Cutie, Dashboard Confessional, Modest Mouth and other great headliners.  This year’s festival will be at Aksarben Village on

August 17-18 and will have bands like Weezer as well as several local Omaha bands.” Leanna from Well Traveled Nebraskan

Where else you should stop: Road Tripping Across Nebraska

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What are your favorite Midwest summer festivals? Tell us in the comments below!

 

Source : http://www.dangtravelers.com/11-midwest-summer-festivals-worth-traveling-for/

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