We love our food festivals in Madison, from Taste of Madison to the new True North Food & Music Festival.
But there’s something especially charming about a food festival that’s built around one specific kind of food, one that the locals are particularly proud of. I mean, you have to really love corn to organize the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival, or really love brats to stage the World’s Largest Brat Fest.
Over at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, they love maple syrup (who doesn’t?), and this Saturday is the center’s annual Maple Syrup Fest. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talked to Virginia Wiggen, the center’s education director, about the sweet science behind maple syrup and what this weekend’s festival has to offer.
Here are some other fun festivals coming to Dane County in 2026 that celebrate one particular kind of food.
Wisconsin Cider and Mead Festival (April 11)
Head to Mershon’s Cidery in Stoughton to enjoy unlimited sampling from over 20 different brands, with plenty of products to take home and a souvenir glass.
Doundrins Annual Bloody Mary Fest 2026 (April 18)
This fifth annual event at Cottage Grove’s Doundrins Distilling will feature 15 different Bloody Mary creations developed by their mixologists, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions available. Get a 2-ounce sample of each and vote for your favorite.
World’s Largest Brat Fest (May 22-24)
There’s three days of music and carnival rides for this Willow Island extravaganza. But the main draw is still those Johnsonville brat. In addition to the OG sausage, you can order a jalapeno cheddar chicken brat or a plant-based brat.
Beer, Bacon & Cheese Fest (June 13)
Okay, this is technically three food items. But since they’re three of Wisconsin’s favorites, we’ll allow it. This event in downtown New Glarus offers unlimited samples of all three for ticketholders, and if that isn’t Wisconsin enough, there’s also a Polka Tent.
Strawberry Fest (TBA)
A date hasn’t been set yet for Fitchburg’s summer celebration of Dane County’s delicious crop, but expect lots of strawberry-themed treats and live music.
National Mustard Day (Aug. 1)
The National Mustard Museum has put Middleton on the map. On the first Saturday of August, the city gets all yellow with mustard ice cream and other treats, live music, and activities like “mustard bowling.”
Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival (Aug. 19-23)
Named one of the best food festivals in the Midwest by Islands travel magazine, this August festival trucks in 80 tons of sweet corn for buttered goodness, along with a carnival and live music.
Curd Fest (TBA)
While Breese Stevens Field hasn’t announced the date for the 13th annual festival devoted to fried and squeaky cheese, it usually happens in late August or early September.
Monona’s Chili Cook-Off (Sept. 26)
As a fall chill settles in, head to Ahuska Park to try all kinds of slow-cooked creations from local chefs to warm your insides, from con carne to chicken to vegetarian, and vote on your favorites.
Green County Cheese Days (Sept. 18-20)
Wisconsin’s oldest (or should that be, “aged”?) food festival celebrates our state’s dairy heritage, with a parade, the crowning of a Cheese Days King and Queen, and of course, lots and lots of cheese.
