Godfrey Y. Muwonge on Milwaukee Festival Culture

There is a reason why Milwaukee is sometimes referred to as the "City of Festivals." For about half of the year, Milwaukee is a city that offers various diverse festivals that everyone can enjoy. There is a long history of festivals in the city that celebrate and acknowledge many cultures and backgrounds. From German Fest to Italian Fest, and the Mexican Fiesta, celebrating the history of the people that make up the population of Wisconsin's largest city is an annual tradition for all to enjoy.

The deep history and love of festivals in this city can be seen at its permanent 75-acre lakefront festival park, known as Milwaukee's Maier Festival Grounds, which holds a festival practically every weekend during the warmer months. People of the city look forward to annual festivals and have made them family traditions. Communities have been sharing their heritage with the rest of the town for many years. It is believed that the first festival was Mai Fest and was held in 1852, and Milwaukee has been holding them ever since.

Mai Fest was a German festival that shared the German culture with the rest of the community. Now, cultural festivals are a staple along with festivals for music and other entertainment. The world's largest music festival, Summerfest, is a staple to Milwaukee's summers. Some of the cultural festivals include Polish Fest, the largest Polish festival in America, Festa Italiana, and the Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival, which highlights Chinese culture through dragon boat races, food, music, dancing, and other activities. Another festival, the Hunting Moon Pow Wow, is a time for Native Americans to celebrate cultures and traditions while also hosting drum, dance, and singing competitions.

From June to November, there is a festival for you to attend that shares a culture. More than 500,000 people attend festivals throughout the year. The sense of community, tradition, and togetherness at these events are aided by the fact that most Milwaukee residents are born in the region. Arts and culture are a huge part of the community, and Milwaukee is even nationally ranked as an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Arts. Whether you live in or are just visiting Milwaukee, you will always be able to learn and experience culture and the arts from around the world.

Godfrey Y. Muwonge is an attorney based in Milwaukee with over 20 years of experience in law. He and his firm specialize in immigration law and Godfrey has even authored a book on immigration reform in America.