Freshwater Food & Wine Festival announces first wave of celebrity chefs, culinary experiences, and festival activations for inaugural year

New lakefront festival debuts September 19–20, 2026 at Henry Maier Festival Park

MILWAUKEE, WI – Tuesday, June 23, 2026 – Freshwater Food & Wine Festival today announced the first wave of celebrity chef headliners, culinary experiences, and immersive activations set to debut during the festival’s inaugural year. Designed as a celebration of food, wine, hospitality, and pop culture, Freshwater Food & Wine Festival will bring together nationally recognized culinary talent, award-winning restaurants, global wine experiences, live entertainment, and one-of-a-kind activations along Milwaukee’s lakefront. Freshwater Food & Wine Festival will be September 19–20, 2026, at Milwaukee’s iconic Henry Maier Festival Park.

Leading the inaugural lineup is a collection of acclaimed chefs and culinary personalities including Joe Sasto (Bravo’s Top Chef, Chopped, and Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions), George Motz (Chef, author and award winning filmmaker, owner: Hamburger America, NYC) , Elena Terry (WI native as seen on BBQ Brawl, Chopped, Top Chef), Dan Jacobs (Runner Up on Season 21 of Bravo’s Top Chef, Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions), and Tony Scardino AKA Professor Pizza (World Pizza Champion), each bringing their unique expertise, storytelling, and culinary perspective to the festival’s Mainstage through demonstrations, competitions, tastings, and interactive experiences.

Additional featured appearances include Wisconsin television personality and chef Adam Pawlak (Hell’s Kitchen Season 19, Cutthroat Kitchen Winner, Beat Bobby Flay) and beloved Wisconsin humorist, author, and entrepreneur Charlie Berens. Additional celebrity chefs, culinary personalities, and special guests will be announced throughout the summer.

“Freshwater is built like a great music festival—except the headliners are chefs,” said Wes Shaver, Founder and CEO of Freshwater Food & Wine Festival. “We’re bringing together incredible culinary talent, amazing restaurants, world-class wine, live music, and immersive experiences for a weekend that celebrates everything we love about food, drink, and hospitality. There’s simply nothing else like it on the lakefront—or anywhere in the country.”

The festival’s mainstage Performance Pavilion will be transformed into a real-life sound stage inspired by TV competition kitchens. In partnership with Fein Brothers, the stage will feature two working commercial kitchens adorned with full stage lighting, on-stage videographers with large format LED screens, and a dedicated DJ booth. Throughout the day, between headliner acts, the stage will feature notable local DJs; each headliner will have a dedicated DJ and video production for a high-octane experience.

A GLOBAL WINE EXPERIENCE
At the heart of Freshwater is an immersive wine program featuring seven globally celebrated wine regions represented throughout the festival grounds. Curated by Anthony Garcia, Certified Sommelier (WSET Level 2), guests will explore dedicated regional experiences showcasing wines from Spain & Portugal, Australia & New Zealand, France, Italy, South America, North America, and Bubbles—a celebration of sparkling wines from around the world.

“Freshwater Food & Wine festival is an opportunity to bring together a lineup of world class wineries, talented chefs, and the best of what the food and wine industry has to offer. The mission is to create experiences that connect food, wine, and hospitality in a way that is engaging, approachable, and memorable. There is no better place to experience that than at Henry Maier Festival Park, with sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee skyline,” commented Freshwater’s Wine & Beverage Experience Director, Anthony Garcia.

Featured wine partners include Black Stallion Winery, Coppola, Caymus, Veuve Clicquot, Lous Roederer, Gerard Bertrand, Sandeman, Torbreck Woodcutter’s, and more.

RESTAURANT ROW: A CURATED DINING EXPERIENCE
Restaurant Row will serve as one of the festival’s signature attractions, bringing together a curated collection of locally owned and nationally recognized culinary destinations from across Milwaukee and the region. Confirmed participants include DanDan, La Dama Mexican Kitchen & Bar, Carnevor Steakhouse, Lupi & Iris, AYA Mediterranean Cuisine, and Professor Pizza with additional restaurants to be announced in the coming months.

In addition to Restaurant Row’s lineup of nine brick and mortar restaurants, the festival will feature The Flavor Yard, a dedicated food truck park comprised of celebrated locally owned and operated food trucks. A dedicated space for a collection of 3rd St Market Hall vendors highlights food hall entrepreneurs while no lakefront festival is complete without Saz’s, the Saz’s team will make their mark at Freshwater with an all-new festival menu from their Executive Chefs and culinary team. Freshwater is excited to feature Vendetta Coffee, showcasing its proprietary coffee program alongside a curated selection of handcrafted beverages and artisan desserts.

FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES
Beyond the Mainstage programming, Freshwater will feature a collection of immersive experiences designed to transport guests throughout the festival grounds. Among the most anticipated is The Champagne Room, an elevated lounge experience celebrating Milwaukee’s iconic Miller High Life brand. Guests will enjoy curated culinary offerings in partnership with Saz’s Hospitality Group, specialty tastings, vintage archive displays, photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise, and a unique tribute to the Champagne of Beers.

Pearl & Pop, led by the acclaimed team at Black Shoe Hospitality and their New Orleans-inspired concept Maxie’s, will feature an expansive 360-degree Raw & Bubbles Bar experience showcasing oysters, seafood favorites, and sparkling wines from around the world. The experience will be accompanied by live jazz, New Orleans brass music, and French-inspired pop performances throughout the weekend.

Festivalgoers can also gather at Berens Backyard Bar, a spirited celebration of Wisconsin hospitality created in partnership with Berens Brandy. The experience will feature a curated menu of brandy cocktails, creative interpretations of the Wisconsin Old Fashioned, and two days of live local music on the Fox Meadow Stage.

On Saturday evening, guests will have the opportunity to participate in one of the festival’s premier culinary experiences. Led by Wisconsin television personality and celebrated chef Adam Pawlak, the tasting will feature a five-course dining experience prepared by an all-star lineup of award-winning chefs and culinary talent. Each course will be paired with sommelier-selected wines and introduced by the chefs and wine experts behind the experience. Invited chefs include Justin Aprahamian (Sanford), Kyle Knall (Birch / Cassis), Adam Pawlak (Egg & Flour), Joe Sasto (Festival Headliner) and a fifth, surprise celebrity chef to be announced this Summer.

MARKETPLACE & FARMERS MARKETS
Beyond the food and wine experiences, Freshwater will feature two dedicated marketplace experiences celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship, and agricultural heritage of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region.

Guests can explore a curated collection of artisan makers, artists, specialty food producers, and handcrafted goods in the Freshwater Collective, while the Freshwater Farmers Market showcases local growers, fresh produce, farm products, and artisan foods sourced from across the region. Together, these marketplaces create an opportunity to shop and connect directly with the small businesses, makers, and producers who help define the region’s vibrant food and agricultural culture. The vendor applications for the Freshwater Collective and Farmers Market are now open.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Freshwater Food & Wine Festival is proud to welcome award-winning and internationally celebrated Wisconsin artist James Hartel (winner, National Watercolor Society International Show, Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society) as the festival’s inaugural Artist in Residence. Known for his vibrant work and distinctive artistic style, Hartel has created the official commemorative festival poster and artwork for Freshwater’s inaugural year.

Throughout the weekend, guests will have the opportunity to watch Hartel create a new original work live on-site, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at his creative process. Upon completion, the one-of-a-kind piece will be raffled, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the festival’s designated charitable partners, transforming art into a meaningful force for community impact.

CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES
Freshwater Food & Wine Festival is proud to support the JCC Jewish Community Pantry, organizations serving those affected by Kennedy’s Disease, and Children’s Wisconsin as its inaugural charitable beneficiaries. Throughout the festival, guests will have opportunities to support these organizations through auctions, raffles, food drives, and other fundraising initiatives that celebrate the hospitality industry’s commitment to giving back. Additional charitable programs and ways to contribute will be announced in the coming months.

Additional participating restaurants, food trucks, wine partners, additional experiences, and ticket details will continue to be announced throughout the summer in the weeks to come. The online box office will be live on July 1, 2026; General Admission, VIP and other experiences will be available for purchase at that time. Please visit fwfoodandwine.com for festival information. Follow on social media on Instagram and Facebook for daily updates.