Public Market Celebrates 18 Years with Annual Harvest Festival

Milwaukee, WISC – The Milwaukee Public Market announced today details for its annual Harvest Festival event, a single-day festival that has grown into one of the most highly anticipated fall events in the Historic Third Ward neighborhood. The 2023 Harvest Festival will take place on Saturday, October 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons, a covered public space located across the street from the market at 423 N. Water Street under the I-794 freeway, adjacent to the Milwaukee River.

This year’s Harvest Festival marks the 18th anniversary of the public market’s opening in October 2005. Admission is FREE and guests will enjoy autumn inspired activities throughout the afternoon. Attendees 21 years of age or older can take part in a fan-favorite tradition of sampling Lakefront Brewery Pumpkin Lager tapped from the market’s giant pumpkin.


A number of the area’s most popular food trucks and carts will be on site, including Street-Za, Flip’s Mini Donuts, Colonel’s Kettle Corn, and Isa’s Artisan Ice Cream. Public market businesses Margarita Paradise and Foltz Family Market will also participate in the celebration by serving up fall inspired food, while other food and beverage offerings will be available in the Public Market building. In addition, Brew City Brand Apparel will host a pop-up discount apparel sale. Draft & Vessel will be onsite featuring a sneak peak of their newest beverage truck slated to open at their next venture, the Giving Tree Garage.

The first 500 attendees at this year’s Harvest Festival will receive a complimentary Devin Williams bobble head, courtesy of the Milwaukee Brewers.


Additional festivities taking place include:

• Live music featuring Frogwater and Barred Owl Stringband

• Build-Your-Own-Scarecrow

• Apple Cider Pressing

• Make-Your-Own Smores

• Harvest Inspired Photo-Op area

• Carve-your-own-pumpkins

• Face painting & balloon artist sponsored by Salvation Army

• Pumpkin Bowling

• Professional Pumpkin Carving

The Riverwalk Commons is a public space recently completed another successful season of the Riverwalk Commons Concert series. In addition to programmed events, the pickleball courts have become one of the more popular amenities in the space.

The Public Market will be accepting donations on behalf of Milwaukee Downtown for the Downtown Milwaukee Dog Park project at this year’s Harvest Festival. For more information about the Milwaukee Public Market, please visit MilwaukeePublicMarket.org or call 414-336-1111.

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