15 Things to Eat, Drink and Do at Cedarburg’s Strawberry Festival

Summer in southeast Wisconsin officially kicks off when historic downtown Cedarburg goes berry-crazy for two days each June. The Cedarburg Strawberry Festival returns June 27–28, 2026, proudly presented by Summit Credit Union, bringing nearly 100,000 visitors to one of the Milwaukee area’s favorite free summer festivals.

For two days, Washington Avenue fills with strawberry treats, live music, family activities, food booths, local shops, and Arts on the Avenue, a juried showcase featuring more than 250 artists from across the Midwest. Cedarburg sits about 25–30 minutes north of Milwaukee, making it an easy day trip from the North Shore and greater Milwaukee area.

With so much packed into one walkable festival footprint, it helps to have a plan. Here are 15 things to eat, sip, see and do at the 2026 Cedarburg Strawberry Festival.

Want the full rundown on parking, hours, shuttles and festival basics first? Start with our complete Cedarburg Strawberry Festival 2026 guide.

Know before you go

The 2026 Cedarburg Strawberry Festival runs Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 in historic downtown Cedarburg.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the Festivals Community Main Stage open until 9 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Location: Downtown Cedarburg along Washington Avenue

Street parking can be limited, but convenient parking and free shuttle service will be available from Wilo, Circle B Bowling off Highway 60, and Cedarburg High School/Webster Middle School. Check the Festivals of Cedarburg website before you go for the latest parking and shuttle details.

1. Bite into a Strawberry Brat

This is one of the signature bites of the weekend. Stop by the Festival Food Booth in the Festival Food Court for Strawberry Brats and Strawberry Chicken Wraps, with proceeds supporting the world champion Cedarburg High School Robotics Club and Festivals of Cedarburg.

Wisconsin took a brat, added strawberry, and somehow made it work. Trust the process.

2. Order the classic strawberry shortcake

If you do nothing else, do this. Strawberry shortcake is one of the festival’s signature treats, piled with fresh berries and whipped cream and served throughout the weekend.

It is the photo, the tradition, and the reason half the crowd showed up. Grab one early before the lines build.

3. Sip Cedar Creek Winery’s Strawberry Blush

No Strawberry Festival visit feels complete without a glass of Strawberry Blush from Cedar Creek Winery, where Festivals of Cedarburg first began back in 1974.

The refreshing, fruit-forward wine is a longtime festival favorite and one of the easiest ways to toast the start of summer.

4. Start Sunday with the Strawberry Pancake Breakfast

Set your alarm. On Sunday morning from 8 to 11 a.m., weather permitting, Cedar Creek Settlement hosts the popular Strawberry Pancake Breakfast on the north end of the festival.

It is one of the most charming traditions of the weekend and a smart way to enjoy Cedarburg before the biggest afternoon crowds arrive.

5. Explore Strawberry Alley

Strawberry Alley, located on Columbia Road in the heart of downtown, is where strawberry lovers should make a beeline.

This is the spot to hunt for strawberry treats galore, from classic desserts to more unexpected festival favorites like strawberry pizza. If your goal is to try as many berry-inspired foods as possible, start here.

6. Try strawberry crepes at Cedar Creek Settlement

Thin, warm and folded over fresh berries, strawberry crepes are a fan favorite tucked into the Cedar Creek Settlement area.

They are a little more sit-down-and-savor than the grab-and-go shortcake, and well worth the detour off the main avenue.

7. Grab chocolate-covered strawberries

Sometimes the simplest version wins. Plump, fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate show up around the festival, and they are the perfect thing to share while you stroll.

Or not share. No judgment.

Still hunting dessert after you leave? Greater Milwaukee takes its sweets seriously. See our ranking of the best frozen custard in the Milwaukee area.

8. Cool off with a strawberry slushie

When the June sun is doing its thing on Washington Avenue, a bright red strawberry slushie is the move.

It is the kid-pleaser of the festival, but adults reach for them just as often. Easy, refreshing and very on-theme.

9. Take home fresh berries

Fresh strawberries will be available at booths throughout the festival, so you can keep the celebration going after you leave.

Stash a quart in a cooler in the car and you have shortcake, smoothies or jam waiting for the week ahead. Want fresh berries all summer long? Our 2026 North Shore Milwaukee Farmers Markets guide maps out where to find local produce throughout the season.

10. Settle into the new Third Space Brewing Beer Garden

Strawberries are not the only local flavor on tap. Adults can relax at the new Third Space Brewing Beer Garden, featuring a festival-exclusive Strawberry Blonde.

It is a good shaded break between food booths, live music, shopping and wandering through historic downtown. If you love the festival beer garden vibe, keep the summer going with our guide to beer gardens near Milwaukee’s North Shore.

11. Browse Arts on the Avenue

The festival doubles as a major outdoor art event. Arts on the Avenue features more than 250 artists from across the Midwest, with paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, fine glass, woodworking, photography and more.

Presented in collaboration with the Cedarburg Cultural Center, the Cedarburg Art Museum and the Cedar Creek Settlement Merchants Association, the juried show is one of the best reasons to slow down and explore beyond the food booths.

This is where you find the handmade pottery, photography, jewelry and small-business finds you will actually keep.

12. Watch artists bring Cedarburg to life

Cedarburg’s artistic spirit is part of what makes Strawberry Festival feel different from a standard summer street festival.

As you wander through the historic district, look for artists painting, sketching and displaying work inspired by Cedarburg’s stone buildings, creekside views, shops and festival crowds. It is part art fair, part live summer postcard.

13. Let the kids loose at Party in the Park

Cedar Creek Park becomes Party in the Park, sponsored by Landmark Credit Union, with an expanded entertainment lineup, hands-on activities, inflatable bounce houses, bumper boats, the Milwaukee Brewers Street Crew, food, marketplace vendors and even a live mermaid.

Families can also look for a petting zoo with baby kangaroos and a Family Oasis for little ones who need a break from the excitement.

It is a smart reset spot if the main drag gets crowded, especially for families with younger kids.

14. Cheer on the CedarQuacker 500

One of the festival’s most popular family events is the CedarQuacker 500, hosted by Habitat for Humanity Ozaukee.

Hundreds of rubber ducks race down the creek Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m., with prizes awarded to the winning ducks. It is silly, quick and exactly the kind of thing kids remember.

15. Wander historic downtown Cedarburg

Do not treat the festival as the whole story. Cedarburg’s downtown is part of a National Historic District, with stone buildings, independent shops, galleries, restaurants, pubs and historic sites just off the main avenue.

Live music spills across multiple stages, including the Cedar Creek Settlement Stage, Lions Club Stage, Bella Lei Beauty Stage, Mel’s on Mill Stage and the Festivals Community Main Stage presented by The Elbow Room, which stays open until 9 p.m. Saturday.

Save time to explore Cedar Creek Settlement, pop into local shops, and maybe stick around for dinner after the strawberry rush. If you want a sit-down meal beyond festival food, browse our guide to Cedarburg restaurants, our ranking of the best burgers in Cedarburg, or our list of the best burgers in Ozaukee County.

Bonus: Start Saturday with the Berry Big Run

If you like your festival day with a little movement first, the Berry Big Run 5K Run/Walk kicks off Saturday morning at 8 a.m. from Centennial Park.

Hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ozaukee County, the race winds through the scenic neighborhoods surrounding downtown Cedarburg before the festival day fully gets going.

Bonus: Visit the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts

Just outside the festival grounds, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts will feature special exhibits and hands-on family activities during the weekend.

It is a quieter stop for art lovers of all ages and a good option if your family needs a break from the biggest crowds.

What to bring

Bring sunscreen, comfortable shoes, a refillable water bottle, and cash for smaller food and art vendors. If you are coming with kids, a wagon or stroller can help, but expect crowded sidewalks and uneven spots around historic downtown.

A small cooler in the car is also a good idea if you plan to take home fresh strawberries.

Make a summer day of it

Cedarburg Strawberry Festival is one of those Wisconsin summer events that feels bigger than the sum of its parts: a little food festival, a little art fair, a little music crawl, a little family day trip, and a lot of strawberries.

Come hungry, arrive early, and leave room for at least one thing you did not plan to try.

Looking for more summer ideas? Keep exploring with our Free Outdoor Live Music in Greater Milwaukee guide, Milwaukee North Shore Free Outdoor Concerts Guide, North Shore farmers markets guide, and beer gardens near Milwaukee’s North Shore.