Thiensville Blues Fest Brings Blues, Bikes & Brews to Village Park

Looking for one more big outdoor festival before fall officially takes over? Thiensville Blues Fest returns Saturday, September 19, 2026, with 12 hours of live music, food, craft beer and family activities along the Milwaukee River.

The “Blues, Bikes & Brews” festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Thiensville Village Park, 250 Elm Street, with live music beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing into the evening. The official lineup features five main-stage acts plus recurring sets from Tom Holland & The Shuffle Kings on the Pavilion Stage.

It’s an especially easy option for North Shore families: Village Park has a playground, restrooms, picnic areas and a riverside setting, and the festival adds a Kids Zone, food trucks, marketplace vendors and an afternoon hayride.

For more ideas happening around the same time, browse our Milwaukee-area fall activities and seasonal guides, including the Milwaukee Area Oktoberfest Guide and our roundup of Milwaukee-area festivals.

Thiensville Blues Fest 2026 at a Glance

When: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Live music: 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
Where: Thiensville Village Park, 250 Elm Street, Thiensville
Theme: Blues, Bikes & Brews

You can find the latest festival information through Downtown Thiensville's official Blues Fest page. (DOWNTOWN THIENSVILLE)

2026 Thiensville Blues Fest Music Lineup

The day is built around nearly continuous blues music, with performances split between the Main Stage and Pavilion Stage.

Pavilion Stage

11 a.m.–noon: Tom Holland & The Shuffle Kings

Tom Holland & The Shuffle Kings return for shorter sets throughout the afternoon and evening at:

1:30–2 p.m.
3:30–4 p.m.
5:30–6 p.m.
7:30–8 p.m.

Holland has spent decades touring the blues circuit and has performed alongside artists including John Primer, Eddy Clearwater and James Cotton. (DOWNTOWN THIENSVILLE)

Main Stage

Noon–1:30 p.m. — Cameron Webb & His Soul & Blues Revue

Chicago-born Cameron Webb brings a mix of gospel roots, soul and blues to the opening Main Stage slot.

2–3:30 p.m. — Third Coast Blues Collective with Benny Rickun & Big Al Dorn

The regional blues collaboration will be joined by harmonica player Benny Rickun and guitarist Big Al Dorn.

4–5:30 p.m. — Otto Junior Band

The Norwegian blues group mixes Chicago blues, rhythm and blues and soul.

6–7:30 p.m. — Paul Filipowicz Blues Band

Wisconsin blues veteran Paul Filipowicz takes over for an evening set built around his distinctive guitar work.

8–9:30 p.m. — Sheryl Youngblood Band

Sheryl Youngblood closes the festival's Main Stage schedule. The Delmark recording artist has spent more than four decades performing as a vocalist, drummer, bandleader and music director. (DOWNTOWN THIENSVILLE)

Family Activities Throughout the Day

This isn't only a music festival.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., families can visit the Kids Zone presented with Elite Sports, along with marketplace shopping around the park.

A hayride with the Mequon-Thiensville Lions is scheduled from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

Food trucks will also be serving throughout the festival, making it easy to settle in at the park for several hours rather than trying to time your visit around a single performance.

And because the festival takes place at Thiensville Village Park, families also have access to the park's playground, walking areas and Milwaukee River setting.

Craft Beer Tasting

One of the festival's signature activities is the Craft Beer Tasting from 5 to 7 p.m., presented by Beer Capitol and Lakefront Brewery and sponsored by American Family Insurance.

Tickets are $25 and include eight craft beer samples, snacks and one full-size beverage from the festival beer garden.

Purchase craft beer tasting tickets from Downtown Thiensville.

The larger festival beer garden, food trucks and motorcycle parking are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the Lakefront Brewery Craft Beer Garden continuing from 7 to 10 p.m.

Enter the Beardsconsin Beard Contest

Feel like your facial hair deserves its own moment on stage?

The Beardsconsin Beard Contest runs from approximately 3:45 to 5:45 p.m., with prizes for standout beards, mustaches and other facial hair.

Participants can check in beginning at 3:45 p.m., with winners announced around 5:45 p.m. at the Main Stage.

The contest includes prizes from Beardsconsin and Fibonacci Mustache Wax.

Register for the Beard Contest.

More Festival Activities

The full Saturday schedule also includes:

• Food trucks and the beer garden from 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Free motorcycle parking from 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Kids Zone and marketplace shopping from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
• 50/50 raffle ticket sales from 10 a.m.–7:50 p.m., with the winner drawn at approximately 7:55 p.m.
• Live music from 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
• Hayrides from 3–5:30 p.m.
• Beard Contest from 3:45–5:45 p.m.
• Craft Beer Tasting from 5–7 p.m.
• Lakefront Brewery Craft Beer Garden from 7–10 p.m.

Plan Your Visit

Thiensville Village Park is located at 250 Elm Street in Thiensville. The 16-acre riverfront park includes parking lots, restrooms, picnic areas, a playground, pavilion and walking paths. (Thiensville Official Website)

With music running throughout most of the day, you don't necessarily need to arrive right at 10 a.m. Families may want to come earlier for the Kids Zone and marketplace, while anyone primarily interested in the beer tasting and headlining blues acts can make it a late-afternoon and evening outing.

And if you're filling out the rest of your fall calendar, check out our Milwaukee Pumpkin Picking Guide and Milwaukee Area Oktoberfest Guide for more September and October adventures.