Madison is well-known for its outstanding music festivals, including one festival that culture-seekers and locals look forward to all year—La Fête de Marquette. It’s one of Madison’s largest outdoor music festivals that celebrates dozens of cultures through music, food, local art and family-friendly fun. And guess what? Admission is free!  

This year, the renowned weekend-long festival is celebrating 20 years in Madison, solidifying its status as a don’t-miss Madison tradition. In fact, the “Fête” is one of the best ways to experience Madison neighborhoods. It’s held in an eclectic Madison area known as the Wil-Mar neighborhood, a place made for cultural festivals, especially one that’s as colorful and celebratory as the Fête.  

This year the festival will take place July 9–12 and it’s held the same weekend as the Art Fair on the Square, which means you can combine two artful escapes into one event-packed weekend! Stay overnight to make a full weekend out of it and deepen your cultural connection to our city. 

And there’s something new this year at Fête de Marquette that you shouldn’t miss: Madison’s Irish Fest, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday as part of the Fête. There will be plenty of traditional Irish music to enjoy, from acts like the Lilies of the Midwest and the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance.  

Jump around to plan your festival weekend

La Fête de Marquette

Know Before You Go:

Date: Thursday, July 9–Sunday, July 12
Location: McPike Park
Cost: Free
Parking and transportation: On-street parking is available, but limited, throughout the Wil-Mar neighborhood. The South Livingston Street parking garage is a 10-minute walk from the park. Walking, biking and taking public transportation are highly recommended. Bike parking is available at the entrance at the corner of Brearly and Few streets.  

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More Things to Do This Weekend

To create the ultimate creative getaway weekend, spend plenty of time chilling out to tunes at La Fête de Marquette, of course, and then be sure to leave time to explore Art Fair on the Square!  

Put on by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), it’s an art-packed fair held since 1958 right in the heart of Madison on the Capitol Square. Over 500 local and international artists will present their very best works for purchase, with pieces ranging from stained glass to jewelry to sculptures to paintings and much more. And just like Fête de Marquette, admission is free. To experience Art Fair on the Square like a local, head to our page on everything you need to know. 

You can discover even more events happening the same weekend, like Saturday’s Concerts in the Park Series, where live music will be performed by the Capitol City Band. Then there’s always the Dane County Farmers’ Market, where you and your family can soak up Madison’s culture and flavors at Breese Stevens Field, a fun change of scenery as it moves from its usual location on the Capitol Square!  

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Recommended Hotels 

To make it a long weekend, there are plenty of hotels (along with eateries and brewhouses) to be found near Fête de Marquette and McPike Park. They include:  

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Places to Eat + Drink

To Eat

To Drink 

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More Arts & Music Festivals 

Madison never has a shortage of arts and music festivals to explore, which means you can plan multiple cultural weekends in our city. Be sure to check out the Latino Art Fair, the Marquette Waterfront Festival, the Madison Jazz Festival and the Agora Art Fair. You can also attend concerts at cool area music venues like Cafe CODA, North Street Cabaret, The Sylvee, High Noon Saloon and Breese Stevens Field. 

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