Best Craft Fairs in Wisconsin 2026: Top Shows for Vendors & Shoppers
Wisconsin has a craft fair culture that runs deep. Between the Milwaukee metro area, college towns like Madison, and smaller communities scattered across the Northwoods, there's no shortage of events for vendors and shoppers throughout the year. The state's mix of loyal local shoppers and summer tourists (especially in Door County and the lake regions) makes it a solid market for handmade goods.
We pulled together the top craft fairs and maker markets happening across Wisconsin in 2026. All event data comes straight from our verified database. You can browse the full list on TheCraftMap's Wisconsin search page.
Winter and Early Spring Shows
Wisconsin winters are no joke, but that doesn't stop the craft community. Indoor markets, vendor fairs, and community shows keep things going from January through March. These events tend to draw dedicated shoppers who are specifically looking for handmade goods, not just casual browsers.
An arts and crafts fair held at Hortonville High School. A juried show that draws vendors from across the Fox Valley area. Good mix of indoor booth space and community support.
A two-day festival in historic downtown Cedarburg, one of Wisconsin's most charming small towns. Features a juried craft fair at the Community Center alongside ice carving, bed races, and tons of foot traffic from the festival crowd. Great exposure for vendors.
A Valentine's Day vendor fair at the Expo Center on the Fond du Lac Fairgrounds. Juried show with a themed seasonal angle that brings in shoppers looking for gifts. Solid venue with plenty of parking.
A juried craft fair in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin. Draws vendors and shoppers from the greater Milwaukee area looking to shake off cabin fever with some spring shopping.
Vendor tip: Winter shows in Wisconsin have a built-in advantage: people are stir-crazy. After months of cold, shoppers are eager to get out and spend. If you sell candles, soaps, or anything cozy and gift-worthy, lean into the seasonal angle. Bundle deals and gift sets move especially well at Valentine's and early spring events.
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Milwaukee Metro Markets
The Milwaukee area is the hub of Wisconsin's craft scene. With nearly 1.6 million people in the metro, you've got a big audience and a growing maker culture. Brookfield, in particular, has become a hotspot for recurring craft and vendor markets that run throughout the year.
A Friday the 13th maker market in Milwaukee pairing local artisans with wine. Fun themed event with a loyal following. Great for jewelry, art, and handmade goods vendors who want a casual, social atmosphere.
A three-day mid-winter show in Oak Creek, just south of Milwaukee. Multiple days means more chances to connect with repeat shoppers. Good for vendors who want extended selling time rather than a single-day hustle.
A recurring monthly makers market series in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood. Combines craft shopping with a social, drinks-included vibe. Runs monthly from April through the year, giving vendors a reliable recurring slot.
A two-day craft and vendor market in Brookfield timed for Mother's Day gift shopping. Part of a series of seasonal markets run by the same organizer. If you sell anything that makes a good gift for mom, this is your show.
Vendor tip: The Brookfield market series (Mother's Day, Back to School, Spooktacular, Fall, Winter Wonderland) is worth watching. Same organizer, same venue, different seasonal themes throughout the year. Getting into one often opens the door to the rest, and repeat customers will seek you out at each event.
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Green Bay and Fox Valley
The Green Bay and Fox Valley region is Wisconsin's second major market area. It's a tight-knit community that supports local makers, and the events here tend to have a loyal, returning customer base.
A juried gift and craft show at the Resch Expo in Green Bay. The venue is a major event center, so you get professional setup, good parking, and solid foot traffic from the broader Green Bay metro area.
The premier multi-community expo in the Northwoods. Features a diverse lineup of businesses and organizations with extensive marketing benefits and direct connections to potential clients. Great networking opportunity for vendors looking to break into the northern Wisconsin market.
Summer and Fall Season
When Wisconsin finally thaws out, the craft fair calendar explodes. Summer brings outdoor art festivals, lakeside markets, and community events that draw tourists alongside locals. Fall is peak season for holiday shopping prep.
A juried fine art festival in Delafield, in the heart of Wisconsin's Lake Country. Draws a well-off suburban crowd from the Waukesha County area. Strong fit for fine art, pottery, jewelry, and premium handmade goods.
A two-day juried arts festival in Sheboygan on the Lake Michigan shore. One of the more established summer art events in eastern Wisconsin, with a strong reputation for quality. Good for artists and makers who want a curated show environment.
A Halloween-themed two-day craft and vendor market in Brookfield. Part of the recurring Milwaukee market series. Themed events like this tend to draw bigger crowds than generic markets, and shoppers come ready to buy seasonal items.
The holiday season finale of the Brookfield market series. Two days of Christmas shopping with vendors offering handmade gifts, decor, and seasonal products. Prime time for candle, soap, and gift vendors.
Vendor tip: Wisconsin's summer art festivals (Lake Country, Midsummer in Sheboygan) tend to be juried and more selective, but they attract buyers who appreciate quality and are willing to pay for it. If you're a fine artist or make premium handcrafted items, these are worth the application effort. For soap makers, tools like Soaply can help you dial in your recipes before show season hits.
Tips for Vending in Wisconsin
Here's what you should know before setting up at Wisconsin craft fairs:
- Weather prep is not optional. Even spring and fall outdoor events can get cold, windy, or rainy in Wisconsin. Bring weights for your tent (not stakes alone), have a plan for wind, and pack layers. Summer events can swing from 60 to 90 degrees in the same weekend.
- The Milwaukee suburbs are your biggest market. Brookfield, Waukesha, Oak Creek, Franklin, and Cedarburg all have active craft fair scenes with shoppers who have disposable income. If you're new to Wisconsin vending, start here.
- Wisconsin sales tax is 5% plus county surcharges. Most counties add 0.5%, making it 5.5% in practice. Milwaukee County is 5.6%. You'll need a Wisconsin seller's permit from the Department of Revenue. Apply online before your first show.
- Summer tourism changes the game. Door County, the Wisconsin Dells, and lake communities see huge tourist influx from June through September. If you can get into events in these areas, you'll reach buyers from across the Midwest who are on vacation and ready to spend.
- Recurring markets build your business. The Walker's Point series in Milwaukee and the Brookfield seasonal markets run all year. Committing to a recurring market means you build name recognition and repeat customers. It's more sustainable than constantly chasing one-off events.
- Don't sleep on smaller towns. Communities like Cedarburg, West Bend, and Fond du Lac have active, supportive craft fair scenes. The crowds are smaller but the competition for vendor spots is lower, booth fees tend to be more affordable, and the community support is genuine.
Find More Wisconsin Craft Fairs
This guide covers the highlights, but new Wisconsin events are being added to our database regularly as organizers post their 2026 schedules. Browse all Wisconsin craft fairs with filters for date, city, booth type, and more on our Wisconsin craft fair search page.
Planning your 2026 vendor season across multiple states? Search all states on TheCraftMap to find events that fit your schedule and budget.
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