The fun never stops in summer in Vilas County. All season long, you’ll find community festivals, live music, local celebrations and much more throughout the Northwoods. Here are just a few of the events you should put on your calendar when you visit northern Wisconsin this summer.
Find more summer events in Vilas County here.
Live music
If you love live music, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to take in the tunes in Vilas County. Two regularly scheduled events you shouldn’t miss include Boulder Junction’s Music on Main Street, which starts its 2026 on season June 3 and is held every Wednesday through mid-August, and Phelps’ Music on the Lake, which kicks off June 19 and features five concerts throughout the summer. Music on Main Street is part of the weekly Boulder Junction Block Party and takes place at Peeples Park. At Music on the Lake, fans will enjoy live performances on the scenic shores of North Twin Lake.
Water ski shows
A staple of summer in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Vilas County’s water ski shows highlight the stunts and fancy footwork of local ski teams that have been entertaining visitors for decades. Don’t miss the fun at weekly shows in Conover (the Chain Skimmers, who perform on Lake Pleasant), Manitowish Waters (the Skiing Skeeters, Rest Lake), and Sayner-Star Lake-Cloverland (the Plum Ski-ters, Plum Lake).
Learn more about Vilas County’s water ski shows.
Lakes Fest, Lac du Flambeau
Learn about northern Wisconsin’s lakes and the importance of keeping them healthy at this annual festival in early June that also features environmental info and displays, canoe races, kids’ games, live entertainment, and raffles.
Presque Isle Days
Celebrate Vilas County’s lumberjack heritage at this fun annual event in Presque Isle in June. This family-friendly community festival features a lot to enjoy, including lumberjack shows, live music, kids’ games, eating contests, and more.
Summer Party in Phelps
Speaking of water ski shows, head to Phelps in northeastern Vilas County to take in a Chain Skimmers performance at Lakefront Pines Park on July 24 and follow it up with an evening entertainment, including live music, food trucks, and a beer tent.
Arbor Vitae Fireman’s Summerfest
Head to Arbor Vitae in southern Vilas County on the first weekend in August to support the town’s Fire & Rescue Department with two days of live music, lawnmower races, kids’ games, and more.
Sayner-Star Lake Street Fair
Every year on the first Sunday of August, this exciting community event welcomes visitors and locals alike with live music, an arts & crafts show, food and beverage vendors, kids’ activities like bounce houses, and the Plum Lake EMS’s Touch-A-Truck at Plum Lake Community Park.
Musky Jamboree, Boulder Junction
This annual celebration, held in the “Musky Capital of the World”® every August, brings a weekend of fun to the Northwoods, including a street party Friday night, a 5K and 10K fun run on Saturday, and a car show, an arts & craft show and other family-friendly events on Sunday.