St. Martins Fair

The St. Martins Fair returns to Franklin, Wisconsin from August 30 through September 1, 2026, running along County Highway MM in the community that gives the fair its name. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. each day and the fair runs until 7:00 p.m., with free admission and street parking that makes drop-in visits as easy as planned ones. The fair covers artisan craft booths, food vendors, live regional music, and children’s activities across three days that catch the last heat of Wisconsin summer before the season turns. Franklin sits in Milwaukee’s southwestern suburbs, close enough to the city for an easy day trip and far enough from it to carry the unhurried character of a genuinely local community event.

What You’ll Find on the Grounds

Artisan vendors anchor the fair’s commercial spine, with booths covering handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, textiles, and seasonal goods from regional makers. Food vendors run a range of options across the day — festival standards alongside Wisconsin-specific items that lean toward the bratwurst and cheese-curd traditions the state does reliably well. Live music on the main stage rotates through regional acts across all three days, spanning genres that have historically included folk, country, and Americana. Children’s activity programming gives younger visitors their own space within the fair, with hands-on options that work well for children who need something to do beyond watching adults browse craft booths.

Franklin and the Surrounding Area

Franklin itself is a Milwaukee suburb of about 40,000 with good road access off Interstate 894 and a reasonable stock of local dining and overnight options. The fair’s location along County Highway MM puts it within 20 minutes of downtown Milwaukee by car, which makes it a practical pairing with a broader Milwaukee visit. The city’s South Side has a strong dining and brewpub culture that complements a fair-weekend itinerary well for adults.

Where to Eat Near the Fair

Hennessey’s Tavern and Grill, a Franklin institution with more than two decades of service on South 27th Street, runs a menu that covers Wisconsin tavern food with above-average kitchen execution — the Friday fish fry, a Wisconsin institution in its own right, is the weekly draw that locals build schedules around, and the beer selection runs deep for a neighborhood bar. For a more expansive meal, Tre Rivali in the nearby Milwaukee Third Ward (200 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, open since 2016) has built a following for its Italian-inspired seasonal menu and handmade pasta; the cacio e pepe and the wood-roasted chicken are the dishes reviewers consistently single out. For families wanting a quick and reliable option close to the fair, Blue’s Egg (317 N. 76th St., Milwaukee), open since 2010, is the region’s most praised breakfast and brunch spot — the house-made biscuits with sausage gravy and the smoked trout hash have made it a local institution.

Points of Interest for Families

Whitnall Park, located in nearby Hales Corners and part of the Milwaukee County Parks system, is the largest single park in Milwaukee County at over 600 acres, containing a golf course, the Alfred L. Boerner Botanical Garden, and the Wehr Nature Center. The Nature Center runs environmental education programs specifically geared toward children on weekend mornings — the kind of structured, outdoor programming that parents often appreciate more than children realize until they are inside it. The Milwaukee County Zoo, 20 minutes north, is one of the most well-regarded regional zoos in the Midwest and consistently engages children for a full day. The zoo’s big-cat exhibits and the new primate facility are the sections that draw the longest dwell times from families with children aged 5 to 12.

The Lake Connection

Lake Michigan’s western shoreline is roughly 20 minutes east of Franklin, with Milwaukee’s lakefront parks — Grant Park, Warnimont Park, and the city’s South Shore Beach — offering direct water access for swimming, kayaking, and walking in the days surrounding the fair. Grant Park Beach, operated by Milwaukee County, has consistent water quality and a calmer swimming environment than the more crowded urban beaches further north. For a lakefront rental stay in the region, search Lake.com for properties along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Racine and Kenosha counties, both within 30 to 45 minutes of the fair grounds.