You ’re well - versed on Milwaukee Summerfest , Lollapalooza , and Taste of Chicago . Heck , you ’ve believably attended every small town Fourth of July solemnisation within an time of day radius of your home base . This summertime , it ’s time to skip the local yield - theme festival and furcate out a little further . Hit the road and see to it out these Midwestern festivals that launch the gamut from fun and fascinating to downright bizarre ( looking at you , Testicle Fest ) .

Hustle hard at Movement Electronic Music Festival

Stop and smell the flowers (and gourmet food) at Lilac Festival

Have a ball (or two) at Testicle Festival

Enjoy blues with a view at Chicago Blues Festival

Get artsy ‘til the break of dawn at Northern Spark

Party like it’s 1876 at Wild Bill Days

Say “Uff-Da!” at the Scandinavian Hjemkomst and Midwest Viking Festivals

Attend Des Moines Arts Festival: one of the country’s most diverse art festivals

Celebrate the start of summer at Solstice 2016

Celebrate love at Chicago’s Pride Parade

Celebrate Independence Day at Fair St. Louis

Stuff your face at Pierogi Fest

Party like it’s 1599 at Bristol Renaissance Faire

Bring your best mullet to the Iowa State Fair

Get tipsy on Midwestern vino at Nebraska Wine & Balloon Festival

Avoid eating the “pie” at Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw

Explore Native American culture at The United Tribes International Powwow

midwestern festivals

Chicago Blues Festival | Adam Alexander Photography/Courtesy of Choose Chicago (edited)

movement festival

Movement Festival | Flickr/Zender agenda

chicago blues fest

Chicago Blues Festival | Flickr/Bryan Alexander

nothern spark

Northern Spark | Flickr/Northern Spark 

cleveland solstice

Cleveland Solstice | Flickr/The Zender Agenda

chicago pride

Chicago Pride Parade | Flickr/Jamie bernstein

fair st louis

Fair St. Louis | Flickr/Dave herholz

iowa state fair

Iowa State Fair | Flickr/ieph (edited)

Nebraska Wine and Balloon Festival

Nebraska Wine and Balloon Festival | Flickr/John Carrel

Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw

Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw | Flickr/Marc Buehler