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Zócalo Food Park is getting ready to host its very first Michelada Fest, which will take place at the food park, 636 S. 6th St., on Saturday, April 26 from noon to 4 p.m.
The first annual event will not only bring together the city’s best Micheladas in one location, but offer guests the opportunity to enjoy live music, local food trucks and an exhilarating local boxing show.
Even better, the event is made possible with sponsorship from Pilot Project Brewing, an organization that has championed emerging brewers much as Zócalo Food Park has supported food entrepreneurs. Together, the two incubators are creating pathways for innovation and entrepreneurship in the beverage and culinary industries.
The Michelada Competition
The inaugural event will feature the Best of Milwaukee Michelada Competition, a competition during which local bars and restaurants will battle for the title of Best Michelada in Milwaukee. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste unique variations of this beloved beer-based cocktail made with beer donated by Pilot Project Brewing and vote for their favorite. Competing restaurants and bars will have a chance to win both a Judges Choice Award and a Peoples’ Choice Award.
There will also be live music performances, local vendors from MercadoMKE, food from local food truck vendors (to go with your delicious Micheladas) and a festive atmosphere filled with flavor, fun and community.
Make a difference for local youth
Attendees can also watch the UCC Boxing Tournament, a world-class sanctioned boxing show featuring local talent that has also made a difference in the lives of local youth for over 50 years.
The boxing program was founded by Israel “Shorty” Acosta, a former U.S. Olympic Boxing coach and a representative on the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team. The program has become one of the most successful youth development initiatives in Milwaukee, training young athletes to become champions both inside and outside the ring.
Funds for this impactful program will be raised through sponsorships and donations collected during the event. Attendees and sponsors will have the opportunity to support young athletes and contribute directly to the continued success of this life-changing program.
Guests are also welcome to donate directly to the UCC Boxing Program online at the UCC website.
Get your tickets
Tickets for Michelada Fest are just $24.99 each and are available for purchase online. Free parking is available.
Sponsor & vendor opportunities
Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are still available for local businesses that would like to participate in the event. For additional information, please contact Samantha at Events@zocalofoodpark.com.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
