Mexican, Puerto Rican, Caribbean And Latin Fests Draw More Than $35.5M Into Milwaukee's Local Economy Per Year

The Latino/Hispanic festive invasion in Milwaukee continues to proliferate in Wisconsin and are primarily responsible for more than $35.5M influx into the local economy per year.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 9, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Last year, the 3-day Mexican Fiesta 2023 sponsored by the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (Non-profit) celebrated its 50th Anniversary and attracted more than 110,000 festivalgoers in late August at the Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) and brought an estimated $22M into the local economy during the three-day Summer event (August 25 thru 27, 2023). IRS 990 tax filing link: https://tinyurl.com/4x6h53mn (Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA))

The 1-day Puerto Rican Family Festival 2023 at Veterans Park organized by Yussef Morales on August 20, 2023 brought an estimated $1.5M into the local economy. No total estimated attendance figures have been released by organizer.

The Caribbean Latin American Fest 2023 At Walker's Point on August 5, 2023 organized by Victor Huyke and El Conquistador Latino Newspaper brought in an estimated $1M to the local economy. No total estimated attendance figures have been released by organizer.

Playa Fest 2023, a 1-day Latin beach festival held on August 19, 2023 at Bradford Beach sponsored by Lucky 7 Promo, Pulse Mke Dance Company, Eventerro Party Entertainment and Playa Fest MKE brought an estimated $1M into the local economy. No total estimated attendance figures have been released by organizers.

Summerfest Latin Music Day 2023 on July 7, 2023, which Grupo Niche from Colombia and Tito Puente Jr. from New York performed at Summerfest and drew more than 15,000 of Latino attendees, with an estimated $7.5M economic boost to the City of Milwaukee. Summerfest is operated by Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (Non-profit). IRS 990 tax filing link: http://tinyurl.com/sdwteryf

Other Hispanic events and annual festivals, which includes, the Cinco de Mayo 2023 sponsored by El Conquistador Newspaper, and the annual Mexican Independence Parade and Festival 2023 sponsored by UMOS (Non-profit) are held at the UMOS Corporate grounds at the 2700 block of S. Chase Ave., which brought an estimated combined $2.5M of economic boost to the Southside of Milwaukee. No total estimated attendance figures have been released by organizers.

Editor's note: Major Hispanic festivals in Milwaukee attract more than $35.5M total of estimated combined economic boost annually to the local Milwaukee area and Wisconsin.

The 3-day Mexican Fiesta annually attracts attendance from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Texas and Minnesota, the rest of the festivals and events attract attendance from Illinois and neighboring states.

The estimated economic boost to the local Milwaukee area are based on estimated conservative atttendance figures (unless estimated attendance total figures have been made public by fest organizers), estimates are based for the costs of lodging, food, gas, beverage consumption and local shopping in the Southside of Milwaukee and downtown Milwaukee.

Please note: The HNNUSA estimated economic impact to the local economy by festival attendees from out of state and non-locals was conducted as an independent research and not financed by any major festival or organized event venues. 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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