The live experience
What reaches the room
The Indian Summer Festival was once the largest Native American cultural celebration in the United States, rooted in Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds). Beginning in the mid-1980s, this multi-day event celebrated Indigenous culture through pow wows, drum circles, concerts, food, and crafts. While the festival itself is no longer actively produced—according to the official organization’s information site—the legacy lives on through its influence on Native music, visual arts, and community gatherings. This performer page highlights the history, notable programs like the Indian Summer Music Awards (ISMA), and how fans can stay connected to Indigenous arts today.