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Budget-savvy families sought free festival access

One of the year's most biggest trends was the overwhelming interest in free admission opportunities. Our guide to getting into Wisconsin State Fair for free became our top-performing page. Summerfest free admission strategies, Irish Fest discounts, and Mexican Fiesta free days all generated significant traffic. Families aren't just looking for things to do—they're looking for smart ways to enjoy Wisconsin's incredible festival scene without breaking the bank. State fair promo codes, festival foods ticket deals, and Piggly Wiggly ticket pricing were among the most-searched terms, confirming that value-conscious content serves a real need.

Sports fever ran high

Milwaukee families showed their passionate sports fandom. A highlight of the summer was Whitefish Bay competing in the Little League World Series. The Savannah Bananas phenomenon was undeniable, with their 2026 schedule showing a return to Milwaukee. Milwaukee Brewers coverage proved equally popular, from winning streaks to popular promotions like Harry Potter Night at American Family Field. High school athletics also commanded attention, with WIAA football and volleyball playoff coverage. Packers Family Night rounded out the sports interest, as families sought the inside scoop on Lambeau Field's summer celebration.

Summer concerts brought communities together

Free outdoor music became a defining theme of summer 2025. Our coverage of the Oasis concert series in Glendale, Summer Sounds at Hubbard Park in Shorewood, and Sounds of Summer in Whitefish Bay all performed exceptionally well. With click-through rates approaching 40% for some concert series queries, it's clear that families prioritize these community gathering opportunities. Beer gardens paired naturally with this content, as Klode Park Beer Garden, Estabrook Beer Garden, and Bayshore's offerings all drew substantial interest from readers planning their summer evenings.

Halloween + The Great Pumpkin Festival

Along with trick-or-treating, Whitefish Bay's Great Pumpkin Festival earned its place as one of our most beloved fall traditions. With thousands of page visits, this community celebration resonated deeply with readers. The event's blend of family-friendly activities, pumpkin displays, and community spirit clearly struck a chord with North Shore families looking for quintessential autumn experiences.

Holiday traditions and winter planning

As the year wound down, holiday content gained momentum: Whitefish Bay's Holiday Stroll, breakfast with Santa and other guides helped families plan magical seasonal experiences. Christmas parade schedules and winter forecasts (including the ever-popular Farmer's Almanac predictions) showed that our readers look to us for year-round family planning. Turkey Trot guides also resonated strongly, as families prepared for Thanksgiving morning traditions.

Local food and drink discoveries

George Webb emerged as an unexpected star of our food coverage, driven largely by the Brewers' winning streak promotion and families seeking their nearest location. Beer garden guides proved perennially popular, while emerging trends like dirty soda near Milwaukee showed readers' appetite for discovering new local food experiences. The intersection of food and community events—from Oktoberfest at the Bavarian Bierhaus to festival food guides—remained a sweet spot.

Community pride shined through

Fourth of July parades, farmers markets, and local festivals all reinforced that North Shore families deeply value their neighborhood connections and enjoy getting to know their neighbors doing good things in their communities.

Outdoor + nature adventures

Outdoor searches clustered around specific parks and place-based guides—Klode Park, Kletzsch Park, Oak Leaf Trail, Schlitz Audubon Center, Mequon Nature Preserve, as well as spring clean-ups. This category spikes when families need a reliable default plan: something free, flexible, and restorative. Especially in shoulder seasons, your park guides are basically a local mental-health resource disguised as recreation.

Indoor + rainy-day activities

This category was smaller in total visits, but the intent is there: it’s the “the weather ruined everything and we need a backup plan” search. Queries leaned toward pools, museums and indoor entertainment options (the kind of thing you search right before you leave the house).

Here’s to more adventures in 2026!!

See you out there,
North Shore Family Adventures

P.S. Forward this guide to anyone still asking, “What did we do in 2025???”