Mile of Music
- Dates
- Aug 5 to 8, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Downtown Appleton (multi-venue)
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 10, 2026
Mile of Music returns to Appleton, WI, Aug 5 to 8, 2027. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
Mile of Music is a free festival of 100% original music held along the walkable College Avenue in Downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. It started in 2013, and its 13th edition ran from 30 July to 2 August in 2026. Hundreds of emerging artists play more than 30 venues, including coffee shops, parks, bars, galleries and public spaces, and more than 90,000 people visited in 2025.
How it works
Mile of Music is free to attend: no ticket is required, and visitors walk into any official venue as capacity allows. The 14th edition is scheduled for Thursday 5 August to Sunday 8 August in 2027, with 3 to 6 August in 2028 and 2 to 5 August in 2029 also listed. A festival app and printed guides at official venues help visitors plan which sets to see, and every artist performs their own work with no covers.
Who it suits
The festival is all ages, although about half of the venues are 21+, and a valid ID is needed to buy alcohol or enter the 21-and-over venues. The music is original roots music from singer-songwriters, duos and bands, ranging from indie and folk-rock to soul, bluegrass and more. The Music Education Team also hosts songwriting workshops and drum circles for visitors who want to make music.
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Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Mile of Music on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
Nearest airport ATW.
How do I get to Mile of Music?
By car
Most people drive to Mile of Music. The nearest major airport is ATW, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
Appleton has a genuine downtown intercity coach terminal (Greyhound/Lamers) a short walk/rideshare from the festival footprint on College Avenue. Separately, Amtrak operates a Thruway Motorcoach connector bus from Appleton to real Amtrak train stations (Milwaukee Intermodal, Columbus WI, Portage WI, or St Paul MN), this is a genuine Amtrak-branded bus service, not a train itself; noted here as its own bus option since Appleton has no direct rail (see train entry below). Bus station is reported closed on Sundays.
Book / infoAppleton's city bus system; the festival's own 2026 FAQ page directs attendees to Valley Transit as the public-transit option. Runs roughly 6am-just after 10pm, no Sunday/holiday service, standard fixed-route city bus (not airport-dedicated, but reachable from the terminal area).
Book / infoFestival shuttle
Kobussen Buses offers a pre-bookable charter shuttle from ATW; several of Mile of Music's own official partner hotels near the airport (Comfort Suites Appleton Airport, Best Western Plus Appleton Airport/Mall) likely run their own guest courtesy shuttles per standard hotel practice, but none of this is a festival-run shuttle, check per-hotel directly.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Local taxi (Fox Valley Cab, 920-734-4545) and limo (Aloha Limousine, 920-757-5959) also serve the airport.
Book / infoTaxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
No on site parking. Use nearby lots or transit.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at ATW
There is no on site parking at the venue, so if you are hiring a car it is worth sorting nearby parking or a park and ride before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the center of Appleton. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
Downtown Appleton (multi-venue)
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Mile of Music?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
≈ $80-180 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check ratesMid-range hotels 1
≈ $160-340 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check ratesTreat yourself 2
Airport hotels 1
≈ $80-170 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check ratesAirbnb & private camping
Downtown Appleton (College Avenue corridor) has a real short-term-rental supply; expect meaningful surge pricing given Mile of Music's official partner-hotel copy itself warns hotels 'fill up quickly' across the 4-day festival footprint.
Search AirbnbMile of Music is a downtown urban multi-venue crawl with no on-site camping and no realistic private-land camping/glamping alternative within a practical distance of the festival footprint. Hipcamp is not a meaningful option for this festival.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Downtown Appleton
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
Got fresher info? Tell us, a real person checks every tip, and we love fresh info.
Quick answers
When is Mile of Music 2027?
Aug 5 to 8, 2027
How much are Mile of Music tickets?
Entry is free.
Where is Mile of Music held?
Downtown Appleton (multi-venue), Appleton, WI.