MILK Fest 2026

Join us for the fifth annual MILK Fest hosted by Milwaukee Indie Local Comics on September 26th at 3rd St Market Hall
About this Event

Join us for the fifth annual MILK Fest hosted by Milwaukee Indie Local Comics on September 26th! We will be returning to 3rd St Market Hall from 11-5pm this year with even more artists and cartoonists! This event is all-ages and always free to attend 🤠🐮

We have an awesome special guest line-up this year, and special programming during the fest.
Our special guests for 2026 include:
-Ursula Murray Husted
-Bianca Xunise
-Theo Stultz
-Denis Kitchen
Panel Programming:
12PM • DANDELION: Milwaukee's Comics Residency & A Conversation With Maggie Carroll • What is the Dandelion Residency? How do you apply? Find out the answers and more as we also have conversation with this year's recipient, Maggie Carroll, and discuss her process and the comic she made as part of the residency.

1PM • SPOTLIGHT: Q&A with Ursula Murray Husted • Our special guest Ursula is a lifelong artist, former professor, and advocate for the arts and art history education. She teaches comics classes, lectures, and art history workshops for a range of learners. She is also the creator of the graphic novels A Cat Story and Botticelli's Apprentice. We'll discuss her career and open the floor to audience questions.

2PM • PUNK AND POLITICS: DIY OR DIE! with punk rock, award-winning, and our special guest Bianca Xunise, in conversation with Kamilah Jones of Hard Decora, Ben Heer (40 Days Fresh), and America's Next Top Alternative Cartoonist, Sam Szabo. We'll discuss the subversive nature of making comics and how that aligns with DIY punk ethos.

3PM • SPOTLIGHT: Cris Siqueira Interviews Denis Kitchen • Local cartoonist, vocalist, and co-owner of Lion's Tooth MKE Cris Siqueira will be interviewing Milwaukee-native and UWM alum Denis Kitchen. Denis began his career in the underground comix movement of the late 60s, going on to find success in cartooning, publishing, writing, curation. Oh, and starting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

4PM • A SLICE OF CAKE WITH MILK • Join organizers from St Louis's SLICE, Chicago's CAKE, and MILK on the second stop of their Midwest Cartoonists Unite! Tour 2026. They'll discuss the history of their events, what it's REALLY like to run an art event, and hopefully inspire you to get involved too.

All panel programming with take place on the stage in the main hall of 3rd Street Market.
We'll see you on September 26th!