It's easy to say your favorite Milwaukee summer festival is one of the big boys on the lake. It's not going out on a limb to pick Summerfest, Festa or Polish Fest. But what about the off-water fests? The ones that emphasize neighborhood and family over big-time music acts or delicious ethnic food and drink?

Here's a list of our editorial staff's favorite "non-lakefront" summer festivals, and why we picked them. Please add your own choices using the Talkback feature below.

Molly Snyder Edler
Staff Writer
Pick: Locust Street Festival, June 8

I attended this festival since its very first year (I was in a stroller) and I think I have only missed one. For the past 12 years I participated in the Beer Run, even the summer I was pregnant -- although I did not guzzle the beer. With five stages packed into five blocks, great local music surrounds you from start to finish. However, my favorite part of Locust Street Festival is the people. It provides the opportunity to catch up with so many old and new friends, neighbors and coworkers. Most of all, it's a fantastic place to people watch. You'll see women wearing snakes around their necks, families representing every color of the rainbow and an unofficial gallery of tattoos mixed in with folks from all corners of the city. I especially love bringing my kids to the festival so they can ride their bikes in the closed-off streets until it gets too overcrowded with festival goers. Seeing my kids there makes me remember how much fun I had at Locust Street Festival as a kid and it all feels very circle-of-life-y to me.

Julie Lawrence
Staff Writer
Pick: Great Downer Avenue Bike Race, July 26

This is a tough choice. I love how many smaller festivals -- like the Bay View Bash, the East Side Summer Soulstice or Locust Street Days -- highlight a different Milwaukee neighborhood and truly represent that area's contribution to the eclecticism of the city. My favorites, however, tend to be the ones that have a distinct focus. If you're into bicycling, the Great Downer Avenue Bike Race (July 26 this year) is fast, fun and fascinating to watch. And when it's finished, Downer Avenue transforms into a big outdoor party with music and food.

If you're into another kind of biking, Rockerbox (Aug. 9 this year) is always a good time. All bikes, from café racers to choppers to scooters, are welcome to this badass rumble in Riverwest. The band lineup is usually pretty good, too.

Drew Olson
Senior Editor
Pick: Falls Fest, July 24-27

My favorite thing about the major Lakefront festivals in the area -- Summerfest, Festa Italiana, German Fest, Irish Fest, etc. -- is that so often they facilitate random meetings with people I haven't seen in a long time. It's always fun to catch up, which is why my friends and I adhere to the "two-minute rule." When you see someone you know, your festing companions are obligated to stop and hang out while you catch up with that person for two minutes (it's longer than you think). After that, you have to send your friends on their way, invite the long-lost friend to join your party or pick a place / stage to meet up with your friends in the future.

At the non-Lakefront festivals, the rule doesn't apply. And, I like that. That's why I enjoy two low-key festivals like Tosa Fest and Falls Fest.

I grew up in Menomonee Falls and lived for a time in Wauwatosa. These two festivals give me a chance to catch up with old friends that I don't usually see in other venues.

Falls Fest runs July 24-27 at Village Park in Menomonee Falls. Tosa Fest runs Sept. 5-6 on State Street in Wauwatosa.

Jeff Sherman
President
Pick: Bastille Days, July 10-13

Bastille Days might just be my favorite summer festival, period.  But, for this purpose, it's easily my favorite "non-Lakefront" bash.  Especially opening night, Thursday.  Add the Storm the Bastille Run/Walk, and the festival becomes an oasis of people all through Downtown.  Overall, Bastille is a great event that's about more than just drinking.  Not like drinking's bad, but Bastille has a certain style to it that makes it festive for the drunks and comfortable for the families.  A great setting inside and around Cathedral Square, too.  Oh, and the crepes, chicory coffee, etc.  Yum.  Runner up:  Urban Playground on Downer Ave.  

Bobby Tanzilo
Managing Editor
Pick: St. Constantine & Helen church festival, June 13-15

My favorites have changed over the years, and I like a number of the smaller festivals. Armenian Fest, for example, feels like a family reunion and is inexpensive, unexpected and welcoming. The Highland Games at Old Heidelberg Park are always fun, too. I liked the Greek festival at Annunciation in the past, too, but I haven't experienced it at State Fair Park yet. However, I did visit the Sts. Constantine and Helen church festival in Wauwatosa last year, and I loved it. It's got a small, but bustling neighborhood feel (although the Greek "neighborhood" is now dispersed), great food and a small area for the kids, too. But, it's built heavily around food, as most ethnic fests are, and so if you enjoy Greek food, or trying things you haven't yet experienced, this one's for you.

Andy Tarnoff
Publisher
Pick: Bay View Bash, Sept. 13

One year ago, I would have answered this question differently. I would've said Bastille Days, or perhaps RiverSplash, were my favorite "non-lakefront" festivals. But after my experience at last year's Bay View Bash, it's no contest. I liked the Bash for two main reasons: first, it felt like a real neighborhood get together. I ran into so many neighbors and friends, all with the same appreciation of the area. Second, people took the music seriously. When Brazzaville played, people stood there and listened. No one shouted out, "Play 'Free Bird.'" It felt like a real concert that just happened to be taking place in the middle of Kinnickinnic Avenue. I'm so glad that OnMilwaukee.com's own Amy Schubert brought the Bay View Bash back from the dead. I have really high hopes for 2008's event.