Sheboygan
Around Sheboygan
Photo: Jordan M. Lomibao · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Wisconsin · 118k people
Sheboygan
“Bratwurst Capital of the World”
Where the lake meets the brat.
Navy
Welcome to Sheboygan, where the lake is always near and the brats are always hot. Get ready for some serious Friday fish fries and a community that loves its summers.
Clubs for Sheboygan
No clubs for Sheboygan yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Sheboygan. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Sheboygan. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Kohler Andrae State Park Dunes and Lake Michigan shoreline with miles of trails.
- Bookworm Gardens Storybook-themed botanical garden.
- John Michael Kohler Arts Center Renowned for folk and self-taught art.
- Sheboygan County Historical Museum Local history in a historic home.
- Vollrath Park Lakefront park with beach and views.
- Sheboygan Riverfront Riverwalk with shops and eateries.
- Outdoors Hiking the dunes at Kohler Andrae State Park
- Outdoors Fishing for salmon on Lake Michigan
- With kids Exploring Bookworm Gardens
- With kids Visiting the Children's Museum of Sheboygan
- Evenings Supper club dinners and drinks
- Evenings Brewery taprooms downtown
- Locals love Supper clubs
- Locals love Brat stands
Through the year
- Bratwurst Day August A citywide celebration of the bratwurst, with grills everywhere and parades.
- Sheboygan County Fair July Classic county fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Sheboygan Riverfest Summer Live music, food vendors, and family activities along the riverfront.
- Sheboygan Jazz Fest Spring A weekend of jazz performances in downtown venues.
- Kohler Food & Wine Experience Fall A culinary weekend featuring top chefs and wine tastings.
Lake Michigan keeps Sheboygan cooler in summer and milder in winter, with lake-effect snow. The best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Late spring through early fall
Talk like a local
- “The Sheb”
- Local shorthand for Sheboygan.
- “The Falls”
- Short for Sheboygan Falls.
- “The Kohler”
- Refers to the village of Kohler.
- “Up north”
- Anywhere north of the Fox Valley, a common weekend destination.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Lakeland University Muskies NCAA Division III
- Sheboygan A's Wisconsin State League
Also rooting for Milwaukee Brewers (MLB), Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), Green Bay Packers (NFL)
Eat and drink
- Bratwurst Sheboygan‑style bratwurst, often served on a hard roll
- Cheese curds Fresh, squeaky cheese curds from local dairies
- Friday fish fry A Wisconsin tradition, with perch or cod and all the fixings
- Sheboygan hard rolls Crusty rolls specifically made for bratwurst
Where people go
- Supper clubs Classic Wisconsin dining spots, often with a Friday fish fry
- Brat stands Outdoor grills and stands serving brats, especially during summer
- Lakefront parks Parks along Lake Michigan for swimming, picnics, and sunsets
- Dairy farms Working farms that define the agricultural landscape
Heritage and traditions
Sheboygan is proud of its German and Dutch heritage, its title as the Bratwurst Capital of the World, and its strong manufacturing and arts community.
This time of year in Sheboygan
- Sheboygan Oktoberfest fall German heritage celebration with brats, beer, and polka
- Sheboygan Oktoberfest October German heritage celebration with brats, beer, and polka
Say it like a local: “Bubbler” — Drinking fountain
Festivals
- Cedar Grove Dutch Festival July Celebrates Dutch culture with food, music, and a parade
- Sheboygan Oktoberfest October German heritage celebration with brats, beer, and polka
- Sheboygan County Dairy Breakfast June A county-wide breakfast featuring local dairy products
Landmarks with a story
- Sheboygan Indian Mound Park Ancient Native American effigy mounds
- Kohler Village Historic District Planned company town for Kohler employees
- Sheboygan Breakwater Light Lighthouse guiding ships into the harbor
- Oostburg Dutch Reformed Church Historic church at the heart of the Dutch community
Food traditions
- Cannibal sandwiches Raw ground beef on rye with onion and salt, a Wisconsin holiday tradition
- Dutch letter pastries S-shaped almond paste pastries from the Dutch community in Oostburg and Cedar Grove
Music and arts
- Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra A local orchestra performing classical and pops concerts
- Polka music A staple at German heritage events and festivals
- Arts/Industry residency A program at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center where artists work in the Kohler factory
A little history
- 1834 First permanent settlement by European immigrants
- 1873 John Michael Kohler founds the Kohler Company
- 1880s Dutch immigrants settle in Oostburg and Cedar Grove
- 1900s Sheboygan becomes known as the Bratwurst Capital
Rivalries
- Sheboygan North vs. Sheboygan South high school football The city's biggest prep rivalry, drawing large crowds.
- Sheboygan vs. Manitowoc Friendly lakefront rivalry over who has the better harbor and fish fry.
- Sheboygan vs. Appleton Fox Valley bragging rights for dining and beer culture.
- Sheboygan A's vs. local amateur baseball teams Summer league competition across the region.
- Game day Friday night lights
- Game day Ice fishing tournaments
- Outdoors Ice fishing on Lake Michigan
- Outdoors Snowmobiling on area trails
- With kids Attending the Cedar Grove Dutch Festival
- With kids Visiting the Kohler Design Center
People in Sheboygan speak with a typical Wisconsin accent, featuring a raised 'a' in words like 'bag' and 'rag', and often use 'ope' as an apology. They also use terms like 'bubbler' for a drinking fountain and 'pop' for soda.
Only here
- Sheboygan is the 'Bratwurst Capital of the World.'
- The 'Sheboygan Hard Roll' is a unique bread roll.
- The Dutch communities of Oostburg and Cedar Grove hold an annual Dutch Festival.
- The Kohler Company has its headquarters and factory here.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to pronounce 'Sheboygan' as 'shih-BOY-gun'.
- Be prepared for cold winters with lake-effect snow.
- Try a brat on a hard roll with stadium mustard.
- Attend a Friday fish fry at a local supper club.
- Get a cheesehead hat to show your Wisconsin pride.
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Nearby
Every areaManitowocWisconsinHome of the sundae and the submarineFond du LacWisconsinA lakeside town with a big Wisconsin heart.Oshkosh–NeenahWisconsinWhere the river runs and the skies are aliveAppletonWisconsinWhere the Fox River winds through friendly neighbourhoodsMilwaukeeWisconsinWhere every Friday is a fish fry and every beer tastes like home.Green BayWisconsinWhere the bay meets the frozen tundra, and the cheese is always fresh.Beaver DamWisconsinWhere the marsh meets the lakeWatertownWisconsinWhere the river meets the prairie and the lakes hold your memories.
Sheboygan, WI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.