Freshwater Food & Wine Festival is still more than a month away, but the inaugural Lakefront event is beginning to come into much sharper focus.

Organizers have unveiled another wave of programming for the festival, which will fill the south end of Henry Maier Festival Park Sept. 19-20 with celebrity chefs, culinary competitions, immersive wine experiences, live music, restaurant pop-ups and more.

Among the newest additions: an intimate omakase experience with “Morimoto’s Sushi Master” champion Jason Morimoto; an appearance from NFL Hall of Famer and former Wisconsin Badger Joe Thomas; a “Hell’s Kitchen” reunion; seven wine “regions” featuring more than 80 global wines and even the temporary resurrection of a beloved Milwaukee restaurant.

Freshwater Food & Wine Festival will run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20.

“Freshwater was built around the idea that chefs can command a stage the same way musicians do,” says Freshwater founder and CEO Wes Shaver. “As we continue unveiling the weekend, guests are beginning to see how all of these pieces connect: world-class culinary talent, incredible wine, local restaurateurs & chefs, live entertainment and one-of-a-kind experiences that invite people to participate rather than simply observe.”

New Mainstage experiences

Freshwater’s Mainstage is designed to bring some of the energy of a live television studio to the festival, with chef demonstrations, competitions and conversations scheduled throughout the weekend.

Among the newly announced programs is “How Chefs Think,” featuring “Hell’s Kitchen” alumni Mary Lou Davis and Nikki Hanna. Both chefs will begin with the same Tom Yum curry paste and ingredients, then take them in entirely different culinary directions, offering guests a glimpse at how individual creativity, instinct and technique shape a dish.

“Hall of Fame & Flame” will pair NFL Hall of Famer and former Wisconsin Badger Joe Thomas with Carnevor Executive Chef Mario Giuliani for a program highlighting Hall of Fame Farms, premium Wisconsin beef and Carnevor’s 20th anniversary through live cooking and storytelling.

Wisconsin food fans can also catch “Behind the Scenes with Wisconsin Foodie,” featuring Chef Luke Zahm and “Wisconsin Foodie” creator Arthur Ircink, who will share stories from the show, favorite food discoveries from around the state and insights into the people shaping Wisconsin’s culinary scene.

The opening Mainstage panel, “From Page to Plate: The Chefs Behind the Cookbook,” will be hosted by Visit Milwaukee President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith. The conversation will feature chefs included in Visit Milwaukee’s "Milwaukee Cookbook" discussing the stories and communities behind their food.

Previously announced Freshwater headliners include George Motz, Joe Sasto, Dan Jacobs, Elena Terry, Tony Scardino and Adam Pawlak, with additional programming still to come.

Entertainment & Sunday Funday

Food and wine may be at the center of Freshwater, but organizers are also leaning into the feel of a full-scale festival with live music and entertainment throughout the grounds.

The first wave of performers includes Charlie Berens, B.D. Greer & The Gents, Listening Party, Joe Wray, Sazerac 5, Extra Crispy Brass Band and DJ Shawna.

Programming will range from jazz and brass to acoustic music, DJs and regional bands.

At Pearl & Pop, guests will be able to sip Champagne and enjoy raw bar offerings by Maxie's accompanied by New Orleans-inspired jazz and brass, including performances from Sazerac 5 and Extra Crispy Brass Band.

On Sunday, Milwaukee favorite Joe Wray will bring a high-energy sing-along set to the festival’s Sunday Funday programming. DJ Shawna will also join the Mainstage as musical guest for the featured Midwest Heat culinary competition.

More live acts will be announced ahead of the festival.

Seven regions & 80+ wines

Freshwater has also unveiled its complete wine program, inviting guests to explore seven curated regions spaced out across the Freshwater grounds: Spain & Portugal, South America, California, Italy, France, Bubbles & Sparkling, and Australia & New Zealand.

The program is curated by Freshwater Beverage & Wine Director Anthony Garcia, a Certified Sommelier and longtime hospitality industry professional.

Participating producers include a mix of historic estates, household names, family-owned wineries and contemporary producers, including Veuve Clicquot, Louis Roederer, Chandon, Caymus Vineyards, Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Frank Family Vineyards, Gérard Bertrand, Villa Sparina, Cantina La-Vis, San Marzano, Ricasoli, La Gioiosa and Bodegas Montecillo.

The idea, Garcia says, is to give guests room to enjoy familiar wines while also exploring varietals and regions they may not have experienced before.

“One of the things I love most about wine is that every bottle tells the story of a place,” he says. “My hope is that guests approach each region with curiosity, not intimidation. Taste with an open mind, ask questions, compare styles, and enjoy the journey. There isn't a right or wrong answer in wine, only the opportunity to discover something that speaks to you.”

Among Garcia’s three recommended can’t-miss pours are Louis Roederer Brut Premier, Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon and Gérard Bertrand Clos du Temple Rosé.

“Each offers a different expression of place and craftsmanship,” he says, “and together they capture the spirit of what this festival is all about.”

Intimate omakase on the Lake

One of the festival’s most exclusive new offerings will be The Flight Deck, an intimate Lakefront tasting space featuring a rotating series of chef- and creator-led experiences.

The first will feature Jason Morimoto, winner of Roku Channel’s “Morimoto’s Sushi Master,” who will host a limited omakase experience for just 10 guests per seating. Two seatings will take place on a private lakefront deck.

Tickets for Flight Deck experiences are expected to go on sale in mid-August.

Two additional limited-capacity experiences are also in development with Hill Valley Dairy and Discourse Coffee. Combined, the Flight Deck series is intended to offer guests rare, up-close opportunities to experience food, craft and storytelling away from the larger festival crowds.

Trocadero returns for a weekend

Freshwater will also offer a dose of Milwaukee restaurant nostalgia with the temporary return of Trocadero.

Hospitality veterans Drew Deuster and JJ Kovacovich of Wild Planet Hospitality Group, the restaurant's last owners and operators, will resurrect Trocadero for a special engagement on the festival’s Restaurant Row.

The pair also serve as Freshwater’s beverage management team and share a long history with Shaver, who served as Wild Planet’s director of marketing when the group purchased Trocadero in 2015 and worked with Deuster and Kovacovich on the transition.

For Freshwater, the team plans to reach even further back into Trocadero history, bringing back popular dishes from the restaurant’s original 2001 menu as well as Trocadero’s original Bloody Marys.

The full list of participating restaurants and their festival menus is expected to be released during the second half of August.

Premium add-ons

Guests looking for a more intimate or elevated experience can also purchase tickets for several premium festival add-ons.

Saturday’s Freshwater Supper, curated by Chef Adam Pawlak, will be a five-course celebrity chef dinner limited to 50 guests.

Meanwhile, The Champagne Room will offer an upgraded lounge experience with complimentary Miller High Life, curated bites, exclusive tastings, vintage-inspired hospitality and dedicated amenities.

Tickets for both experiences are currently on sale.

Additional restaurants, food trucks, wine partners, experiences and ticket details will continue to be announced in the weeks leading up to the festival.

Freshwater Food & Wine Festival takes place Sept. 19-20 at Henry Maier Festival Park. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets and additional information are available at fwfoodandwine.com.