The 12th annual Forward Festival will take place Aug. 12-19 with a mix of in-person and virtual events around the Madison area.
This year’s festival includes more than 60 events, an all-time high, that cover a wide range of interests from tech and entrepreneurship to health and social good.
“This past year has demonstrated the need to make opportunities accessible for everyone,” Hilary Stohs-Krause, festival board member and co-owner of Ten Forward Consulting, said in a statement. “With Forward Festival offering in-person and virtual events this year, both options provide an experience that’s just as robust in terms of learning, professional growth and networking.”
Both the flagship Badger Startup Summit and Forward Tech Conference events will be held online and see some changes. The former (Aug. 12) will only feature the 5 Lakes Fireside Chat and Merlin Pitch and Replay sessions, while the latter will take place over two days (Aug. 17 and 19) instead of one.
New in-person events include Branding with Brandy, which discusses comedy in branding, and The Main Street Bazaar, an outdoor night market.
As in other years, many of the events are free, but some require a paid ticket or accept donations, such as Wellness Tips for a Busy Entrepreneur and the Pressure Chamber.
The festival will conclude with the annual Rooftop Social on Aug. 19 at the U.S. Bank Building.
