Milwaukee has been an important breeding ground for talented musicians in various genres, from classical and jazz to country and rock. This year, Milwaukee Summerfest will celebrate its 55th anniversary with several weeks of epic musical performances and a lineup stacked with big-name musicians.
Milwaukee Summerfest first began in 1968 after the Milwaukee mayor visited Munich during Oktoberfest. Seeking to create a large-scale event that would bring the city together, Summerfest was born. It is now one of the biggest music festivals in the world, with an attendance that regularly reaches hundreds of thousands.
The festival is held at Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park, a vast 75-acre park on the shores of Lake Michigan. It features local, national, and international artists performing on several stages across the grounds. Throughout its history, the festival has seen performances from world-renowned musical acts, including The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and Paul McCartney.
Performances take place every Friday through Sunday over three consecutive weekends. This year’s festival will begin on June 22nd and wrap up on July 8th.
Milwaukee Summerfest features a diverse array of musical talent spanning genres. Some headliners, who will perform at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, include Imagine Dragons, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Odesza, Trippie Redd, and many more. In addition to these fantastic headliners, other amazing and renowned artists will perform on multiple festival stages across the grounds, including Ne-Yo, Vance Joy, Earth, Wind & Fire, Lord Huron, Yung Gravy, and Sean Paul. These are only some of the many incredible artists scheduled.
While the music is what draws large crowds to this massive festival, Summerfest also includes food, drinks, and unique experiences. Some of these additional experiences include Gruber Law Office Sportzone, where visitors can participate in active challenges; Summerfest Corkscrew, where you can enjoy the music with wine and cheese in hand; various events for children at the Northwestern Mutual Community Park; and Summerfest Tech, a conference designed to showcase Milwaukee’s status as an emerging center for the technology industry. There will also be a shopping area where attendees can browse an array of handmade goods from artisans or purchase merchandise from their favorite musicians featured at the event.
For foodies, Milwaukee Summerfest is not an event to be missed. The food lineup is designed to spotlight the culinary traditions of the city. Local and international food vendors will serve delicious food and beverages ranging from stuffed pretzels and tacos to cheesesteaks and deep-dish pizza.
Tickets for the event are available online. With a general admission ticket starting at $26, it is not just an exciting event but also an affordable one. However, note that these tickets don’t come with admission to the headliners at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, as they are sold separately for each artist.
