Many music festivals take place across the United States every year. Each has different headliners, venues, and appealing attractions. But not all are the same in scope. There are legendary music festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza that bring in the most prominent acts and swarms of festival-goers. However, these might not even be able to compare to Milwaukee’s Summerfest in scope. Summerfest bills itself as the biggest music festival in the world, and this year’s iteration is set to be yet another massive version of this long-running festival.
Summerfest has been one of the biggest global festivals for years now. It kicked off in 1968 at Henry Maier Festival Park, where it is still held today. For over 50 years, it has played home to some of the biggest music acts of all time. Everyone from Paul McCartney to The Rolling Stones has graced the Summerfest stages, and each year brings a new and exciting lineup of talented musicians.
Summerfest draws in crowds of hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It peaked with over 1,000,000 attendees in the early 2000s, but the COVID pandemic significantly impacted one of the most critical events for Milwaukee’s tourism. The 2020 iteration of Summerfest was canceled, and while 2021 brought it back, it was the most sparsely attended version of the event by a long shot.
However, 2022 is a return to total normalcy for Summerfest. It will be taking place at the usual starting date for the event and running the entire eleven days of programming that it typically does. Summerfest starts on June 23rd this year and runs to July 9th. Last year, it ran only nine days. This year, Summerfest will be at total capacity, with no restrictions. After an extended period where one of Milwaukee’s biggest occasions was limited, 2022 is a return to full force.
The 2022 lineup for Summerfest is positively stacked with top-end musical talent of all genres. Some of the biggest headliners include Justin Bieber, Halsey, Jason Aldean, Rod Stewart, Lil Wayne, The Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne, and more. Few music festivals on the planet can match the sheer volume of talent that Summerfest brings every year. There will also be appearances from Steve Aoki, The Barenaked Ladies, Steve Miller Band, Thomas Rhett, Machine Gun Kelly, and hundreds of other popular and acclaimed musicians.
Summerfest is an immersive experience along the shores of Lake Michigan that has something for everyone. While the 12 stages of live music are the biggest draw to Summerfest, there is much more to this massive event than just the music. There are great food and drinking options like Summerfest Corkscrew, which is a wine and cheese area where attendees can unwind. There is also a lineup of incredible food talent that is classically Milwaukee, with delicious pizza, pretzels, donuts, and festival fare. A large craft marketplace consists of hundreds of vendors selling everything from clothes to custom crafts.
Off the festival grounds, there will be Summerfest Tech. This is an offshoot tech festival geared towards innovators and brands in the technology space. It will play host to industry leaders of all kinds, with important panel discussions on topics ranging from diversity in tech to cybersecurity and important industry trends. The last day of Summerfest Tech takes place at the festival, so attendees can still enjoy some of the great music that makes Summerfest an iconic Milwaukee experience.
Attendees can also go to Northwestern Community Park, an area on the festival grounds with family-friendly musicians and a vibe geared towards younger audiences. This is for those with children that want to enjoy the Summerfest experience away from some of the chaos of the main area.
Summerfest is an essential Milwaukee tradition and one of America’s biggest and most significant music festivals. It is a can’t-miss experience, and this year will mark a return to normalcy after several years disrupted due to the pandemic. With a stacked lineup and some incredible additional features, this iteration is shaping up to be one of the best Summerfest festivals yet.
