Summerfest is the biggest annual music celebration in Milwaukee, WI, featuring over 800 musical acts and 1000 performances on 12 stages during three weekends, culminating on the 4th of July weekend. This giant festival, held since 1968, attracts the music industry's biggest stars in electronic, rock, hip hop, jazz, pop, Americana, bluegrass, blues, R&B, reggae, zydeco, and other musical genres.
In the 60s, Milwaukee Mayor Henry W. Maier initiated Summerfest after he visited Oktoberfest in Munich. Over the years, the festival's lineup featured such big names as The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Jonas Brothers, Maroon 5, Fun, Britney Spears, Tina Turner, Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Imagine Dragons, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, The Killers, Lil Wayne, and Billie Eilish. The newest headliners include Brittany Howard, Reo Speedwagon, Mt. Joy, and Ivan Cornejo.
Summerfest typically starts in late June at Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee, the 75-acre (30-ha) site attached to the Lake Michigan waterfront in the central business district. Two venues holding live concerts include the 23,000-seat American Family Insurance Amphitheater and BMO Pavilion. The event attracts about 800,000–900,000 attendees every year. Summerfest was recognized as "The World's Largest Music Festival" in 1999 by the Guinness World Records.
Beyond music, Summerfest's major attractions include comedy acts, vendors, the Fourth of July fireworks, family activities, interactive exhibits, beer sampling, and more. Make sure to indulge in some wine and cheese at the Summerfest Corkscrew and check out sports activities available at the Gruber Law Office Sportzone. Kids' amusements are offered at the Northwestern Mutual Community Park playground.
The festival tickets start at $28. Parking is to be purchased separately. You can buy the tickets and learn more about the Summerfest schedule, lineups, map, FAQs, etc., on the event's website & Facebook. The links are listed in the External Resources.
