Summerfest arose from two great party traditions: the American 1960’s and the German Oktoberfest. After attending the German beer festival, Milwaukee Mayor Henry W. Maier thought his city needed a blowout festival of its own. In 1968, Maier founded Summerfest and, like Oktoberfest, it has grown into one of the biggest festivals in its country. Each summer, an upwards of 800,000 people flock to the shores of Lake Michigan to listen to local Milwaukee acts and top nationally-touring artists. In 2022, the line up includes Jason Aldean, Wu-Tang Klan, Rod Stewart, Halsey, Machine Gun Kelly, and Justin Beiber. The vibe is family-friendly, like a state fair that swapped livestock for music. The food skews towards pretzels, burgers, corn, and barbecue, and, with 12 stages and over 1000 performances, the music roster can whet any whistle.
2022 updates:
2021 Recap