For Wiscosinites, there is nothing that activates that true spirit of vacation like Summerfest. For three consecutive weekends in late June and early July, downtown Milwaukee will be taken over by 12 stages, massive artisan markets and one enormous ferris wheel that gives riders prime views of adjacent Lake Michigan. Officially crowned the World’s Largest Music Festival by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999, you’d be hard pressed not to find one of your favorite artists among over 600 performers across a variety of genres — rock, pop, hip-hop, country and more. This year, Kane Brown, Mötley Crüe, Illenium, Tyler Childers, Keith Urban, AJR, Maroon 5 and Lil Uzi Vert will headline, with each act promising to bring along their own special guests.
The sheer sprawl of Summerfest extends beyond its live music performances. Over 100 vendors at multiple shopping showcases sell clothing, jewelry and accessories to give your outfit that midwestern je ne sais quoi. Once you’ve gotten your face painted, henna tattooed and caricature drawn, wander around the festival park to catch a glimpse of sets by magicians, dance groups, jugglers, puppeteers and the opening night fireworks display.
While the official food and beverage vendors are still under wraps, expect a deluge of Wisconsin cuisine: we’re talking cheese curds, beer brats and the official beer of Summerfest, Miller Lite. The lactose-avoidant need not fear: you’ll be able to find nearly any other type of fair food imaginable between the Miller Lite Oasis and Summerville food village. Hot dogs, pretzels, kettle corn, shaved ice and tacos were among popular choices last year. And if you’re feeling lucky, enter to win one of Summerfest’s sweepstakes — there’s practically too many to count — for a chance to win swag, tickets to headliner sets, and more.
The Specs
- Over 624,400 people attended last year over 9 days
- Single day GA tickets start at $28 and do not include headliner performance entry
- Sticking around MKE? See what else the city has to offer in Fifty Grande’s Milwaukee guide
FAQs
What is the closest airport to Summerfest?
Fly into MKE and drive a little over 8 miles to the Henry Maier Festival Park. There’s also the Amtrak Hiawatha route with service from downtown Chicago if you’re opting for train transit.
Where’s the venue?
American Family Insurance Amphitheater, 100 North Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.
I’m driving, what’s the parking situation?
Parking lots open at 9:00 am each morning and pre-paid passes can be purchased online. Without a pass, parking is first-come, first-served, and tailgating is not allowed.
How can I pay for stuff at the festival?
Summerfest is cashless, so make sure to bring debit or credit along with you.
Who produces Summerfest?
Summerfest is owned by Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
Can I bring kids?
Most definitely. There’s special children’s programming at Summerfest, including accessible play opportunities for kids of all abilities.
Who are the headliners and when are they playing?
Here is the Summerfest 2024 headliners:
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
- June 20: Kane Brown
- June 21: Motley Crüe with Seether and Buckcherry
- June 22: SZA
- June 27: Illenium
- June 28: Tyler Childers with special guests S.G. Goodman and Adeem the Artist
- June 29: Keith Urban with special guests Needtobreathe and Alana Springsteen
- July 4: AJR with guest Carly Rae Jepsen and mxmtoon
- July 5: Maroon 5 with special guests
- July 6: Lil Uzi Vert with Lil Yachty, JID, Rico Nasty & Lihtz
BMO Harris Pavilion
- June 20: Brittany Howard with The War and Treaty
- June 21: Drowning Pool., Gavin DeGraw and Hanson.
- June 22: Goo Goo Dolls
- June 27: Muna
- June 28: REO Speedwagon
- June 29: Fletcher
- July 4: Mt. Joy
- July 5: Bryson Tiller
- July 6: Ivan Cornejo
Which artists can I watch at Summerfest 2024?
Kane Brown with Kameron Marlowe & Nightly, Mötley Crüe, Illenium, Tyler Childers with S.G. Goodman & Adeem the Artist, Keith Urban with Needtobreathe & Alana Springsteen, AJR with Carly Rae Jespen & Mxmtoon, Maroon 5, Lil Uzi Vert with Lil Yachty, JID, Rico Nasty & LIHTZ, goo Goo Dolls, Black Pumas, Chelsea Cutler, Toosii, Taking Back Sunday, David Kushner, Brittany Howard, Kevin Kaarl, O.A.R., Umphrey’s McGee, Dawes, En Vogue, Three Dog Night, Gin Blossoms, The War & Treaty, Buckcherry, Jamila Woods, Wyatt Flores, Bryce Vine, Allen Stone, LATIN MAFIA, The 502s, Better Than Ezra, Lily Rose, Restless Road, Here Come The Mummies, Chance Peña, Black Violin, Shovels & Rope, Citizen, Little River Band, Taylor Bennett, Arath Herce, Drowning Pool, Luis Figueroa, Brenda K. Starr, Little Stranger, Doom Flamingo, Gloss Up, Charlotte Cardin, Jonah Kagen, Próxima Parada, Loyal Lobos, viisi, Abraham Alexander, Hans Williams, Jesus Jones, Happy Landing, Jeffrey Osborne, Modern English, Winona Fighter, Lily Fitts, Mindi Abair, Brother Elsey, MC4D, Field Guide, The Producers, Sen Morimoto, Mary Shelley, MUNA, Jessie Murph, FLETCHER, Alison Wonderland, Key Glock, Ken Carson, Hippo Campus, Sleater-Kinney, Ethel Cain, REO Speedwagon, Boys Like Girls, Charles Wesley Godwin, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Amos Lee, Briston Maroney, Metric, Mario, flipturn, The Church, K Camp, The Afghan Whigs, Hawthorne Heights, HYO, The Hold Steady, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Obongjayar, BigXThaPlug, Anberlin, Brent Cobb, The Dandy Warhols, Ziggy Alberts, Maude Latour, Cherry Glazerr, Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Matt Hansen, Donavon Frankenreiter, Xana, Sarah Kinsley, Ian Asher, Nolan Taylor, Certified Trapper, Briscoe, Austin Williams, Mo Lowda, Millyz, grouptherapy, maryjo, CLIP, Sawyer, J Stone, Tracy Bonham, Cedric Burnside, Ben Chapman, McKinley Dixon, Bassel & The Supernaturals, Ivan Cornejo, Bryson Tiller, Mt. Joy, Lil Tecca, Chase Rice, Local Natives, Cold War Kids, Mariah the Scientist, jxdn, Sleeping With Sirens, COIN, The Wallflowers, Paul Cauthen, Brian Kelley, Amy Grant, Conner Smith, Del Water Gap, Extreme, BoDeans, Set It Off, Cimafunk, Sister Hazel, Sueco, Colony House, Knox, Nikki Lane, Dylan Marlowe, Living Color, Crackers, Tana, DC the Don, Karri, Uprooted with Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, The Box Tops, Anne Wilson, Say She She, The Baseball Project, Samaria, Ashland Craft, Abby Anderson, Almost Monday, Doublecamp, Seaforth, Fiji Blue, Giacomo Turra, Colby Acuff, Reyna Tropical, oxymorrons, Tim Montana, John Morgan, LØLØ, Angélica Garcia, Timothy Wayne, Me Like Bees, Roger Clybe & The Peacemakers.
Playlist
Poster
