Summerfest Facts for Kids

This page is about the music festival in Milwaukee. For the art and music festival in Atlanta, see Virginia–Highland Summerfest.

Quick facts for kids Summerfest

Genre	Alternative, Americana, bluegrass, blues, contemporary, country, electronic, folk, funk, gospel, hard rock, metal, hip hop, indie, jam band, jazz, pop, R&B, reggae, rock, zydeco
Dates	3 Weekends (9 days)
Location(s)	Henry Maier Festival Park Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Years active	1968–2019, 2021–
Attendance	555,925 (2024)

Summerfest is a huge music festival held every year in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It started way back in 1968 and takes place at Henry Maier Festival Park, right next to Lake Michigan. Summerfest is so big that in 1999, Guinness World Records officially named it "The World's Largest Music Festival."

The festival happens on a 75-acre park over three weekends in late June and early July. You can hear all kinds of music, from rock and pop to hip hop and country. Concerts run from noon until midnight on many different stages. The biggest stage is the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, which can hold 23,000 people!

But Summerfest isn't just about music. You can also find delicious food from Milwaukee restaurants, go shopping, watch fireworks, and enjoy fun family activities. The festival is run by a non-profit group called Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

Over its long history, Summerfest has seen some of the biggest names in music. Stars like Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Metallica, Whitney Houston, Johnny Cash, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and the Dave Matthews Band have all performed there.

In 2024, the festival featured artists like SZA, Maroon 5, Kane Brown, AJR, Goo Goo Dolls, and many more.

Helping the Community
- Getting In for Less
The History of Summerfest
- How Many People Attend?
Stages and Fun Zones
Famous Performers Through the Years
- Who Has Played Recently?
See also

Helping the Community

Summerfest is a non-profit, which means it focuses on giving back to the community. In 2024, the festival helped provide over 26,000 meals to people in Wisconsin. It also collected thousands of hygiene products for local schools and over 4,000 books for kids.

The festival also helps the local economy. A 2023 study showed that Summerfest brings over $160 million to the city of Milwaukee and creates thousands of jobs.

Getting In for Less

Summerfest makes it easy for fans to get in for free or at a discount. On certain days, you can bring non-perishable food, hygiene supplies, or books to donate. In exchange, you get free admission to enjoy the festival while helping others.

The History of Summerfest

The idea for Summerfest came from Milwaukee's mayor, Henry W. Maier, in the 1960s. He visited Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, and wanted to create a similar big festival in his own city.

The very first Summerfest was held in July 1968 at 35 different places around Milwaukee. It had everything from concerts and a film festival to an air show. The second year wasn't as successful, so in 1970, the organizers decided to find one permanent home for the festival. They chose a former military site on the shore of Lake Michigan, which is where Summerfest is still held today.

That same year, Summerfest introduced its famous red "smiley face" logo. The logo was designed by local artists and has become a well-known symbol of the event.

The festival was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When it returned in 2021, it moved to a new schedule of three weekends instead of running for 11 days straight.

How Many People Attend?

Summerfest has always been a popular event. Attendance reached its highest point in 2001, when over one million people came to the festival.

After the festival was canceled in 2020, it returned in 2021 with a new 9-day format spread over three weekends. In 2024, over 555,000 fans attended, even though it rained on six of the nine festival days.

Stages and Fun Zones

The Summerfest grounds have many stages and other cool places to hang out. Here are some of the main ones:

Stage name	Capacity	What's Cool About It
American Family Insurance Amphitheater	23,000	This is the main stage for the biggest headliners. It was rebuilt between 2018 and 2020 with a taller roof, better seats, and new video screens.
BMO Pavilion	10,000	This stage has a cool, wave-shaped roof that covers about 5,000 seats, protecting fans from the sun or rain.
Miller Lite Oasis	11,400	This is one of the largest stages on the grounds. It was updated in 2017 with a huge bar and better viewing areas for fans with disabilities.
Generac Power Stage	11,000	This stage was renovated in 2021 and is a popular spot for major rock and pop acts.
Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard	8,600	A fun, relaxed stage that feels like a big backyard party. It was updated in 2011.
U.S. Cellular Connection Stage	5,700	Renovated in 2018, this stage has an amazing view of Lake Michigan and a giant 25-foot video screen.
Uline Warehouse	7,300	Located on the north end of the park, this stage was rebuilt in 2019 and hosts a mix of rock, country, and blues music.
Northwestern Mutual Community Park		This area is perfect for families. It has a large playground and features entertainment for kids like magicians, jugglers, and puppet shows.
Gruber Law Offices Sportszone		If you love sports, this is the place to be. You can watch sports demonstrations and play games.

Famous Performers Through the Years

Summerfest has always been about the music. Since 1968, countless famous artists have played at the festival. Early performers included The Jackson 5 and Bob Dylan. Over the years, legends like Frank Sinatra, Prince, Janet Jackson, and The Rolling Stones have taken the stage.

More recently, fans have seen huge stars like Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Imagine Dragons, Billie Eilish, and Paul McCartney. Many bands from Wisconsin, like the Violent Femmes, have also been popular acts at Summerfest.

Comedy has also been a part of the festival. Famous comedians like Bob Hope, Jay Leno, and Jon Stewart have performed there.

Who Has Played Recently?

Here are some of the big names that have performed at Summerfest in recent years:

2017: Red Hot Chili Peppers, P!nk, The Chainsmokers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan.
2018: Imagine Dragons, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd, Blake Shelton, Kesha, and The Flaming Lips.
2019: Jennifer Lopez, The Killers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Lizzo, and Lionel Richie.
2021: Miley Cyrus, Chance the Rapper, Twenty One Pilots, Megan Thee Stallion, and Guns N' Roses.
2022: Justin Bieber, Halsey, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Wayne, and the Backstreet Boys.
2023: Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Dave Matthews Band, Odesza, and Imagine Dragons.
2024: Kane Brown, Mötley Crüe, Tyler Childers, Keith Urban, AJR, and Maroon 5.

Summerfest facts for kids

Contents