Summerfest 2025: Everything you need to know for opening day

Summerfest is back! One of the biggest music festivals in the country starts this Thursday, June 19. This is the 57th year of the festival, and it is hosted in Henry Maier Festival Park, Milwaukee, bringing in thousands of people every year. There will be music, food, drinks, and a lot of fun. Summerfest 2025 will run over three weekends, and the official dates are June 19 to 21, June 26 to 28, and lastly, July 3 to 5. Several popular artists will perform, and there will also be local bands, family-friendly shows, and special events.

If you are planning to go on the first day, there are a few things you should know. You can even get in for free if you bring food to donate. The first people to arrive will also get a free gift. This year, there will also be a new Juneteenth celebration.

What’s Happening on June 19, the first day of Summerfest 2025

The first day of this grand festival is on Thursday, June 19. The gates open sharp at 12:00 PM. If you want to get in for free, bring three cans of food. These should be shelf-stable items like canned beans or soup. If you do this, you will get one free ticket to enter the event. But this deal only works between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on that day. The food will go to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Northcott Neighborhood House.

This special deal is part of “Bush’s Beans Stomp Out Hunger Day” with FOX6 Milwaukee. You can drop off the food at any of the three entrance gates. Just remember, you’ll get one free ticket per person. So if you bring six cans, you still get one ticket.

Also, on June 19, the first 10,000 people who walk through the gates will get a free hat. This is a giveaway from American Family Insurance. So if you want the hat, try to come early. This year, Summerfest is doing something new and special. For the first time, the festival will celebrate Juneteenth, and the event is being planned with help from Northcott Neighborhood House. The Juneteenth celebration will start at 6:00 PM with an opening ceremony.

During the ceremony, they will honor the winners of the Juneteenth scholarships, which include titles like Ms. Juneteenth, Mr. Juneteenth, Little Ms. Juneteenth, and Little Mr. Juneteenth. After that, there will be live shows on different stages. Performers include Gary Clark Jr., Bow Wow, Ginuwine, Joy Oladokun, and Mike Jones.

Later during the festival, there will be a big event on July 4 for America’s birthday. Summerfest and Johnsonville are planning a full-day party, and there will be a group “Happy Birthday” song across all stages. And at night, a 10-minute drone show will light up the sky. Also, on that day, entry will be free from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, thanks to Kwik Trip. The party will happen at the Johnsonville Summerville stage, which is at the north end of the park.

How to Get to Summerfest

There are quite a few options available to reach the Summerfest event. You can drive, take a bus, ride a bike, or use a rideshare app. No matter how you go, it is best to plan early so you don’t get stuck in traffic. If you are driving, you can buy parking online at Summerfest.com. You can also park at downtown garages. Try to arrive early and use downtown exits to avoid traffic near the lake.

If you don’t want to drive, Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) has special shuttles just for Summerfest. This special shuttle ride would cost around $12 for a round trip. You can also use regular MCTS buses. Many of them stop near the festival. A bus ticket costs $2 for adults and $1 for kids, seniors, and people with disabilities. Another easy way to get there is by riding The Hop. This is Milwaukee’s streetcar, and it is free to ride. No tickets needed. It runs until 1:00 AM during the festival. If you want to bike, you can use Bublr Bikes. These bikes are located all around the city. And of course, you can also use Uber or Lyft.

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Summerfest 2025 is going to be full of music, fun, and new memories. From free hats and free entry deals to big-name concerts and the first-ever Juneteenth event at the festival, the opening day is packed with fun!

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