Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·5 min read
One of the largest music festivals in the country is returning to Milwaukee's lakefront this summer.
Summerfest is celebrating 56 years in 2024, and this year's lineup features about 800 acts with musicians like SZA, Maroon 5 and Tyler Childers. Here's your guide for everything you need to know about the festival this year.
When is Summerfest?
Summerfest runs from June 20-22, June 27-29 and July 4-6 this year. The festival is at Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive in Milwaukee.
How do I get a ticket?
To purchase tickets, you can visit www.summerfest.com/ticket-info.
General admission: $28, single pass. Allows access to the Summerfest grounds and festival stages during operating hours. Not valid for admission to American Family Insurance Amphitheater shows.
American Family Insurance Amphitheater: Ticket prices vary by artist.
BMO Pavilion Reserved Seating: (includes general admission): Reserved tickets range in price around about $80-$90.
Level Up Viewing Deck: (includes general admission and two drinks): Tickets range in price starting at $75.
RELATED: Summerfest 2024: 14 ways to get into the Milwaukee music festival for free
What's the Summerfest 2024 lineup?
You can find more information about the Summerfest 2024 lineup here.
Journal Sentinel music critic Piet Levy offers his tips on what acts to check out each day of the festival.
How do I get to Summerfest?
Take the bus: There will be three shuttles that run about every 15 minutes from College Avenue, Brown Deer Park or Hales Corners Park and Ride lots. These shuttles offer direct access to the festival ground entrance located outside Summerfest Mid Gate. MCTS Connect 1 BRT line can also drop you off at the lakefront, with a new stop at the Couture on Michigan Avenue and Lincoln Memorial Drive.
Take a bar shuttle: Several bars run shuttles to festival grounds during Summerfest. You can find a list here.
Bike: You can rent a bike fromBublr Bikesand dock it at the Discovery World station and walk to the grounds. If you're taking your own bike, bicycle parking is near the Mid, North and South gates.
Electric Scooter: If you see a scooter, you can download the app on your smartphone to rent an electric scooter. Users can park the scooters essentially anywhere in an upright position, without blocking traffic.
The Hop Streetcar: The streetcar stop serves the Milwaukee lakefront. You can find more information about how to ride the Hop here.
RELATED: You'll have some new ways to get to Summerfest this year
Where can I park my car?
Attendees are encouraged to get off the highway at any of the downtown exits prior to the Lakefront exit and park in one of the many downtown parking structures.
Parking lots are open daily at 9 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. You can get a pre-paid parking pass for a specific date during Summerfest online at theSummerfest store.Preferred parking is $40 per day. For a list of public parking lots near the ground, visit Park Milwaukee.
Here's a list of some parking spots recommended by the festival:
Museum Center Park, 719 N. Prospect Ave.
Lewis Center, 616 E. Clybourn St.
US Bank Structure, 716 E. Clybourn St.
411 E. Wisconsin Ave Garage, 601 N. Jefferson St.
Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water St.
Chase Tower Garage, 525 N Water St.
The Pfister Hotel, 421 E. Mason St.
Cathedral Structure, 580 E. Mason St.
780 N. Jackson St. parking
777 N Cass St. garage
Wells Fargo Tower, 632 N. Water St.
720 N. Water St. garage
SP+ Parking, 721 N. Broadway
The Avenue, 615 N. Plankinton Ave.
Convention Center Ramp, 615 N. 4th St.
Historic Third Ward Parking, 212 E. Milwaukee St.
Historic Third Ward Parking, 225 E. Chicago St.
What's Summerfest's bag policy?
All bags are subject to inspection before you enter the grounds. Backpacks and bags larger than 9x10x12 inches aren't allowed on the grounds.
If you need to bring any medication, medical equipment or diapers, you can store those items in a clear bag. If you have privacy concerns, you can put those items in a smaller bag within the clear bag.
What can't I bring with me to Summerfest?
You can't bring in the following items:
Backpacks (with consideration given for parents with infants and those with medical needs)
Large bags over 9x10x12 inches
Camelback-style hydration packs
Picnic baskets
Outside food and beverages (unless needed for infants, medical and dietary needs)
Cans and glass/plastic or metal containers
Coolers or other hard side containers
Stainless steel reusable drinking straws
Self-defense sprays (such as OC, pepper stray or mace)
Aerosol cans (except for spray sunscreens 6 oz. or less)
Drones
Alcohol
Illegal drugs or substances
Firearms (no open or concealed weapons)
Knives
Weapons or objects that could be used as weapons
Fireworks, sparklers or explosives
Professional cameras or video equipment
Recording devices
Brooms/broomsticks, selfie sticks, poles, trekking sticks and tripods
Pets (except service animals, or during special events or promotions)
Banners or flags on poles
Laser pointers
Skateboards, roller skates, inline skates or hoverboards
Scooters
Bicycles, tricycles or unicycles
Wagons
Kites
Hula-Hoops, frisbees and beach balls
Stadium seats, Sit-Upon seat cushions and lawn chairs
Is Summerfest cashless?
Summerfest is cashless and no cash will be accepted at the box office, ticket windows or on the grounds.
Cash-to-card services are available where attendees can change cash to a reusable debit card with no additional fees. Cash-to-card locations can be found at the following:
Outside the grounds at the North Gate, Mid Gate and Summerfest Box Office
Inside the grounds at the Summerfest Box Office and inside the American Family Insurance Amphitheater gates.
What's the exit & re-entry policy?
You can get a wristband to leave and re-enter the festival at all gate areas from noon until 6:30 p.m. daily. Reentry wristbands are only valid for a single same-day reentry until 7 p.m.
Reentry wristbands will not be issued after 6:30 p.m. and there are no reentries after 7 p.m.
RELATED: Summerfest in Milwaukee reports 40% attendance increase, sticks with three-weekend format for 2024
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Summerfest 2024: Tickets, parking, cashless and bag policy
