This is no drill! Your next major summer music festival journey starts THIS THURSDAY AT 12 p.m. Doors open for the first day of Summerfest, and it’s time to buckle up for three incredible weekends of music. I know I’m excited – the question is, are you?!

Before moving forward, some reminders… Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances, the following artists will no longer be performing this year: Nessa Barrett, Whiskey Myers, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. However, in lieu of these cancellations, several other artists have been added to the lineup, and they are Yung Gravy, Clare Rosinkranz, and Bow Wow. Hopefully, those who are unable to make it are planning a special trip to Milwaukee later this year – fingers crossed! Follow them all on socials to stay up today!

In other news, Summerfest appears to have some other major news coming – even though the fest has not even started! They said to check back in TOMORROW. Are they adding to the already massive lineup? Who knows? Make sure to hit up their pages tomorrow to find out what they’ve got up their sleeve. I’m sure it’ll be a doozy! 

Less than four days to go… I’ve never covered a festival of this size to any degree, but as a frequent concert and other festival attendee, the best advice I can give anyone who’s going this year and hasn’t ever: be prepared. What does that mean? It means sometimes being over prepared is much better than being under or not prepared. Weather in Milwaukee and the good ‘ol Midwest is not always the most predictable. While it might claim to be 80 degrees one day, it could very much be cold and rainy the next. Pack those tiny travel ponchos, wear good durable shoes for all weather climates, drink so much water and wear all the sunscreen. 

Also, while the Summerfest app is handy, service is limited and not always dependable. Pro tip: screenshot your lineup for the day and make it your phone screensaver – that way you always see who’s next and what stage they’re playing, which will also help save on phone battery.

P.S. Don’t forget that phone charger – keep yourself powered up all day. Another P.S. If you need to charge up and don’t have one, swing by the U.S. Cellular Hangout, which is by the U.S. Cellular Stage. They’ll be able to hook you up! wink wink

It’s almost time for Summerfest 2025 to take off, so… Are you ready?!