MILWAUKEE- For the first time in three years Summerfest is back to a familiar position in the middle of the festival season.
“It’s so special to think of what this community has cultivated,” Summerfest President Sarah Smith Pancheri said. “We are laser focused on the gigantic party we are going to throw in a little while here.”
This year’s festival, much like 2021’s edition, will run over the course of three weekends, instead of ten straight days. The first weekend will be Thursday, June 23rd through Saturday, June 25th; the second weekend will be Thursday, June 30th through Saturday, July 2nd; the third weekend will be Thursday, July 7th through Saturday, July 9th.
Vice President of Entertainment Bob Babisch says the decision to stick to the three weekend model was not arrived at easily, “We tried it in the fall, but it was the fall, we really want to see how it translates to the summer.” Babisch added that it also allows the festival to book more recognized bands during the daytime hours.
Smith-Pancheri says festival staff will reevaluate the three weekend model before deciding on what the 2023 festival will look like but said, logistically, three weekends makes the most sense.
“It gives our staff a rest, it gives our grounds a rest, it allows us to really take advantage of tourism and attracting people from other markets to come and visit Wisconsin and do all things Milwaukee has to offer,” Smith-Pancheri said. “It is a trial and we are going to look at it but the festival needs to evolve.”
Despite the festival dates changing, hours will remain the same with the grounds opening at noon each day. Unlike last year you will not need to bring with you proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative test
For more festival information, and a full lineup of Summerfest acts, click here. For more of WTMJ’s coverage of Summerfest 2022, click here.
