It’s the ‘Big Gig’ but Summerfest’s History will Surprise You

If you think you know the story behind Milwaukee’s Summerfest, you might be in for a surprise. Believe it or not, this world-famous music festival didn’t begin along the scenic lakefront where crowds now gather every summer.

The very first Summerfest kicked off in July 1968 with a bang — literally — thanks to an opening air show. But instead of one central location, events took place at more than 35 different spots scattered across Milwaukee. Those early days also featured car races, soccer matches, and plenty of ambitious, if somewhat chaotic, entertainment.

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Listen to a short story on the history here:

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The first few years were rough financially, despite excitement surrounding the event. The festival struggled to break even, and organizers faced the tough decision to end it altogether or make a commitment to find a way to make it work.

This is when the real growth happened. In the 1970s, Summerfest’s founders made a bold move. They decided to take the entire festival to a 15-acre Cold War missile site and former airport along Lake Michigan’s shore. Finding this permanent home then, would prove to be the key to Summerfest’s future.

“The Big Gig” began to blossom from there. By the late 1970s, local restaurants were serving up Milwaukee’s signature flavors on the grounds. In 1987, the addition of a state-of-the-art amphitheater drew even bigger names to its stage. The festival grounds continued expanding and modernizing throughout the 2000s, turning Summerfest into a major economic engine for the city and cementing Milwaukee’s reputation as the “City of Festivals.”

And even the Guinness Book of World Records took notice! It named Summerfest The World’s Largest Music Festival — a title that still draws global attention today. 

Summerfest is also newly ranked among the top three best-value music festivals in the United States behind only Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Warped Tour in Washington, D.C. The CanadaCasino survey based its results on cost per day, average temperatures, and social media popularity. It highlights the exceptional value of Summerfest at around $30 and indicates it is a festive and affordable way to celebrate summer and Independence Day. It’s also described as a clear favorite among budget-conscious festival goers on Instagram and Tik Tok. 

This is all good news for a festival that started with air show booms, scattered venues, and more than a few financial headaches. Summerfest remains an unbeatable summer tradition.