TRAVEL GUIDE

Wisconsin Travel and Milwaukee's Summerfest

Summer is the wonderful season when the sun is out for longer periods and everyone cannot help but have a smile on their face as they step into the sun. For Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it also meant that it is time for their summer events such as a string of ethnic festivals but most importantly, the festival that has received nationwide fame, Summerfest! Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin, located in the southeastern portion of the state on the shore of Lake Michigan. This yearly festival got many Americans to make it part of their Wisconsin travels from all over the country to attend it as it is held at the 75 acre Henry Maier Festival Park right along the lakefront.

The idea of Summerfest was conceived back in 1968 by then-mayor Henry W. Maier after a visit to the famous Okoberfest in Munich, Germany and he envisioned a similar festival in Milwaukee. The festival runs for eleven days from end of June through early July but always over 4th of July. It always attracts close to a million people annually with many all over the United States to plan this Wisconsin travels just for this festival.

Summerfest is also famous for its music and has held the Guinness World Records title as 'the World's Biggest Music Festival' since 1999. Live musical acts are performed on 13 different stages spread throughout the grounds, including the famous Marcus Amphitheater that has a capacity of twenty-four thousand people. Summerfest features both local and nationally recognized music talent from a variety of music genres. There is usually a headlining act that performs at the Marcus Amphitheater which is not included with the admission ticket. However, all other performances are free with the ticket purchase and the cost has been in the range of $10 to $15, with many promotions for discounted or free tickets. In the past, Summerfest has featured some of the most popular music talents at its time, drawing many out of towners on this Wisconsin travels to watch the performance live and enjoy the festival.

Summerfest is also a time for visitors to sample the different cuisine offerings catered by local Milwaukee restaurants. With the city's German heritage when its early German immigrants used to brew its own beer and built machinery here, it is not surprising that this city is famous for its beer. It is now home to the Miller Brewing Company, Miller's beer is a definite favourite beverage for the Summerfest crowd; so watch out for any drunken festival goer! There are also plenty of other attractions available, such as carnival rides and games, comedy acts and shopping booths. Another event that many travelers to the Summerfest are the fireworks called 'The Big Bang' on the opening day that promises to wow the crowd. To minimize weather disruptions, organizers of Summerfest always plan the festival in the days with the lowest estimated chance of precipitation.

For those that are planning their Wisconsin travels to attend the festival, it is advisable to book your transportation and lodging early. It is the beginning of summer holidays for kids and it is over the span of Independence Day, the peak for travels. During those eleven days, the city of Milwaukee can get congested with tourists and festival goers. Planning ahead can not only save you headaches but money as well. There are plenty of promotions for Summerfest's tickets, booking ahead and you may be able to get your hands on some discounted or free tickets. Booking ahead can often lead to major savings or Wisconsin travel deals that could save you a bundle. Beat the crowd and get yourself ready for some fun in the sun!