Summerfest Turns Milwaukee into One Big Concert

Summerfest: 11 days of music

Tim Armstrong of Rancid

This weekend is the weekend for “world’s biggest” festivals. Spokane, Washington, holds the world’s biggest three-on-three basketball tournament, Spokane Hoopfest, this weekend. Taste of Chicago, the world’s largest outdoor food festival, starts Friday.

Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, starts today, in  Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Summerfest lasts until July 5, with live music every day from noon to midnight.

Summerfest prices

Of course, if you want to attend the world’s largest music festival, it’ll cost you. Prices aren’t too bad. It’s $8 to attend from noon to 4 and $15 after that. Certain concerts, like headliners The Fray on July 4, cost extra. Tickets to The Fray cost $20 to $50, and that includes festival admission.

Between food and concert tickets, this event could get pretty pricey. Budget carefully so you don’t blow all your money and end up needing quick payday loans. If you were to attend Summerfest all day, every day, admission alone could cost you up to $300.

The food

Summerfest has tons of food from local vendors available. Eat Wisconsin recommends these dishes:

• The Saz's Combo, fried cheese curds, mozzarella marinara, and sour cream and chive fries. Hands down the best Summerfest eats. The Saz's BBQ Pork Sandwich is also pretty decent.
• Crawdaddy's– Pretty much anything is good here. I remember when they actually served crawfish. I loved siting down with some beer, crawfish and corn.
• Usingers Sausage – Good but you can get their stuff anywhere.
• Sabor– Lenguica or other kebabs. They are overpriced but I found them pretty tasty.
• Venice Club Fried Eggplant Strips
• Martino's Chicago Dog - Martino's does dogs right. Just don't ask them to put ketchup on it or you'll be ridiculed, and rightfully so. If you add ketchup, its not a Chicago dog.
• The King & I – Spring Rolls and some of their entrees (especially Volcano Chicken)
• Mader's Sampler Platter - Bratwurst, knackwurst, kraut and potato salad.

The music

Summerfest features up-and-coming bands and musical acts as well as well-known, popular artists. Here are Eat Wisonsin’s recommendations, along with a little commentary from the online zine: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Summerfest Turns Milwaukee into One Big Concert"