The 43rd annual Summerfest kicks off today, at the Henry Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront.
The eleven day festival will feature Eric Clapton, Santana, Rush, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Usher, Tom Petty, Tim McGraw and many others.
New to this year’s festival is theCool TV Rock Stage. According to John Boler, vice president of marketing and sales for Summerfest, the new partnership will promote Summerfest and its performers on a national level.
“We’re really excited about the partnership with the Cool TV and the rock stage,” Boler said. “Music fans that come to see artists on the stage will be able to purchase a wearable USB bracelet, a DVD or a CD of the performance. That’s a great take away for music lovers.”
Attendees at Summerfest will also be able to enjoy a new sit down outdoor dining experience at Sazama’s Lakeside Grill.
“The new grill will feature steak poultry and seafood entrees and will offer a fine dining experience for Summerfest guests,” Boler said. “We’ve been thinking about doing this for a while, and decided that in addition to the already great food and attractions we have here, we would give people the opportunity for a fine dining sit down option as well.”
Reservations for the new grill can be made by calling (414) 453-4023 or by emailing to reservations@sazamas.com. Reservations for the dining area have already been received, Boler said.
Summerfest also recently released the new Summerfest application for iPhone, launching the organization into the mobile technology age.
Fans can customize their Summerfest music experience by using the new app to build their own personalized “must see” festival schedule. The application also allows visitors to see an “on stage now” list and a festival map to help in navigating the Summerfest grounds. The app is free and now available for download through iTunes or in the iPhone App Store.
For opening day, Summerfest has teamed up with Johnson Controls to Stomp out Hunger. Attendees that arrive between 12 and 3 p.m. can donate three non-perishable food items and receive free admission, Boler said.
“All donations will benefit the Hunger Task Force,” he said.
Last year, attendees brought in 60,000 pounds of food for the organization, Boler said. For more information on admission promotions and a Summerfest lineup visit www.summerfest.com
Check out the video interview with Boler, and some of Milwaukee’s favorite Summerfest memories in the video below.
