1961 Mayor Henry Maier, inspired by Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, envisions a festival that will offer low-cost entertainment and revitalize Milwaukee’s downtown.
1965 Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (MWF), a private, nonprofit organization is formed. The group would officially adopt the name Summerfest for the event in 1967. William Masterson is named first executive director of MWF.
1968 The first Summerfest is held at 35 separate locations around the downtown area, including the lakefront, Milwaukee County Stadium, Pere Marquette Park and Washington Park. Bob Hope was the headliner at the stadium.
1970 Summerfest moves to is permanent home, the 15-acre abandoned Nike missile site on the lakefront. The Summerfest smile logo, which is still used today, is created by Noel J. Spangler & Richard D. Grant.
1974 The city’s Harbor Commission grants MWF the right to use 30 acres
of lakefront property for up to
10 years at the cost of $1 each year. The first permanent stage was built on the grounds.
1975 Board President, Steve Marcus, appointed a food committee and for the first time, Milwaukee area food vendors provided Summerfest patrons with food. Previously Ogden Foods served the entire grounds. Henry Jordan, former Green Bay Packer, is named executive director of MWF. After his death in 1976, board member Joan Urdan served as executive director in a voluntary position.
1977 Jim Butler is named executive director of MWF. In 1978, the entire staff except for Butler and food and beverage director Tracy Spoerl quit MWF to start ChicagoFest.
1981 Rod Lanser is named executive director of MWF.
1983 Bo Black is named executive director of MWF.
1985 A 20-year lease with the Harbor Commission is signed for use of 70.5 acres of land, including a 20-acre landfill site. Lease fee is set at $1 per year plus 2 percent net income. The Marcus Amphitheater was constructed on the landfill. Steve Marcus of the Marcus Corp. donates $1 million dollars and Russell Cleary of G. Heileman Brewing Co. donates $2 million towards the construction of the amphitheater.
1994 The Koss Stage/Leinie Lodge is built and the North Gate
is redesigned.
1997 MWF invests $2.3 million in capital improvements to the grounds, including a new Mid-Gate, Comedy Pavilion, Ethnic Gardens, Gardens Stage, and a bi-level addition on the east side of the South Pavilion restroom building.
1999 Guinness Book of World Records names Summerfest the World’s Largest Music Festival.
2001 A new 20-year lease with the Harbor Commission is signed. Lease fee is set at $1 million the first year and increasing to $2.4 million in 2020. Summerfest attendance exceeds 1 million people for the first time.
2002 Improvements are made on the grounds including new Visiting Festival Offices, a new Mid-Gate and Mid-Gate Pavilion, and upgrades to the north end restaurant vendor buildings, Leine’s restrooms and the Leine’s Stage.
2003 Improvement are made on the grounds including a new restroom, ticket building, stage (now known as the Rock Stage), and plaza area adjacent to the North Gate. New food vendor buildings are erected in the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse area and the Summerfest Administration Offices get an addition. Bo Black is fired as executive director.
2004 Don Smiley is named executive director of MWF.
2006 A new $3.5 million Miller Lite Stage opens, and the power goes out for several hours on opening day. Country Music Television (CMT) tapes a concert series from Summerfest that aired multiple times nationally to CMT’s 82 million subscribers.
