On Wednesday afternoon, many an interesting Milwaukeean gathered at Henry Maier Festival Park for the Summerfest Preview Party. There were local movers and shakers, politicos, media mavericks, a lady on stilts, a dude juggling and also David Gruber.
At the event, Summerfest showed off food, drinks, and made a few announcements about what folks can expect at this year’s festival. And this intrepid reporter was there to cover it all.
Here’s what I learned:
1. 8% Blue Moon Is Pretty Good.
Did you know about Blue Moon Extra? I did not. The 8% ABV version of the mass-produced brewski dropped in April, and Summerfest is serving it up. And I have to say: pretty good, pretty good. The extra alcohol didn’t drastically change the taste of beer, and the moon remained blue.
2. So Is BOLD Lemonade and Also Leinenkugel’s Hazy IPA.
You know I’ve always thought lemonade had a fatal flaw – and that’s lack of boldness. Well, thank the lord that’s been addressed with Simply Spiked BOLD Lemonade, one of the new drinks I sampled. It’s pretty much what you would expect from a spiked lemonade, but the all-caps BOLD still gets me going. Tastier, I must say, is the new Leinenkugel’s Hazy IPA. When it comes to my new Summerfest drink of choice, that’s the one.
3. The New Food Vendors Have Some Scrumptious Stuff on Offer.
I ate so much food, man. I was ducking back and forth, just shoveling down fried delights. And there were all the Summerfest classics, of course: Saz’s, Ian’s, etc. But two new food vendors piqued my interest as well. Beats & Eats was serving mac and cheese rolls and apple crisp rolls; Nino’s Southern Side had some mac and cheese and cornbread dressing.
4. There’s A Fresh, Funky, Functional Summerfest App.
I’m starting to hate my phone. I think a lot of people are. The way it fractures my attention, draws me in with cheap entertainment, bombards me with bad news and worries. But also apps are cool! We learned about the 2025 Summerfest App. It provides easy access to the schedule, your tickets, a map of the grounds, a vendor guide, etc. And the first 15,000 fans to download it get a free ticket, which is pretty great.
5. There Will Be a Mechanical Bull.
This year’s Summerfest is going to have a new “country-themed” area with a good ol’ fashioned mechanical bull – along with line dancing and specialty cocktails. While I’m happy to share the news of this novel and amusing attraction, I will not under any circumstances be participating in it. I can’t even stand the sight of a mechanical bull since the Nashville Nudity Incident of ’22. If you were there, you know. And again, my apologies for those who were traumatized.
6. DanDan Is Back.
One of Milwaukee’s most beloved restaurants is returning to Summerfest for the second year. Chef Dan Jacobs of the Third Ward’s DanDan was at the party serving smashed cucumber samplers. At first I thought those cucumbers looked too healthy for my taste, which leans toward grease and mayhem, but then I tried them and they were pretty fantastic. I will 100% be returning for some DanDan during the festival.
7. We Have Less Than 30 Days Until Summerfest.
Every year, Summerfest sneaks up on me. At the party, folks kept saying we only had 29 days left, and it was like a jump scare. It’s been so freaking cold this week that I couldn’t imagine Summerfest was that close. I’m glad I got that reminder so I can prepare my body and mind for what is to come.
8. Sil’s Mini Donuts Are Amazing.
This isn’t breaking news, I know, but wow, man, dang are Sil’s Mini Donuts good. Freshly made, they nearly melt in your mouth. Absolute highlight of the event for me. And the people handing them out were super nice, too, which made me feel better about downing so many in such a short period of time. I’m just supporting nice people, not burying my feelings in a mountain of sugar!
9. Wisconsin Weather is a Cruel Mistress.
I already knew this, of course, but man this preview party really drove it home. What terrible weather for a Summerfest event. My fingers were numb by the time I left, my khakis so rain-stained you couldn’t even tell that I’d spilled half a Red Bull on them on the way over. When Summerfest president Sarah Smith-Pancheri spoke, she told everyone that the terrible weather would help us appreciate the warm days of Summerfest. Man, I hope so. Winter has been long. My soul is growing as numb as my fingers, you know what I mean? Just kind of this dull gray pain all the time. … I’m good though! Back to Summerfest stuff!
10. The Summerfest Merch Rocks This Year.
Summerfest unveiled a whole line of clothing for this year’s festival, and even a fashion-challenged little man like me thought the threads were cool. Honestly, I was kind of getting annoyed at how much better the mannequins looked than me. Although that might have been my fault for wearing stained khakis that haven’t fit in three years and a quarter-zip that went out of fashion sometime around 1991.
11. The Summerfest Robot’s Smile Hides a Heart as Dark as Night
Look at the giant robot on this Summerfest blanket thing. It smiles, sure. It jams, clearly. But do you not see the malevolence in those eyes? The size alone should be enough to frighten us – it towers over the Skyglider. What will we do when it grows fed up and turns on us? Listen, I think the rest of Summerfest’s merch is cool, but this quilt inspires fear in me. I do not want to bow down to the Summerfest robot. I do not want to be subject to its whims.
12. I Do Not Look Good in a Trucker Hat
When I walked in the door of the party, I was given a goodie bag. The bag, I discovered, contained a Summerfest trucker hat. Turns out, I look like a fool in a trucker hat. Sort of like a 6-year-old got in his drunk uncle’s closet. There is a photo. I will not share it.
