How to Get in Free Today
At Goodwill, you can find a bargain for just about anything: including Summerfest tickets! Guests who spend more than $15 between June 1 and June 29 should receive a special receipt that provides free admission before 3 p.m. today. But arrive early! Only the first 1,200 receipts will be redeemed, and this promotion is in high demand.
Weather Forecast
High: 73°
Low: 61°
Precipitation: 40%
Sunset: 8:35 p.m.
This morning’s rain should clear up by the early afternoon, so expect to finally see the sun today.
Playing at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Bon Iver
Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon enjoys near universal acclaim. Critics like him. Kanye West – who collaborated with him on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – does too. But few love him as much as his Sconnie fans, who haven’t forgotten that Vernon recorded his album For Emma, Forever Ago from a Northwoods cabin, or that he founded the Eau Claire-based music festival Eaux Claires.
Staff Music Picks by Generation
Boomer
Zach Pietrini Band
5 p.m., Miller Lite Oasis
“This local band’s country-rock sound is a little bit reminiscent of The Flying Burrito Brothers.” – Carole Nicksin
Gen-X
Bon Iver
7:30 p.m., American Family Insurance Amphitheater
“The artist also known as Justin Vernon. I’ve never seen the guy perform live, and while I’m not a rabid Bon Iver fan, I dig his 2016 album, 22, A Million.” – Ann Christenson
Millennial
Bon Iver
7:30 p.m., American Family Insurance Amphitheater
“Obviously.” – Libby Lang
“Bon Iver is one of those artists that you’ll love to say you’ve seen perform in person. Unique sound, mega talent.” – Katie Williams
Gen-Z
Julien Baker
7 p.m., American Family Insurance Amphitheater
“I saw her a few years ago at Summerfest when she opened for Death Cab for Cutie. She performed alone with just an electric guitar, some pedals and looping mechanism. Really special.” – Emma Fisher
Chicago
9:45 p.m., BMO Harris Pavilion
“‘Your guitar player is better than me.’ -Jimi Hendrix on Chicago guitarist Terry Kath. While neither men are still with us, it speaks to the effervescent musical talents of classic rock’s most versatile band to garner such high praise from a god like Hendrix. That kind of magic doesn’t go away.” – Matt Martinez
Daily To-Dos
• School of Rock
Some very young dudes and dudettes will be flooding the stages and airwaves at Summerfest this year, playing at seven of the major stages at noon on June 29 and June 30. School of Rock is a pretty groovy program that helps young musicians get bonafide concert experience. Who knows – the kids you see today might be headlining in the near future.
• Summerfest Landing
Saturday? In the park? I thought it was the 4th of July. (Disclaimer: Chicago IS coming to Summerfest today). Get out on the water and go stand-up paddleboarding or take a boat ride and enjoy the crystal clear agua fria of Lake Michigan on a well-earned day off. Boats and boards will be leaving from the dock noon to midnight every day of Summerfest.
• Northwestern Mutual Children’s Theater and Playzone
If you’re little dude or dudette is subsequently inspired by School of Rock, bring them to UB the Band at Northwestern Mutual Children’s Theater and Playzone. UB the Band puts instruments in their hands and lets them rock their little hearts out. (No experience necessary, so just bring a good attitude). Not to bury the lede, but they can also pilot robots from 537 Charger robotics.
We Faced Our Summerfest Fears
by Aly Prouty
Henry Maier Festival Park’s collection of festivals are all connected by one attraction: the Skyglider.
For some festies, it’s a must-do, annual staple. For others, it’s an extra five dollars they just aren’t willing to spend (or eight, if you opt for a round-trip ride). Personally, I successfully avoided the colorful seated suspensions for two consecutive summers.
I’ve never been a fan of heights. Anything higher than 18 inches off the ground is a no-go from me. I skip roller coasters at theme parks and opt out of most anything that takes me up up and away … until today.
I live downtown, so I decided to walk to Summerfest. I slipped on my festival shoe wear of choice — crocs, for all-day comfort and weather resistance — and headed out the door. The lengthy walk gave me some time to mentally prepare to take on the Skyglider.
Once I entered the gates, I took the opportunity to admire the ski lift-style adventure from the comfort of the ground. It was longer than I remembered, but I was determined face my fear of heights.
I forked up the extra three dollars to take the roundtrip. If I was going to do this, I was going to go all out.
I plopped down on a green and white car as a Skyglider attendant pulled the safety bar down in front of me and told me to enjoy the ride — more of a challenge than he probably expected.
Something to note here for gliding newbies like me: the Skyglider does not stop for you to get on or off, so you’ll be situating yourself onto an accelerating seat. At the same time, it doesn’t move very quickly, making this relatively easy.
Before I knew it, my feet were off the ground, and I was in the sky. The brief work up the incline was a little nerve-wracking, but once I got to the top, I was intrigued by everything there was to look at. As you can imagine, there’s a lot.
People watching from up high is incredibly entertaining. I spotted plenty of families heading to their stages of choice, kids scarfing down ice cream and patrons searching for the next place to grab a cold one.
The first half of my trip was on the side closest to the main gate, with the second half being toward the lake.
The gate-side view offered a quick taste of what was playing on the stages below. It was actually a great way to check out multiple acts at once and decide where I wanted to head for an afternoon jam session. Admittedly, the best part of the ride was the food. The Skyglider floats passengers directly above a long line of food vendors, and the aromas steamed upward to my nose. It smelled delicious and my stomach started rumbling.
At the halfway point, I descended back toward the ground. Now was my chance to bail, if I really wanted to, but instead I waved my ticket at the attendant who grabbed it before I briskly started back up the incline. There really was no turning back now.
The rest of the ride was set with sparkling views of the lake, although the trees were sadly blocking parts of my sightline. While I was essentially taking the same route, this side offered fresh water scents from Lake Michigan. I got a taste for what vendors were out there, including tie-dye and sunglass tents.
At this point I was relatively calm. “Maybe I’ve finally conquered this fear,” I thought.
I thought too soon.
The Skyglider ended up stopping three times before I’d finally make it back down. Honestly, with the safety railing, this wouldn’t have been that bad if the breeze off the lake didn’t rock my hanging seat back and forth. On that note, if you’re gliding solo, sit in the middle, so you’re drastically not tipping one way or another if the wind hits.
Once we started moving again, all was well. I glanced down at my crocs, they were still on my feet. If I had been smart I would’ve put them in sport-mode.
The descent was not as fear-inducing as the ascent, but perhaps that’s because I was honestly really excited for gravity to take its full effect on me again.
Exiting, I was proud of myself. Plenty of people do this nonchalantly every day of Summerfest, but this was one tick mark off a bucket list for antsy little me.
