Humans of Summerfest 2018

While there were plenty of activities to keep anyone busy at Summerfest, we decided to take on the act of people-watching — and also people-asking. For a few days, we wandered around the Big Gig to ask attendees what makes Summerfest great, what brought them to the World’s Largest Music Festival and what keeps them coming back.

 

HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Laurie and her husband have been to Summerfest since it first debuted in 1968. The two lovebirds dated all throughout high school and picked up where they left off two years ago in a bar after their 50th high school reunion. “When I saw him in the bar, we hugged each other for about three minutes and I fell again for those blue eyes,” Laurie reminisced. . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Mark, Tamara and Donna visited Summerfest this year as part of their annual tradition. “We’ve been coming ever since we were kids,” Tamara exclaimed. One of the trio’s favorite memories at Summerfest was seeing Hollywood Vampires perform a few years back. These friends come back to the festival every year, “for the music, food and beautiful lakefront,” said Mark. . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: No newbies here! Debbie and her husband have made Summerfest a must-do summer stop for the last 18 years. “We haven’t missed one!” she said. The couple came up from Illinois to enjoy the music and food and were excited to see The Wailers. When asked about their favorite festival food, Debbie says the chicken from Char’d Grill is a must; “It’s our first stop every year!” . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Although this is only Tiffany’s second time at Summerfest, she already knows she’ll be back, especially for her favorite Margarita Tinis. “They’re the best! I have yet to find a place that can make them taste as great as they are here,” she said. Her first time at Summerfest was watching her daughter perform with LocoMotion Dance Company. What’s her favorite part of Summerfest so far? “Walking past the different stages and hearing all the different types of music.” . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: These two Summerfest veterans hit up the music stages as soon as the gates opened. Superfan Joe, who says he’s attended the Big Gig every year since the seventies, took his son-in-law Andrew to enjoy Wisconsin’s favorite festival this year. “I’ve been coming here since it was all grassy and muddy!” Joe exclaimed, referring to when Summerfest was a newer festival and the grounds not as developed. The duo’s favorite part of the Big Gig: “The beer and the music, for sure!” Andrew said. . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Meet festival-goers Jan and Sandy. This duo has been coming to Summerfest every year since at least 1971. But today the fest is “way, way different” than 1971, Jan says. When they first started attending the Big Gig, Jan says, “there was a lot of mud with some benches.” Sandy adds, “The stage was also set in grass.” But both agree it’s much better now than it was then. They laugh and say, “We’re about the rock, and we’re the party animals!” . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Meet Kaylee and Kylee, who made the road trip up to Summerfest on their day off work to check out the Big Gig. The ladies were looking forward to seeing Steven Tyler perform on Tuesday night and any other entertainment Milwaukee has to offer, since, as they asserted, they’re from a “small, boring town in Illinois.” . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Moustapha has been a vendor at Summerfest for four years and is the general manager for An Africa Alive. “We import and manufacture natural beauty products based on shea butter,” he said. “We are a free trade company, and we work with artisans all over Africa and bring all their stuff here.” So far, he says that he likes coming to Summerfest because “people are being very responsive, and they like what we do. And it’s just fun!” . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Natalie and Kate were supporting their brother’s band Good Boy Daisy on the North Stage when we meet them. The band showcases original “pop-punk” tunes, and the girls graciously handed out wristbands to spread support while repping trendy Good Boy Daisy apparel. . . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Members of the Milwaukee Bucks Grand Dancing team made an entertaining appearance at Summerfest. Nan and Jerry showed their Bucks pride by sporting jerseys with their names and age on the back. “It’s a little warm out here, but very good,” Jerry remarked following their impressive performance. The couple got to show their skills at the basketball courts in the festival grounds and dance their hearts out for nearby spectators. The two dancers were eager to explore the festival grounds as soon as they finished their first performance of the annual fest, saying “Now we get to do what we like. It’s pretty cool we get to do it that way.” . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Friends “Jay the Fox” and “Lavish Liam” stopped by Summerfest early hoping to get a good spot to enjoy the Lil Uzi Vert concert. The boys even brought along Jay’s service dog, who happily pranced around the festival all day with them. These festival-goers come every year, “to meet great people.” . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Rose and Don are visiting the Summerfest festival grounds from Chicago. The couple has made it a tradition to come up to the festival for at least one day a year for the past 25 years. When asked about their favorite part of the festival, they both looked at each other and Rose said, “the beer, the food, the bands, the lake, everything!” They said they enjoy everything about the festival, especially the outstanding music and Wisconsin-based breweries. “We’ve been doing it every year. It’s kind of like tradition. We come, spend the day,” she said. . . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Good friends Jessica and Andrew came to Summerfest to see the All American Rejects. It is Jessica’s first time at Summerfest, and she says she’s grown a new appreciation for music since her sister became a music major at UW-Whitewater. Andrew, on the other hand, is a veteran to the Summerfest grounds and has been there three times. . . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: This is Kristi’s first time at Summerfest. Based in Madison, she has launched her own perfume line, Zodica, which “introduces you before you even speak.” Her perfume is specific to each zodiac sign to guide customers in “manifesting the life they want to live.” Kristi has always loved perfume but says she hates shopping for it, which is what inspired her to create her own product that really connects with customers’ identities. It not only reflects your zodiac personality, she says, but is formulated for seasonal use as well. Kristi’s unique beauty product is about to launch at Macy’s this coming fall. . . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Sisters Kathy, Chris, Veronica and Sharon have been attending Summerfest for the last 10 years. Every year, the women coordinate matching outfits and visit every stage at the festival. Brats, spaghetti and assorted drinks from the bars were the sisters’ go-to for lunch when we caught up with them at the Big Gig. . . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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HUMANS OF SUMMERFEST: Meet Vicki, Patti and Ashley, a group of friends who spent opening day wandering the Summerfest grounds and enjoying one of the Big Gig’s newest food vendors, @belaircantina. “Very fresh, very yummy,” they said. . “There are a couple of [musical] acts I’m pretty excited about that are going to be at 4 o’clock,” Patti said. “And I’m like, oh that I can do! It’s the first day, and we’re off to a great start.” . “I think since we live here, we don’t realize what a cool, neat place this is. You can see how pretty spectacular this Milwaukee event is,” Vicki added. . . . #summerfest #humansofsummerfest #biggig #festival #milwaukee #mke #summerinthecity #summerfest18 #summerfest2018 #peoplewatching

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