The Summerfest 2024 attendance numbers are in—and they’re a little soggy.
According to a press release from Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., a total of 555,925 fans attended this year’s Big Gig. That’s 68,482 fewer than 2023, when Summerfest drew 624,407 fans. The numbers represent an 11% drop.
The culprit, according to Summerfest? Rain. The press release notes that rain affected six days of the nine-day festival—”the most rain since Summerfest 2000.”
“Summerfest once again hosted one of the most unique music festival lineups available anywhere,” says Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., in the press release. “While the frequency of the rain was a challenge, our team appreciates the support of our sponsors, artists, vendors, and fans as we absolutely found the Summerfest spirit throughout the run in 2024.”
In 2022, Summerfest drew 445,611 fans. In 2021—a late-summer installment and the first year of the nine-day, three-weekend format—409,386 folks showed up. Summerfest 2020 was canceled due to COVID. Summerfest 2019 drew 718,144 attendees. At the time, the 2019 attendance was Summerfest’s lowest in more than 30 years.
Summerfest 2025 dates will be announced “soon.” Will the three-weekend format be back? We’ll see!
Here’s the full press release:
Summerfest Celebrates Music, New Sponsors, Enhancements, and Community Impact Despite Weather Dampening 2024 Festival Attendance
MILWAUKEE, WI (July 12, 2024) – Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance celebrated music and community with over 600 artists and reported 555,925 fans during Summerfest 2024, despite rain impacting six of the nine festival days (2024 saw the most rain since Summerfest 2000). In fulfillment of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.’s (MWF) nonprofit mission, 21% of those patrons who attended the festival gained access via one of the 14 free admission promotions.
Known for one of the most diversified music festival lineups anywhere in the world, Summerfest welcomed SZA, Tyler Childers, Lil Uzi Vert, Maroon 5, Kane Brown, AJR, Ivan Cornejo, Goo Goo Dolls, Bryson Tiller, Cold War Kids, Mario, Alison Wonderland, En Vogue, The All-American Rejects, REO Speedwagon, Ethel Cain, Key Glock, and many others.
“Summerfest once again hosted one of the most unique music festival lineups available anywhere,” said Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. “While the frequency of the rain was a challenge, our team appreciates the support of our sponsors, artists, vendors, and fans as we absolutely found the Summerfest spirit throughout the run in 2024.”
Summerfest also celebrated a record number of sponsorships in 2024, with 64 total sponsors, including 14 new sponsors, over 33 additional exhibitors, and 87 marketplace vendors that filled 132 vendor spaces.
New this year, Summerfest debuted the Aurora Pavilion, a stage area with elevated lights and sound, a new permanent video screen, and larger viewing areas with increased capacity. Also new, Yield, an immersive light and sound experience with 192 – 12-foot-tall LED cosmic corn stalks, was a popular destination for fans. The Yield art installation was created in partnership with FuzzPop Workshop, a Milwaukee based arts group. Finally, a new point-of-sale system, Clover, was launched, which utilized a cashless and touchless payment system, which created a seamless purchasing experience for guests.
Aligned with MWF’s nonprofit mission, Summerfest also continued to make significant contributions to the community:
• Fans donated over 26,000 meals for Wisconsinites struggling with food insecurity through Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
• Over $13,500 worth of hygiene products were donated to United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County’s Mary Lou’s Closet
• Fans donated over 4,000 books for Next Door’s community literacy initiatives
• MWF hired over 2,400 seasonal employees
• MWF provided over 70,000 free tickets to the community, ensuring the festival remains accessible
Summerfest integrated over 70 local community organizations through performances and events such as Direct Supply Seniorfest Day and Children’s Fest Day presented by Shorewest, Realtors©. MWF and its sponsors also generated over $250,000 in donations for local nonprofits including the following initiatives:
• American Family Insurance Let the Music Play grants were awarded to eight area schools and community organizations for music education programs
• BMO EMpower Grant Program, which supported 11 minority-owned businesses as vendors
• Generac Power Up With Purpose, which raised money through the sale of front row pit passes with proceeds going to the Veterans Community Project
• Alumni Charity Challenge with Gruber Law Offices, Dean’s Dairy Dips, Newsradio 620 WTMJ, ESPN Milwaukee, and 101.7 The Truth
• Milwaukee Celebrity Charity Pickleball Tournament with Prolite, Pickleball Kingdom, Centerline Athletics, and Team Lammi
• Iron Joc Hole-In-One Challenge with 97.3 The Game
Dates for Summerfest 2025 will be announced soon. For more information visit Summerfest.com.
Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.
RELATED ARTICLES
• Some semi-deep final thoughts on Summerfest 2024