Summerfest announces Isley Brothers, Eric Benét, more for Juneteenth celebration

Summerfest 2025 is set for June 19-21, June 26-28, and July 3-5. That opening night—Thursday, June 19—is also Juneteenth Day. To celebrate, Summerfest is partnering with Northcott Neighborhood House to bring Juneteenth programming to the festival’s stages starting at 6 p.m.

“We are honored to develop a new partnership with Northcott Neighborhood House to commemorate Juneteenth Day,” said Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., when the partnership was first announced in December. “Milwaukee’s Juneteenth festival and Summerfest are longstanding events in our community, which speak to our tradition as The City of Festivals.”

Artists like Gary Clark Jr., Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ginuwine, Joy Oladokun, and Mike Jones have already been announced for the 19th; now, even more acts—both national and local—have been revealed. They include Fabolous, The Isley Brothers and Eric Benét (headlining the BMO Pavilion), The Shonn Hinton Experience, and Buffalo Nichols.

“We remain thrilled with the partnership,” says Northcott Neighborhood House Executive Director Tony Kearney in a press release. “Visitors and residents will appreciate continuing the Juneteenth Day celebration on the Summerfest grounds after the traditional Juneteenth Day festival and parade with the fantastic lineup of star-studded artists, especially Milwaukee’s own Eric Benét and Shonn Hinton.”

Other Summerfest 2025 headliners include Megan Thee Stallion, Japanese Breakfast, Hozier, The Killers, Benson Boone, Riley Green, James Taylor, Cake, Chicago, The Avett Brothers, Def Leppard, and Lainey Wilson. Oh, and George Thorogood & The Destroyers and Foghat. Summerfest!

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