Want to get to Summerfest without driving? You can still take the bus. Sort of.
Milwaukee World Festival announced Tuesday that it has hired a private company, Atlanta-based Vectour Group, to provide shuttle bus transportation during the nine days of Summerfest 2021, September 2-4, 9-11, 16-18. The service will not include the Wednesday kick-off shows at American Family Insurance Amphitheater—like the Green Day, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy show on September 1.
The move to a private company comes after Milwaukee County Transit System announced that, due to staffing shortages, it would not be able to provide direct service to the Summerfest grounds. Regular MCTS bus routes that get you in the general vicinity of Henry Maier Festival Park will remain.
Here’s how it works, via a press release:
The Summerfest Shuttle will offer a streamlined and convenient option for fest-goers to get to Summerfest. The bus service will operate during the nine days of the festival, beginning at 11:00 a.m., and run continuously throughout the day, approximately every 30 minutes.
Three park and ride lot locations will be utilized during Summerfest and include:
College Avenue – College Avenue at I-94 (both lots)
State Fair Park – I-94.S. 76th Street & W. Kearney
Brown Deer – East Brown Deer Road, west of I-43
The drop off/pick up location at Summerfest is located just west of the Summerfest Mid-Gate.
Round-trip fare is $12. To save time, riders are encouraged to pre-purchase round-trip ride tickets at Summerfest.com, or upon exiting the bus, pay upon arrival at Summerfest. Only debit or credit cards will be accepted. Pre-paid riders must present their online purchase bar code at the Summerfest kiosk to receive the round-trip ride wristband.
Once paid, all bus shuttle passengers will receive a wristband, which is mandatory to show when getting back on the bus to the park and ride lot. If a rider does not have a wristband after leaving Summerfest, they can purchase one for the full-price fare.
Unlike MCTS, masks are not required, but are being encouraged. Summerfest 2021 will still require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within the past 72 hours for entry.
“The buses are back—we know that many of our fans utilize bus transportation to get to Summerfest and we wanted to provide them with a convenient and affordable option to attend the festival,” said Don Smiley, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., in a press release. “Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. is organizing this service and have secured a national company, Vectour Group, which has run shuttles for major events nationwide to offer this service during Summerfest.”
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