772,652 festival goers attended Summerfest; down from over 850,000

Summerfest hosted 772,652 festival goers this year, and 23,000 fans filled the Marcus Amphitheater to watch the Rolling Stones. 

Last year there was over 850,000. 

“In this business, there are certain elements within your control and various elements that are out of your control.  This year we dealt with some extraordinary factors that significantly affected people’s participation with the event,” said Don Smiley, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.  “Between significant area road construction which led to very challenging routes and traffic congestion, unseasonably cold weather for the first half of the festival and a major mass transit work stoppage by transit workers during the event, Summerfest’s numbers were negatively impacted.  The music was outstanding, as were the food and beverages, and other attractions.  The event business is very unpredictable, however, our local, national and international attendees, along with a world-wide streaming audience, got a ‘bird’s eye view’ of Milwaukee and its musical gem.  We now move on to 2016.”  

Summerfest employed nearly 2,289 seasonal employees overall.  Additionally, 700 volunteer shifts, equating to 3,000 hours from 300 volunteers and drivers, contributed to help the festival run smoothly. 

Over 800 acts took the stage with over 1,000 performances.  

As in years past, Summerfest provided patrons with the opportunity to get in free or at a discounted rate each and every day of the festival.  In total, 89,263 patrons entered the event for free, taking advantage of admission promotion offers.

Beyond the music, festival fans enjoyed a variety of fun activities at the site.  3,389 paddle boat rentals allowed fest-goers to enjoy being on the water.  93,011 patrons floated over the festival stages and audience on the Funjet’s Summer-Of-Fun Skyglider.  21,469 patrons enjoyed the views from Summerfest’s “Wheel in the Sky”.  Of the 19,530 swings attempted at the Meijer Hole-In-One, Brody Oesterreich, had the best shot of all, sinking a “Hole in One” on the final day of the festival, and earning himself the $5,000 grand prize.