Sunday, June 27th 2010
The Do's & Don'ts of Summerfest
By Jessie Spiess
Whether you’ve been to Summerfest every year for ages, or this will be your first
dip into it, there is the inevitable list of Do’s and Don’ts that exist in its wake. The
masses will flock from all over for this enormous outdoor music festival to hear the tunes,
see the sights, embrace the lake and drink the booze, so pull on your party shoes, and
welcome the next two weeks with open arms.
The best possible ‘do’ you could do for braving Summerfest has to be utilizing
public transportation in one way or another. Ride the bus, ride your bike, ride a friend’s
bike - whatever you can do to avoid the parking situation and/or driving afterwards. Bars
all around town provide shuttles if you live too far to walk or bike, plus you can have a
few brews before you hit the fest. Between noon and 6:30 you can get a re-entry
wristband if there is a band you want to see in the evening, but can’t stick around all day,
so go on your lunch break and get one for later. If you’ve arrived early enough to
technically claim your beer drinking as ‘day drinking’ then what is a big ‘do?’ Eat some
fried cheese curds! You’ve got to soak up some booze, and Summerfest boasts a variety
of tasty eats from various vendors around town. Major Goolsby’s has great burgers and
dogs, and what else goes hand in hand with summertime fun than a good ol’ burger?
Another must is riding the sky lift, for a nominal fee you can get from one side of
the park to the other without having to brave the crowd, plus, the view is gorgeous. If
you’re looking to save a few bucks, hit up a happy hour before hand and you can save on
paying festival prices for drinks and food. Lastly, have fun and make some friends.
Summerfest only comes once a year, so enjoy yourself, and stop by the lake to dip your
toes in when it gets hot. How can you beat the location of this festival with Lake
Michigan right at your feet?
Now, of course, with all the lovely things to enjoy come the inevitable ‘don’ts.’
That being said, walking under the sky lift…walk at your own risk, friends. Some pesky
folks might find it funny to spit and/or spill their beer on your dainty head. Plus, there is
always the opportunity for a flip-flop to clobber an innocent bystander. We’ve all been
lost, and to avoid the hours of waiting at the gate for your compadre who got lost after the
show, don’t forget your cell phone. You cannot bring very much into the grounds, so
ladies, leave your big bags at home, they’ll be a pain to carry around all day, and it beats
having some disgruntled security guard confiscating your cute summer bag. Seeing that
you used public transportation to get there, it won’t be a problem, but just in case, don’t
drink and drive. Call a cab! Cab drivers swarm the grounds, and a quick ride home for a
few bucks will save you a whole lot of trouble. Lastly, and most importantly, don’t go
home with that guy/gal from out of town…I promise, they’re not that cute.
Neighborhood: Third Ward
