So we did it again – our annual Summerfest trip. This year was... interesting.
Late Start, Awkward Arrival
We had these free promo tickets from PEPSI like every year, which was awesome. But then life happened. It was brutally hot in the afternoon, and honestly, I wasn't about to drag our 1.5-year-old out in that heat. By the time we finally made it to the gates, we were three hours late. Three hours!
The gate staff looked at our expired entry time and I'm pretty sure they were about to turn us away. But after some back-and-forth (okay, begging), they let us use one of the free tickets and we bought one more. Small win, but I'll take it.
The Parking Nightmare (Again)
Every year I tell myself I'll figure out a better parking situation. Every year I end up driving in circles, staring at those ridiculous parking prices near the venue. Seriously, they want like $60 to park in a dirt lot? No thanks.
So we did what we always do – parked at the Milwaukee Public Market and walked. It's become our thing at this point. The walk isn't bad, and honestly, it builds up the excitement. Plus, you can't put a price on tradition, right 😁?
Reality Check: Festivals with Toddlers
Here's what nobody tells you about bringing a toddler to Summerfest: it's not really for them. At all. Our daughter is 1.5, and the place just isn't set up for someone who can barely walk steady and has the attention span of a goldfish.
Thank God for the stroller. Seriously, if you're thinking about bringing a little one, the stroller isn't optional – it's survival equipment. But even with it, you're basically following a tiny person around who has zero interest in standing still for music.
The funniest part? Our daughter fell asleep maybe 30 minutes in and stayed that way until we got home. Kid slept through the entire thing. Maybe she had the right idea.
Festival Food: It Is What It Is
We got hungry (shocking, I know) and grabbed some food. American BBQ wings and a chicken sandwich. Look, I'm not expecting gourmet dining at Summerfest, but wow – expensive and tiny portions. The wings were fine, nothing special. The sandwich was... a sandwich. You're paying for the experience, not the food quality.
Three Hours Well Spent
We got there around 7 PM and left at 10. Three hours of wandering around, hopping between stages, and trying to soak it all in while pushing a stroller with a sleeping kid. Not exactly the wild Summerfest experience of my earlier days, but you know what? It was still good.
The weather had finally cooled down, which is exactly why we waited to go. Smart move on our part, even if it messed up our entry time.
Why We Keep Going Back
Did I regret bringing our daughter? Nope. Not even a little bit. This is what we do – we go to Summerfest. It's a Milwaukee thing. She might have slept through most of it, but she was there with us. That matters.
Sure, things are different now. Instead of getting lost in the music, I'm checking if we have enough snacks. Instead of staying out until midnight, we're calling it a night at 10. But that's okay. Traditions evolve.
The festival is still incredible – all these stages with different acts, people everywhere, that energy that makes you remember why you love living here. It's just that now I experience it through parent goggles instead of party goggles.
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