By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Jun 20, 2024 at 12:01 PM

The Great Milwaukee Summer is HERE! Your guide to what you'll be doing, where you'll be drinking, who you'll be hearing and how you'll be getting a sweet tan this summer is on OnMilwaukee. The Great Milwaukee Summer guide is brought to you by Geis Garage Doors and Peoples State Bank

Summerfest is finally here, which means it's time to loosen up your belt and make room for all the new foods that kick off festival season in Milwaukee.

While Summerfest favorites including the Saz's sampler platter, Robby's roasted corn and Sil’s mini doughnuts will have their place at this year’s music festival, guests also have 50-plus new food and beverage offerings to which they can look forward. That's over double the number of new items we normally see added to the Summerfest docket in any given year!

New vendors

Summerfest will welcome five new vendors for the 2024 season. Among them are: 

  • Fazio’s Popping Bubbles: Boba Tea, Frozen Lemonade, energy drinks, refreshers and more
  • Los Mariachis: Mexican Street Corn, Queso or Guacamole with Chips, Nacho Supreme, Tacos, Burritos and a Trio Sampler
  • Pina Cocina & Cantina: Birria Bao, Queso or Guacamole with Chips, Nacho Supreme, Tacos, Burritos
  • Wokkin’ Roll: Egg Rolls (veggie, pork and shrimp), Korean Beef Lumpia, Potstickers (shiitake mushroom or chicken), Asian Wings, Veggie Fried Rice and a Build-Your-Own Plate

Last – but surely not least – is DanDan, currently among Milwaukee’s most visible restaurants thanks to Chef Dan Jacobs’ role as a chef-testant on Season 21 of Top Chef.  They will be serving up Dandan noodles (of course), Sichuan Pork Dumplings and Egg Rolls.

Dandan foodsX

At the Amp

The American Family Amphitheater has added a number of new concessions for concert-goers. Among them is a Hot Honey Chicken Tender Sandwich.

Hot Honey Chicken SandwichX

Or forego the bun and just enjoy those Hot Honey Chicken Tenders.

Hot Honey Chicken TendersX

There are two new burgers, including a Bacon Blue Cheeseburger

Blue Bacon BurgerX

...and a Western Burger.

Western BurgerX

Doritos Walking Tacos will fill you up, even as you dance in your seat.

Doritos Walking TacosX

Meanwhile, a Taco Dog will satiate your cravings for Mexican food and sausage all at once.

Mexican Hot DogX

Thirsty for something new? The Amphiteater will also feature the Perky’s Old Fashioned.

Perky's Old FashionedX

Peanut Butter M&M’s will also be available for your sweet snacking pleasure at select concession stands.

Peanut Butter M&MsX

You can also cool down with Proof Hard Ice Cream in flavors like Tropical Pina Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri Spritz, Sweet Caramel Old Fashioned or Chocolate Espresso Martini.

Proof Hard Ice CreamX

Proof Hard Ice Cream is also available at the Mid-Gate Market and Dockside stands.

New beverages

Select Summerfest bars will also showcase brand new beverages including Happy Thursday Strawberry, Simply Spiked Lemonade and Topo Chico Oasis Cherry.

New Canned DrinksX

Jack Daniels Jack & Ginger Ale will also be available at various locations.

Jack Daniels Ginger AleX

Meanwhile, at the South Pavilion Tent, guests will find a cadre of new cocktails including a Mango Colada, Every Rose Has It’s Thorn, Huckleberry Lemonade, Blue Lagoon and the legendary Southern favorite: the Hurricane.

New Summerfest CocktailsX

Fazio’s Popping Bubbles will also offer a refreshing mix of boba drinks including Frozen Bubbles, Tea Bubbles, Energy Bubbles and Iced Coffee Bubbles at their stand in the Mid-Gate Area.

Snacks & Sides

Just feeling a little peckish?  Cousins Subs’ is introducing new Chili Cheese Fries, which will be available at their stand at the Miller Lite Oasis.

Chili Cheese FriesX


Dandan Sichuan Pork Dumplings will be available at their stand located near the North Gate

Sichuan Pork DumplingsX

While you’re there, you might as well add a Dandan Egg Roll to your order.

Dandan Egg RollX

Prefer your roll smokey? Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que will be offering Smoked Brisket Rolls at their stand near the North Gate.

Brisket RollsX

Johnsonville Summerville, located near the North Gate, will be serving up Johnsonville Summer Sausage Snack Sticks.

Johnsonville Snack SticksX

This year you can also pick up a bowl of Bush’s Original Baked Beans to go along with your Johnsonville sausages.

Bush's Baked BeansX

Pizza Man is literally rolling out something new this year. You can pick up a plate of their snackable meatballs at their stand near the North Gate.

Pizza Man MeatballsX

Craving Mexican, but can’t decide on just one thing? Pick up the Trio Sampler at Pina Cocina & Cantina at the Amphitheater Forecourt. It includes two Mini Chicken Quesadillas, Queso Dip and Asada Fries.

Sampler platterX

Or just dig into a substantial bowl of Mexican Street Corn from Los Mariachis (at the North Gate) AND Pina Cocina (Amphitheater Forecourt).

Mexican Street CornX

And yes, there are a few healthful choices at the Fest, including a Hummus Platter with vegetables and chips. It’s available at the Mid-Gate Market and Dockside stands.

Hummus plateX

There you'll also find snackable options like Tortilla Chips with Salsa.

Chips and SalsaX

Sandwiches & entrees

Inevitably you'll experience a moment of true hunger (probably after dancing on the bleachers). That's where more substantial dishes come in.

Cousins Subs’ will have a brand new Fried Bologna Sub waiting for you at the Miller Lite Oasis.

Fried bologna subX

Ready for some Top Chef-worthy carbs? Try the delectably tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorn seasoned Dandan Noodles from Dandan (North Gate).

Dandan noodlesX

You can tackle your spicy pizza craving with Buffalo Chicken Pizza by the slice from Ian’s Pizza, located in the Amphitheater Forecourt.

Buffalo Chicken PizzaX

Not sure about you, but I always think of bao as being a bit like pillowy sliders. Get a plate of Birria-filled bao at Pina Cocina & Cantina, located at the Amphitheater Forecourt 

Birria BaoX

The award-winning Northern Walking Brat from last year’s home chef competition will be making its debut at Johnsonville Summerville near the North Gate.

Walking BratX

Saz’s has one new item this year. It’s a Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap, and it’s available at their stands near the North Gate and the BMO Pavilion.

Grilled Caesar WrapX

Prefer fried chicken? There’s a Crispy Chicken Caesar Wrap and a Crispy Southwest Chicken Wrap at both the Mid-Gate Market and Dockside stands.

Crispy Chicken WrapX

Hungry for something beefy? Try the Roast Beef and Blue Cheese on Brioche at the Mid-Gate Market and Dockside stands.

Roast Beef & BlueX

Looking for choices? Head to Wokkin’ Roll near the Generac Power Stage for the Build-Your-Own Plate. Choose from Veggie Fried Rice or Yakisoba Noodles; Fried Shrimp, Sliced Beef Short Rib or Chinese Fried Chicken; and your choice of sauces (no sauce, Bang Bang, Thai Sweet Chili or Sweet and Sour). 

Beef Yakisoba
Pictured: Beef Rib Yakisoba
X

Sweets

Want to sip something sweet? Cousins Subs’ will offer a refreshing new beverage (or is it dessert?): the Orange Dream Shake at the Miller Lite Oasis.

Orange Dream ShakeX

You can cool off with a brand new (exclusive to Summerfest) Pete’s Pop. The Summerfest Punch pop will be available at the Pete’s stand near the Generac Power Stage.

Pete's Summerfest Punch PopX

But if you want something a bit different, go for the Mini Cookie Dough Empanadas at La Masa Empanada Bar, located near the North Gate.

Cookie EmpanadasX

Craving something sweetly Italian? Grab a slice of Lou Malnati’s famous Tiramisu from their stand at the Miller Lite Oasis.

TiramisuX

For the full list of food and beverage options available during Summerfest, including vegan and vegetarian options, visit Summerfest.com. Fans can also find the locations of all their favorite food and beverages on the Official Summerfest App fueled by Pepsi.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.