Summerfest and Briggs & Stratton Spotlight 2026 Lineup, Experiences including New STEM Education Partnership with The Hovercraft Project, and Community Impact Throughout the Festival’s Three Weekends
MILWAUKEE, WI — Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance and Briggs & Stratton are thrilled to continue their long-standing partnership and commitment to the Milwaukee community. In its 28th year as a Summerfest sponsor, Briggs & Stratton is once again delivering various experiences to fans through music, hands-on learning, community recognition, and employee engagement during the company’s annual volunteer planting day at Henry Maier Festival Park.
“For nearly 30 years, Briggs & Stratton has been an integral partner of Summerfest, helping to bring the festival experience to life for our fans,” said Kevin Canady, Chief Revenue Officer, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. “From unforgettable performances on the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Stage to meaningful community initiatives and contributions to the beautification of Henry Maier Festival Park, their commitment to Milwaukee continues to make a lasting impact.”
“After 28 years, we’re more committed than ever to making our presence meaningful, not just visible,” said Rebecca Shaffer, Vice President of Communications at Briggs & Stratton. “This year, we wanted every event on our deck to feel like a genuine thank-you to the people who make this community great.”
The Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Stage with Miller Lite & CBS 58 will once again showcase a multi-genre lineup of artists during Summerfest. Headliners for Summerfest include Connor Price, BØRNS, Holly Humberstone, Cameron Whitcomb, Adrien Nuñez, Dora Jar, Weston Estate, The Beths, Blondshell, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Rev Run, John Vincent III, Jonah Kagen, and others. Full lineup details for the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard are available at Summerfest.com.
Community Impact Initiatives and Experiences Include:
- Planting Day – Later this spring, employees will volunteer at Henry Maier Festival Park during the annual Planting Day on May 22, helping spruce up the grounds for the 2026 season through beautification efforts.
- Hovercraft STEM Experience – During the first weekend of Summerfest, attendees and STEM enthusiasts can experience the interactive Hovercraft activation located near the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Stage. This experience is part of the company’s broader sponsorship of The Hovercraft Project, an organization that brings hands-on STEM programming to 5th-grade classrooms nationwide. Through immersive workshops, students develop leadership and problem-solving skills by building, testing, and riding hovercrafts. In partnership with Summerfest, this initiative will expand hands-on STEM learning opportunities for elementary schools across the Milwaukee area, including Golda Meir School, Waukesha STEM Academy, and two campuses of the Milwaukee Academy of Science.
- Briggs & Stratton Celebrates Community Groups at Big Backyard VIP Deck – Throughout Summerfest, Briggs & Stratton will host a series of themed days recognizing and welcoming community groups to the Big Backyard VIP Deck as a way to thank them for their many contributions. Featured groups include STEM educators, landscaping professionals—who will be celebrated with a dedicated Landscapers Lounge, veterans and military families, as well as other community partners. For further information and to register your group, visit Briggsand Statton.com/bigbackyard
- Summerfest Tech – Briggs & Stratton is proud to support Summerfest TechAI this year as the sponsor of the conference’s volunteer program, reinforcing the company’s dedication to innovation, education, and workforce development in the region.
For more information on Summerfest and Briggs & Stratton’s experiences, visit Summerfest.com
About Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance
Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is one of the most iconic celebrations of music in America, hosting the industry’s biggest acts for an unforgettable live music experience. Since its inception in 1968, Summerfest continues to distinguish itself as a premier independent national music festival and has developed an unrivaled reputation, consistently featuring hundreds of performances across 12 stages, throughout the permanent 75-acre festival grounds along Lake Michigan. Summerfest 2026 will take place across three weekends: June 18-20, June 25-27, and July 2-4, 2026. For the latest information, visit Summerfest.com, or Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok: @Summerfest.
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., producer of Summerfest, continues to fulfill its nonprofit mission of bringing the community together and providing a showcase for performing arts, activities, and recreation to the public, through music and special events.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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