Summerfest and Northcott Neighborhood House Detail Partnership for 2025

MILWAUKEE – (May 16, 2025) – Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance and Northcott Neighborhood House are proud to expand its ongoing partnership through a variety of community initiatives that celebrate Milwaukee’s culture and legacy as the “City of Festivals.” The organizations are excited to introduce a new event on June 21- “A Taste of Juneteenth” celebrating food and culture with proceeds benefiting participating entrepreneurs and reveal details for scholarship support and food donations.

As an extension of the annual Juneteenth celebration on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Summerfest and Northcott Neighborhood House will debut a new ticketed event, “A Taste of Juneteenth” on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Summerfest, featuring a lineup of local food vendors. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample dishes from local entrepreneurs, chefs, and restaurants in the area. Proceeds from “A Taste of Juneteenth” will directly support the participating vendors, which include:

• Atwood Hwy BBQ Company
• Dear Florence Sweets
• Glad’s Kitchen
• It’s Smackn
• Jericho’s BBQ
• Johnny’s Kitchen Creations
• K’s Finger Food Catering
• Peachy’s Plates
• Pop’s BBQ Memphis Style
• Uyghur Grill

“A Taste of Juneteenth” will be offered twice, either at 11:00 a.m. or 12:45 p.m. with live music from a local DJ. Tickets are $100 and include same day admission to Summerfest. To purchase tickets, visit Summerfest.com.

For the past 34 years, Northcott Neighborhood House has proudly hosted a scholarship competition in conjunction with its annual Juneteenth celebration, honoring African American youth – Miss Juneteenth and Mister Juneteenth (ages 14–18), and Little Miss Juneteenth and Mister Jr. Juneteenth (ages 8–13). Summerfest is honored to support this program, which showcases leadership and achievement within the Milwaukee community, through a scholarship donation. The 2025 scholarship recipients will also be recognized during Summerfest’s official opening ceremony at 6:00 p.m. on June 19, 2025, at the Aurora Pavilion. The ceremony will also feature special performances by national artists and remarks from community leaders.

Additionally, as part of Summerfest’s traditional opening day admission promotion – Bush’s Beans Stomp Out Hunger Day with FOX6 Milwaukee- in partnership with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, a portion of food donations collected on June 19 will also benefit Northcott Neighborhood House’s food pantry.

“In the spirit of Milwaukee’s collective tradition as the City of Festivals, Summerfest is proud to partner with Northcott Neighborhood House to celebrate Juneteenth,” said Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. “Together, we are committed to shining the spotlight on Milwaukee’s unique cultural celebrations.”

“I want to take a moment to acknowledge the value of our partnership with Summerfest. An appearance for the Juneteenth Court at the Summerfest Opening Ceremonies will add to cherished moments for our youth. It’s an opportunity for more community members to see young people who care about the direction of their future. The donations that will support our food pantry program and our mission to meet the needs of those we serve are greatly appreciated. I’m equally excited about the entrepreneurs participating in “A Taste of Juneteenth,” whose cultural cuisine will be available for the entire community and visitors to experience on Saturday, June 21, on the Summerfest grounds,” said Tony Kearney, Executive Director of Northcott Neighborhood House.

As previously announced, following the traditional Milwaukee Juneteenth Day parade and festival on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive; Summerfest and Northcott Neighborhood House invite the community to join in celebrating music and culture with Juneteenth programming at Summerfest on the evening of Thursday, June 19, 2025. Dedicated programming and music during Juneteenth Day at Summerfest will take place across multiple festival ground stages starting at 6:00 p.m.

For more information about the traditional Juneteenth Day Celebration on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, visit JuneteenthMilwaukee.com and for more information on the Juneteenth Day Summerfest celebration visit Summerfest.com.

About Northcott Neighborhood House

Northcott Neighborhood House is a multipurpose community center. We provide education, employment opportunities, and basic necessities to youth, families, and senior citizens in the Milwaukee area. Our goal is to lift the spirit of the whole community through our mission: To empower families to meet their survival needs and provide good parenting to their children. To provide a safe place for youth as well as recreational and skill-building activities—after school, on Saturdays, and in the summer to provide the neighborhood with space, activities, and the opportunity to engage in community building and crime prevention.

About the Juneteenth Day Celebration in Milwaukee

Juneteenth Day is honored with a variety of events and activities that reflect the rich culture and heritage of the African American community. From parades and festivals featuring live music, dance performances, and delicious cuisine, to educational workshops and historical exhibitions, Juneteenth in Milwaukee serves as a platform for unity, reflection, and the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice. It is a time for people of all backgrounds to come together, celebrate freedom, and reaffirm their commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society.

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 will take place over three weekends – June 19-21, June 26-28, July 3-5, 2025. 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.