Summerfest is back and we're in for tight races this fall

Summerfest, America's largest music festival, takes a step toward normal today. But it still faces challenges.

• Summerfest in the heart of summer — for half a century, it was inevitable, something Milwaukee could count on. Then COVID-19 made it impossible, not once but twice. But starting today, the country's largest music festival will return to its customary late-June/early-July run on Milwaukee's lakefront for the first time since 2019.

• This year marks a significant step back toward normal for the lead festival in the City of Festivals, although Summerfest's traditional 11-day sprawl has been swapped out for a trio of three-day weekends (June 23 to 25, June 30 to July 2 and July 7 to 9), a format introduced last year. Unlike at 2021's festival, proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results won't be required for entry. But the pandemic isn't over, and Summerfest faces some related challenges — including staffing, a lack of Milwaukee County Transit System service and inflation.

• "The world changed in 2020, and I think we're still working our way back," said Don Smiley, CEO for Summerfest parent company Milwaukee World Festival Inc. "People are more confident, ticket sales are better. But I do think it will take a few years for the industry to get ramped up to where it was pre-COVID. ... It's not just a light switch."

Marquette Poll shows Ron Johnson, Tony Evers in close general election races

• In the Republican primary for governor, businessman Tim Michels and ex-Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch are locked in a tight two-way battle, while the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is also close, with Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes holding a slight lead over Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry. "All these numbers are very, very close," said Marquette University Poll Director Charles Franklin.

• Meanwhile, potential fall contests show Democratic Gov. Tony Evers with an advantage over four potential GOP challengers, while Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson slightly trails three potential Democratic challengers.

• President Joe Biden had 40% approval and 57% disapproval, his lowest marks in the poll since taking office. While 79% of Democrats approved of Biden's job performance, 17% disapproved. Inflation was by far the top concern of those surveyed. Seventy-five percent said they were very concerned with inflation, 58% with abortion policy, 56% with gun violence, 47% with health care and 18% with coronavirus.

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The Money

GAS: Gas prices drop slightly as the price of oil declines but the price for a gallon of regular is still hovering around $5 in Wisconsin.

The Fun Stuff

TOURISM: Popular Wisconsin tourist destinations draw 'insane' visitor numbers as the summer of revenge travel continues.

RIB MOUNTAIN: The Wisconsin DNR is proposing mountain biking, rock climbing, and camping for Rib Mountain State Park to make it a year-round venue.

The Games

BREWERS: Tough loss for the Brewers, as they drop a 5-4 decision to the Cards and fall a game behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.

LONDON: NFL fans in the U.K. on Wednesday got to buy tickets to the Green Bay-New York Giants game scheduled for Oct. 9 in London, and Packers season ticket holders will get their first shot on June 28.

BUCKS: Pat Connaughton opts in to return to the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2022-23 season

Today's Weather

Another great day. Sunny and 85. What a day to welcome back Summerfest.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Summerfest is back and we're in for tight races this fall