On Friday, two Milwaukee festivals made announcements about this year's attendance numbers with very different trend lines. While Summerfest continued its recent decline, announcing its lowest attendance in at least 26 years, Milwaukee PrideFest has continued to grow. For the eighth year in a row, the festival announced that it has broken its own attendance record.
45,787 people walked through the turnstiles this year, about a 1% increase over last year's total 45,400. That growth came despite a reduction in the festival's Sunday hours.
You can read the festival's complete press release about the numbers below.
Here's PrideFest's complete press release
Milwaukee Pride, Inc., nonprofit parent of PrideFest Milwaukee, reports record-breaking attendance for the 2019 festival, held June 6-9 at Henry W. Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee.
This year's total confirmed festival attendance was 45,787, an increase of +1% over the 2018 total of 45,400.
The increase is especially significant, following this year's cost-conscious decision to reduce Sunday hours and footprint in response to a three-year downtrend. These choices allowed festival operators and visitors to attend the largest Milwaukee Pride Parade in history, which also broke records with 133 parade entries.
The 2nd Annual Ride with Pride, presented in partnership with Harley-Davidson, also broke previous year records. This year saw 300 riders participate in the world's largest LGBTQ-themed motorcycle run, which roared through Milwaukee streets on Saturday, June 8.
This year's PrideFest Plus One Campaign, benefiting future LGBTQ leaders via the UWM LGBT Resource Center, raised a record-breaking $10,419 in donations. Milwaukee Pride will match these donations for a total gift of $20,838. Since 2012, the PrideFest Plus One Campaign has raised over $60,000 for critical community causes.
"We are filled with gratitude for the unprecedented support from PrideFest Milwaukee visitors," said Jennifer Murray, director of the UWM LGBT Resource Center. "By investing in the UW-Milwaukee LGBT Resource Center, you are helping us create a safer and more inclusive campus and the community at large through educational workshops, events fostering personal expression and outreach-based programming."
"We look forward to furthering visibility for LGBTQ communities through education, programming and outreach on our campus and beyond. Thank you for investing in the next generation of LGBTQ leaders."
The festival received significant local and national media coverage, including the festival's first appearance on NBC's Today Show, an extensive photo gallery in The Advocate, and an event recap on the Harley-Davidson corporate blog.
For the first time ever, Milwaukee was represented at WorldPride 2019 among over 250 pride organizations worldwide. WorldPride, held this year in New York City in honor of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, attracted over 4 million visitors.
Milwaukee Pride was proud to send a delegation of four volunteers to the event. Delegates networked with Interpride members, attended speeches and presentations, and walked in the New York Pride March, now recognized as the largest pride parade in history.
Volunteers from the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project also attended key WorldPride activities, including a reunion of Stonewall Uprising survivors on Friday, June 28 and the first-ever Queer Liberation March on Sunday, June 30.
WorldPride and Pride Month 2019 concluded with closing ceremonies in Times Square -- and Milwaukee Pride was there to support it!
PrideFest Milwaukee 2019 was the swan song for veteran board member Michail Takach, who has resigned from the Milwaukee Pride Board of Directors and his role as Vice President of Communications. Since 2010, Michail has served Milwaukee Pride in a variety of brand marketing, PR, education and outreach roles.
Please join us in thanking Michail for his many contributions. He will continue to support Milwaukee Pride's Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project as an author and curator.
2020 Festival Timeline
Planning for PrideFest Milwaukee 2020 is already under way! Sponsors, entertainers, merchants, food and beverage vendors, and volunteers are encouraged to contact info@milwaukeepride.org for 2020 timeline information.
The dates for PrideFest Milwaukee 2020 will be announced this fall.