June—Summerfest

The rhythmic beat of the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cover pulsated over the speakers while the mostly middle-aged-plus crowd swayed to the classic hit.

“If you can’t be with the one you love…”

It was a Friday evening. The late spring sun setting behind us cast warm shadows on the stage; Lake Michigan lay still in the background. The scent of BBQ wafted through the air as the crowd joined in:

“Love the one you’re with…”

Summerfest, Milwaukee’s annual lakefront music festival, has been a fixture of Wisconsin summers since the late 1960s.

Back in college, I attended a couple of times with friends. For my wife, Karen, it was a summer tradition spanning years. As we walked the grounds, we found ourselves wondering whether we might have crossed paths all those years ago before we ever met. The odds were probably higher than we both realized.

Years had passed since either of us had been back. Some areas looked unchanged, while others had evolved with time’s passage. The music was both familiar and new. Clothing styles certainly weren’t what they used to be. The crowd, though, was as vibrant as ever.

Young and old. Families and friends. Couples and groups of coworkers. Thousands of people gathered for no reason other than to enjoy a summer ritual.

Recently, I read a news article citing neuroscientists who explained that communal events like Summerfest, with its potpourri of live music performances scattered across a dozen or so stages, activate brain networks of pleasure, emotion, and memories. Apparently, there is science behind why experiences like this make us feel so good.

As the barefooted lead singer belted out one hit after another, I smiled—I didn’t need a neuroscientist to explain the obvious!

Just the beat of the live music, the familiar lyrics, and people sharing a summer evening.

No scientific study required.

“Da na da da dant dant dadant…”