By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published May 23, 2012 at 4:10 PM

I had the pleasure of checking out the new 45th anniversary Summerfest tribute exhibit this afternoon at Discovery World. It opens to the public Thursday, May 24 through Sept. 15.

The exhibit features never-been-seen memorabilia from the past 44 years including dozens of signed guitars from Devo, B.B. King, Justin Bieber, Modest Mouse, Elvis Costello, Steve Winwood, B-52s, Flaming Lips, Cypress Hill, Carrie Underwood and Big Gig darling Tom Petty.

According to John Boler, the vice president of sales and marketing for Summerfest, the guitars were given by the musicians as a "thank you" and have been stored in the Summerfest archives for years.

Drum heads, posters, promotional merchandise and video screens showing historical footage are also a part of the exhibit.

"Discovery World is a fantastic facility and a great neighbor of Summerfest," says Boler. "This exhibit triggers good memories and gets people excited about being a part of the 45th anniversary."

A kick-off party will take place on Thursday, May 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature live music. Everyone in attendance gets a free 4th of July admission ticket and a 45th anniversary T-shirt. A special $5 admission will allow guests to check out both the Summerfest tribute exhibit and Les Paul's House of Sound exhibit.

Plus, between 6 and 7:45 p.m., guests can enter to win a three-hour Pedal Tavern Tour and sign up for the 45 Day Countdown Contest to win prizes daily from Summerfest and its partners.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.