'Red, White and Brew' welcome party to greet RNC delegates at Summerfest grounds

For thousands of Republicans descending on Milwaukee for the party's national convention, the first stop will be the city's ultimate party destination.

On Sunday, July 14, a day before the start of the 2024 Republican National Convention, a "Red, White and Brew" party is planned on the Summerfest grounds at Henry Maier Festival Park for the state party delegations and partner organizations. Country star Trace Adkins is lined up to perform.

The Milwaukee Host Committee, the nonpartisan group working with the RNC, expects about 15,000 guests to attend the opening event.

"It's going to be a great welcome to Wisconsin, and especially a salute to our city," said Alison Prange, the 2024 Host Committee chief operation officer. "When the visitors arrive, they are going to have an experience that really shows off the things you'd expect about our Wisconsin culinary offerings and some unexpected things, too."

The Host Committee will get an assist from the newly formed 414 Council, a group of Milwaukee area business leaders, individuals and organizations committed to financially supporting the official welcome party for the RNC.

Prange said the committee is working with Summerfest and the 414 Council as a "sounding board" to secure local vendors to provide Wisconsin cuisine for guests.

"We know this is the first time people will have gotten together since 2016 at the last in-person convention," Prange said. "The Republicans did have a smaller, scaled down version in 2020, but this is the first time a lot of people will have seen each other in-person since 2016, and we really wanted to make this a great destination for people as they come into the state."

The co-chairs of the 414 Council are Anne Zizzo, the founder and CEO of Zizzo Group Engagement Marketing; Omar Shaikh, Milwaukee restauranter and developer; Jim Kanter, the chief commercial officer of Central Standard Craft Distillery; and Heather Ladage, market president and publisher of the Milwaukee Business Journal.

“Joining the 414 Council should be a priority for any business looking to ensure Milwaukee shines on a national stage,” Kanter said. “The 414 Council will be important in helping the MKE 2024 Host Committee welcome thousands of guests to our city."

On July 14, the park will be included in the Secret Service's security perimeter, with the park only accessible to those with credentials. The area directly west of the park will be included in the "vehicle security perimeter."

Tristan Hernandez can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Red, White and Brew' party to greet RNC delegates at Summerfest