Chad Smith, the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is officially headed to downtown Waukesha. City officials say he is set to headline the GuitarTown Music Festival on June 13, 2026, turning Cutler Park into a free, all-day celebration of guitars, hometown pride and some serious star power.
The festival will take over the Les Paul Performance Center in Cutler Park for a midsummer showcase that leans hard into Waukesha’s "Guitar Town" identity. Organizers say the day will spotlight the legacy of Waukesha native Les Paul with exhibits, a Heritage Tour and a hands-on instrument "petting zoo," while pairing national-level talent with original Wisconsin bands and local food vendors.
Event details and attractions
The city’s official event listing shows GuitarTown running from noon to 8 p.m. on June 13 at the Les Paul Performance Center in Cutler Park, with hands-on exhibits, a Heritage Tour and plenty of local eats on tap, according to the City of Waukesha. For anyone plotting out their day in advance, the city directs festivalgoers to the event’s site for the full lineup and sponsor details at GuitarTownfest.com.
Lineup and organizers
City social media posts name Chad Smith as a featured performer, a booking organizers say boosts the profile of the free hometown festival, as shared by the City of Waukesha on Facebook. Behind the scenes, the city’s contract with Sound Check Entertainment spells out that Sound Check will handle booking and production for the event and anticipates multiple original Wisconsin bands on the bill, per City of Waukesha meeting materials. The festival announcement also lists Gibson as a presenting partner alongside Sound Check and the city, according to the city’s social post.
Local connections and context
Waukesha has long leaned into its Les Paul roots, marketing itself as "Guitar Town" because the legendary guitarist and inventor was born and raised there. The festival is designed as a direct celebration of that legacy, according to the Les Paul Foundation. Smith’s appearance also lines up with his past involvement in music-education fundraisers and projects in the Milwaukee area, a track record that local outlets say reinforces the regional connection around the event, as reported by OnMilwaukee. Organizers will also be counting on Smith’s touring profile and side projects, which are documented on ticketing and artist pages, to help draw fans, according to Live Nation.
Logistics and what to expect
The festival is free to attend and scheduled to run rain or shine, with a rain date set for June 14. The city’s contract requires a security plan and assigns event production to Sound Check while the city oversees food and beverage concessions, per City of Waukesha meeting materials. Attendees are encouraged to keep an eye on the city’s event page and the festival website for updates on the full lineup, schedules and accessibility details, as outlined by the City of Waukesha.
