'Pretty crazy!' Self-described Summerfest fanatic, 19, wins free tickets for life!

MILWAUKEE -- It was a beautiful day Sunday, July 8 on the final day of Summerfest 2018, after a near-perfect last weekend of the Big Gig.

"I was here the first night and the last night. It's more chill -- less crowded," said Melissa Becker.

Monica Saldor slid in just before closing time with her boyfriend, to listen to some salsa music.

"This is really my first time coming here," said Saldor.

Before the last act took the stage, there was time for one tremendous performance. The Big Gig wrapped up with something called the “big win.” Officials handed out 30,000 free tickets to Summerfest 2019. Attached to each ticket was a little tab with a number on it.

By 3 p.m., everyone had to turn in that tab at one of the entrances at Maier Festival Park to be eligible for a handful of incredible prizes.

Those prizes included $500 gift cards, free passes to the Harley-Davidson Museum and even free beer for a year from Miller.

They saved the best gift for last. Whoever caught a red T-shirt thrown out into the crowd got free tickets to Summerfest for life. The winner was 19-year old Alyssa Prinz, who is a Summerfest fanatic, and said she always takes two weeks off work for the Big Gig.

Alyssa Prinz

Alyssa Prinz

She said she considers herself really lucky.

"I've been here since 11 actually, waiting to be front row, so I've been sitting here. This is my fourth day coming just this year, and we sit all day long just to be front row. I caught the T-shirt and I didn't even realize I had the red shirt! My friends were like 'you have the T-shirt!' I was like 'what?' Unlimited admission to Summerfest. I can come every day for the rest of my life, which is pretty crazy," said Prinz.

You had to be present to win all of the prizes.

"It's a people's festival. We try to stick to that. We want people to think of it as their party," said Bob Babisch, Summerfest.

CLICK HERE for more of FOX6's coverage of Summerfest 2018.