EXCLUSIVE: Man who spends thousands, travels 30+ hours almost every year to attend Summerfest says "it's totally worth it"

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- How far would you travel to attend the world's largest music festival?

Try 30 hours.

Kirk Jones is in the running for the title of Summerfest's #1 fan. 

Since 2000, Jones has flown into Milwaukee nearly every year to join in on the fun.

He currently lives in Saipan, which is an island in the Northern Mariana Islands.

“It’s part of the United States and it’s over by Guam," Jones told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White, which makes getting to the festival alone no easy feat.

This year, Jones flew from Saipan to Guam, before heading to Tokyo and Denver, and then finally landing in Milwaukee.

“It takes about 29 or 30 to get here and usually 38 to get home," Jones said, referencing flight times. “I mean, look at this place, it’s totally worth it. I’m not going to remember those flights in a year or even a month. Meeting these bands and walking in and seeing these shows, it’s unbelievable.”

Four flights and more than a full day of flying might intimidate some people, but not Jones.

“I’ve been to festivals all over the world, Australia, South Korea, I like seeing new stuff but I’m always disappointed when I compare it to this," Jones said. “It’s a lot of money to get here and it’s a lot of my vacation time but it’s not complicated, I save it and this is how I want to spend it.”

As he strolls through the grounds holding a can of Miller Lite, Jones said there's nowhere else he'd rather be.

“As long as planes are flying and bands are playing, this is what I’m addicted to," Jones said. "It's absolutely perfect."