Memorial Day Weekend in Chillicothe, IL will look a little different in coming years following the full-scale 2023 edition of Summer Camp Music Festival, festival founder Ian Goldberg said in a Monday evening message on social media. Per the note from Goldberg, Summer Camp Music Festival—in its current form—will take a “hiatus” following the 2023 festival, although the event’s organizers will host a “redefined camping & music experience” in its place at Three Sisters Park on Memorial Day Weekend in 2024.
“The good news is that our tradition of gathering every Memorial Day Weekend at Three Sisters Park will continue,” Goldberg wrote. “However, due to various factors, Summer Camp Music Festival as we’ve all come to know it will be taking a hiatus. Again, the good news is that we still plan on throwing a redefined camping & music experience at Three Sisters Park every Memorial Day starting in 2024 that will be presented by Summer Camp.”
Pointing to such factors as post-pandemic logistical challenges as well as staging a massive event in the minuscule central Illinois concert market, Goldberg highlighted the long-running event’s need to scale back. At that same time, with the festival set to celebrate its 22nd year this Memorial Day Weekend, stripping away key elements that longtime attendees have come to know and love proved just as difficult.
“So we decided it was time to put Summer Camp Music Festival to rest. For now,” he continued. “We will be announcing more details on the new event after this year’s festival, but it will likely include certain elements that long time SCampers will find very familiar. Most importantly, we have cherished our long relationships with our host bands, moe. and Umphrey’s McGee and we look forward to what the future may hold with this new event.”
As fans across the internet processed the news, Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins offered some additional insight on Twitter. He echoed sentiments from Goldberg, as well as the entire music industry, that throwing large-scale events post-COVID is simply a different landscape than it was before. One thing he did stress, however, is that Umphrey’s McGee and moe. “will be part of future Memorial Day events at Three Sisters Park.”
This is the correct interpretation
— Joel Cummins 🎹 (@goldlikejoel) May 16, 2023
It’s just gotten harder & harder to break even on big events over the past few years. Yes, Ian is saying moe & UM *will* be part of future Memorial Day events at Three Sisters Park. I’m hoping this will bring out a few more people for the last hurrah this year.
— Joel Cummins 🎹 (@goldlikejoel) May 16, 2023
“So,” Goldberg continued, “this 2023 rendition of the Summer Camp Music Festival next week is going to be insanely meaningful for myself and everyone coming to join us. Let’s celebrate together like we never have before as we close this chapter of what once was, and anticipate what the future holds together!”
Since starting in 2001 with host moe. and ten other bands, Summer Camp Music Festival has ballooned over the proceeding two decades to one of the Midwest’s premiere music festivals. Both moe. and Umphrey’s McGee now serve as co-hosts of the event that annually draws over 150 artists who play across eight stages for three days to upwards of 20,000 fans.
“As a kid from Pekin IL, who just really liked throwing parties for a living, I could have never dreamed we would create something like this community,” Goldberg concluded. “It is all because of you beautiful people, and how your spirit of love and happiness permeates these grounds, online, and in your own world’s back home year after year. I am forever grateful and appreciate your support as always.”
Summer Camp Music Festival returns to Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL May 26th–28th. In addition to three nights of moe. and Umphrey’s McGee, this year’s headliners include Willie Nelson & Family, Excision, Vulfpeck, two sets of Goose, Ganja White Night, Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, Mastadon, and The Disco Biscuits. Tickets are on sale here. Scroll down to read Ian Goldberg’s full message on the future of Summer Camp Music Festival.
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