Dates for the Summer Camp Music Festival 20th Anniversary have been rescheduled to take place Memorial Day Weekend 2021. Organizers had remained hopeful that Illinois would enter into Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan, however due to the recent spike in cases nationwide, they have determined that it is no longer safe to hold the event this year.

Read the official statement from founder Ian Goldberg below:

Dear Summer Camp Family,

We have held out with hope against hope that things would begin to get better in this ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus. With strong leadership here in Illinois, we have been making progress. All of the metrics have been trending in the right direction, and we were encouraged with the Governor moving up the opening of outdoor patios and restaurant service to Phase 3 and then moving ahead with opening Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. However, in the face of the national spike we are now experiencing, along with the lack of leadership and coherent response on a national level, it is clear that Illinois will not be in Phase 5 and we will not be able to safely host Summer Camp Music Festival this August.

As much as it pains us to miss this year, that was to have been our 20th Anniversary celebration, we of course hold the health and safety of you, our fans, and our dedicated staff as our number one concern. So it is with a heavy heart that we again announce the postponement of our 20th anniversary celebration to Memorial Day Weekend of 2021. We are still working out details with some artists, but we are very happy to announce that we have already confirmed most of our headliners and the vast majority of our lineup are coming along with us. We will have an announcement with the full artists lineup soon. Rest assured, all the excitement we put together for our 20th anniversary will be fulfilled in 2021!!

We look forward to celebrating with all of you May 28-30, 2021! If you already have purchased tickets you need do nothing. All current tickets will roll over and be valid for the 2021 event. This is good for all ticket types including Volunteer Deposits, VIP, RV’s, Pre-Party, etc.

We understand that some of you currently holding tickets unfortunately may not be able to make it in 2021 or may be unsure at this time. As such, refunds will be made available beginning on Monday, July 13th and continue through July 31, 2020. An email will be sent to all ticket holders on Monday explaining the procedure to complete by July 31st in order to refund your purchase.

I want to thank our amazing staff, and in particular the Camp Counselors and marketing team, that have worked diligently through these unprecedented circumstances to try and keep spirits high during such trying times. It has not been easy to communicate where things stand in the midst of a constantly changing situation. I know there are some who have been unhappy with our response and the lack of answers we have been able to provide about what was happening up until this point. All I can say is that we did our best to give the information we had, and I take personal responsibility for any mistakes that were made. 

These have been challenging times and we have had to make very tough decisions with no roadmap to follow. I had sincerely hoped that things would work out differently and that we would all be able to gather once again to celebrate our 20th anniversary, albeit late, this year. I chose to hold onto optimism until the science and data proved beyond a doubt it was not possible. I felt I was acting in the best interest of the many people who dedicate their lives to this event every year, knowing all along I would never put those lives in jeopardy if the situation did not prove to allow for a safe event. Sadly that turned out to be the case. 

We still face a lot of challenges to get through this and to be able to come together again safely in 2021. Know that I consider this my solemn duty and I will continue to make the best choices I can to make sure that happens. I may make mistakes, as I may have up to now, but if I do so it is with that goal in my heart. 

I sincerely thank all of you for continuing to support this dream we have all made a reality together. I know that with all of that support we will be able to overcome all obstacles to celebrate together again even bigger and better in 2021.

Much Love

Ian Goldberg

Founder Summer Camp Music Festival