28-05-2025
Summer Camp music festival to return next year, tickets halfway sold out
CHILLICOTHE, Ill. (WMBD) — For fans of the popular music festival Summer Camp, the stage will soon be set.
The festival returns next year after its hiatus this year, which was announced after their decision to move the event, and then eventually cancel it.
The 25-year-old event had moved out of its only home at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe with plans to be on Peoria's Riverfront over Memorial Day weekend for a three-day affair before it was called off.
The festival was called off in March, citing several factors in a Facebook post.
'Although we gave it our best efforts, a variety of factors such as the state of the music festival industry, artist conflicts, and more did not allow us to put together a Memorial Day event this year that would live up to the Summer Camp Presents brand,' the post said. 'At this time, our team is looking ahead to our full return in 2026.'
3-day Memorial Day Summer Camp music festival is off for 2025, organizers say
Now, the festival is getting a rejuvenation, and a 2026 return to its original location on May 22 through 24.
In the past, the festival featured days of camping and had a counterculture 1960s feel to it. The event had also brought in some big-name performers such as George Clinton, Phil Lesh, moe., Willie Nelson, and others.
The festival was downsized in 2024, citing economics as the driving factor.
'We know you all have been waiting for word of this year's festival, and we have some good news. We will indeed be hosting an event in 2025. However, with the difficult economic factors continuing to impact the festival market in various ways we have elected to make some changes which we are happy to share with you now,' another Facebook post said at the time.
In the past, it was also a huge economic boom to Chillicothe as well, given that in some years, the number of guests attending was more than the village's population.
To find where to get tickets, click here.
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