After canceling for the first time in its 53-year history last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Summerfest, the largest music festival in the United States, is coming back this September with more than 100 headliners.
The Milwaukee music festival announced the biggest names for its 2021 lineup Thursday morning. Once again, it s one of the most eclectic rosters of any festival in the world, offering something for practically everyone from politically charged hip-hop supergroup Run The Jewels, to country artist Brett Eldredge, to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, to NBA legend Shaquille O Neal, performing as DJ Diesel.
As things look now, July 9.
That’s when the 26-year-old Gathering on the Green is scheduled to return to Rotary Park in Mequon, organizers announced Tuesday.
Country star Trace Adkins will headline July 9, followed by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick July 10.
“Gathering on the Green organizers are focusing on the safety and comfort of the concert goers as more of our citizens continue to become vaccinated,” officials with the nonprofit organizers, also called Gathering on the Green, wrote in a press release sent Tuesday. “Precautions including extra spacing for seating, sanitizing stations and complimentary masks will be available.”
But those fall plans have been called off, Shaver confirmed to the Journal Sentinel Monday. As of now, we are not planning on an October event, Shaver said in an email. We hoped to but we just don t have a clear path to success and time is running out to do an event justice. 2022 it is.
Established in 1987, PrideFest has become one of the most popular annual events in Milwaukee, with a record attendance in 2019 of 45,787 people. It s also one of the largest, and longest-running, LGBTQ+ festivals in the country.
With the COVID-19 pandemic persisting, several summer events in Milwaukee have been called off for a second year in a row, including Polish Fest, German Fest, Festa Italiana, Bastille Days, and as of Monday, the Brady Street Festival.
The Wisconsin State Fair is still on for an in-person event Aug. 5 to 15, organizers announced Wednesday, following last year s cancellation because of the COVID-19 pandemic the first time the event had gone dark in 75 years.
“In January, the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board approved a goal to have a fair this August and we are pleased to confirm we are well on our way to meeting that goal,” Wisconsin State Fair Park Chairman of the Board John Yingling said in a statement Wednesday.
State Fair officials suggest there s high demand for an in-person fair this year. The Fair issued a survey this month, with 88% of participants saying they would be comfortable attending a large event now or in the near future, and 78% saying they plan to attend the fair this year.