As is tradition, Summer Camp Music Festival will return on May 25 through 28. However, things will look slightly different after the impending 2023 gathering, which is slated to occur at the end of the month, after event founder Ian Goldberg shared that the Summer Camp will return in an alternate format in 2024 after a so-called “hiatus.”

In a message addressed to the Summer Camp family, Goldberg wrote: “The good news is that our tradition of gathering every Memorial Day Weekend at Three Sisters Park will continue… 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.”

“The challenges of throwing a mid-size independent music festival in the face of the big corporate festivals as competition both for fans and for artists, along with the logistical challenges (especially post-pandemic) of throwing an event of this size in a small market in Central Illinois have had us reevaluating what we do for a while now,” Goldberg continued providing context to support his decision. 

The festival founder added: “But reimagining Summer Camp had its own challenges, we could not figure how to scale back the event in a way that would feel true to everything Summer Camp Music Festival has come to be. Cutting pieces of it felt like leaving our children behind. So we decided it was time to put Summer Camp Music Festival to rest. For now. 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.” 

Summer Camp Music Festival began in 2001 and featured performances by host band moe., in addition to 10 other acts. Since it started out, the event has expanded and gained notoriety as one of the Midwest’s premiere live music attractions–drawing more than 150 artists and upwards of 20,000 fans across eight stages and over three glorious days. 

This year’s event is slated to include three days of music provided by hosts: moe. And Umphrey’s McGee, as well as headlining sets from Willie Nelson & Family, Excision, Vulfpeck, Goose, Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade, The Disco Biscuits and more. Read about the 2023 artist lineup here. 

Read the official statement below. For more information, visit summercampfestival.com.