Got Memorial Day Weekend plans? Here’s an idea – head to Chillicothe in the Illinois River Valley and camp out at one of the biggest events in the Midwest. The annual Summer Camp Music Festival is back at the sprawling Three Sisters Park, and here’s all you need to know about it.
Back in the park for its 22nd edition, Summer Camp 2023 is all set to triple small town Chillicothe’s population over the Memorial Day Weekend. Around 20K fans make it to the camping grounds in Three Sisters Park; half of them arrive way before the gates open on Thursday! So, if you plan to join all the fun in the sun this year, we have the deets to help you make it a hassle-free and memorable experience.
Road trip to Summer Camp? So cool! We bet you’d like a longer summer vacation than just a weekend. Go for it and have fun in the sun, but don’t forget to make sure your car is ready for it too. And we’ve got a tip to help you save up on those travel expenses: pre-book everything for the best deals.
Be it a hotel room/vacation rental, theme park tickets, or dining experiences – booking in advance always gets you better prices. As for parking – get up to 60% off on the best spots when you pre-book it online on Way.com. Our app also offers the most extensive coverage on car services, so you can always find what you need.
Also See: How to Plan a Camping Road Trip in the United States
What is Summer Camp 2023?
Don’t let the name trick you – SCamp23 is no ordinary summer camp for kids. Instead, it’s a weekend-long celebration for all ages. The long-running annual festival debuted in 2001 with around 15 bands and 1000 fans. From the two-day inaugural event to the current four-day schedule attracting over 20k fans, Summer Camp Music Festival has grown into one of the Midwest’s biggest Memorial Day Weekend events.
In 2023, Three Sisters Park will host the 22nd edition of the festival. Over 25000 attended the Summer Camp music festival in 2021 – its first edition after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The event continues to grow, with onsite camping passes selling out months in advance. This year, the festival brings over 180 artists and bands to its multiple stages, along with late-night shows, workshops, outdoor activities, art installations, food, and more.
What are the Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 dates?
Summer Camp at the Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL, goes live annually during Memorial Day Weekend. The festival’s 22nd edition in 2023 is no exception – the official SCamp 2023 dates are May 26 – 28, with a pre-party on May 25, Thursday.
Gates to the Summer Camp festival and camping grounds open at noon on Thursday; 3-Day pass holders with Pre-Party tickets/VIP upgrades can start entering at this time. The gates will remain open for 24 hours until the festival ends on Sunday (May 28, 2023). However, those without Pre-Party access can start entering only from noon on Friday. Entry for 1-Day pass holders begins at 10 am on Sunday.
RV Camping entry times are from 8 am – 10 pm; you’ll have to wait till the next morning to enter the campgrounds if you arrive outside these hours. On Thursday, RVs are also allowed to enter the grounds from 12 pm only. See Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 RV camping guidelines here for more details.
Who is performing at Summer Camp 2023 in Chillicothe?
Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 lineup has over 180 artists and bands, including host bands moe. and Umphrey’s McGee. The long-time Summer Camp regulars will perform traditional sets on all three festival days. Willie Nelson & Family, Excision, Vulfpeck, Goose, and Ganja White Night are just a few other big names on the lineup. This is Nelson’s much-anticipated first performance at the festival since 2009, breaking his 14-year absence from the lineup.
The Summer Camp lineup blends multiple genres ranging from bluegrass and funk to jam bands, rock, and electronic music. Overall, the 2023 festival features 247 sets promising over 260 hours of music across multiple stages within Three Sisters Park. Check out the full lineup, schedule, and venues here.
1-Day Summer Camp Music Festival passes are usually for Sunday (May 28, 2023). This year’s Sunday lineup includes Vulfpeck, Mastodon, and Willie Nelson, along with hosts Umphrey’s McGee and moe.
Thursday’s SCamp23 Pre-Party has over 20 sets on the lineup, including Manic Focus, Cole Knight, and Maddy O’Neal. The Disco Biscuits and Lotus will headline the kick-off party.
You can also catch exclusive acoustic performances by several bands on the lineup with a VIP upgrade. See the VIP lounge lineup and schedule here.
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How much do Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 tickets cost?
Summer Camp Chillicothe ticket rates currently start at $60 for the pre-party; fees are additional. Prices increase without notice as tickets in each tier sell out; get your passes early for the lowest rates. See ticket rates for Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 passes and upgrades available now:
- 3-Day General Admission: $269.50+ fees
- 1-Day GA Pass: $74.50+ fees
- 1-Day VIP Pass: $174.50+ fees
- Pre-Party Passes: $59.50+ fees
- VIP Upgrades: $349.50+ fees – $1499.50+ fees
- RV/Camping Passes: Starts at $324.50+ fees
Must-Know Ticket Rules
- 3-Day GA pass holders can enter the festival from noon on May 26, 2023 (Friday), and camp on the grounds for three days – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Upgrade to VIP or add on a Pre-Party pass to enter the festival grounds early on Thursday. Pre-party pass is not required if you get a VIP upgrade.
- Pre-party and 3-Day pass holders with VIP upgrades can camp at the festival from Thursday night to Sunday night; gates open at noon on Thursday (May 25, 2023).
- 1-Day passes are only available for Sunday; gates open at 10 am, and you can camp at the festival on Sunday night.
- 1-Day VIP passes include admission to the Red Barn Late Night show on Sunday.
- Four levels of VIP upgrades are available for 3-Day GA passes – VIP, VIP Deluxe, VIP Super Deluxe, and VIP Rockstar. The perks and prices vary for each level.
- VIP upgrades generally include exclusive camping and viewing areas, VIP Lounge access, exclusive performances and hangout with bands, VIP restrooms and showers, and priority parking near the VIP camping area.
- Primitive and electric camping options are available in the general and VIP areas; prices vary accordingly. See the full Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 camping rules here.
- Kids under 6 do not need tickets to enter the festival grounds; ages 6 – 12 pay half the price. Discounted tickets for children are available only at the festival box office, and you can purchase them when you arrive at the venue.
- No ticket refunds; the event takes place rain or shine. If you have a valid wristband, you can leave and re-enter the venue during the festival weekend.
Can you volunteer at SCamp 2023?
You can apply to volunteer with different teams at the Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 on the official event website. All volunteers get 3-Day passes with pre-party tickets; however, there is a non-refundable $20 application fee.
What are the Red Barn Late Night Shows?
Summer Camp 2023 is organizing five exclusive late-night shows – one each on every day of the Memorial Day weekend festival. These are limited-capacity shows at the VIP Lounge, Campfire Stage, Starshine Stage, and Soulshine Tent. You’ll have to buy a separate ticket for each show or get a VIP upgrade.
Red Barn Late Night Shows 2023 lineup includes Gigantic Underground Conspiracy, Doom Flamingo, Excision, Ganja White Night, and Cory Wong & Friends. Tickets go on sale closer to the event; you’ll need a 3-day GA pass to add on these shows to your Summer Camp tickets.
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What other activities does the festival have?
Summer Camp 2023 is more than music and camping. The festival brings its fans together yearly to celebrate the growing community through activities, games, art, hands-on workshops, and more for all ages. Some of the most popular attractions are:
Field Day: Four color-coded teams compete against each other for the Summer Camp Cup and a Victory Party at the festival. The competitions include games like tug-of-war, twister, dodge ball, and an eating contest. Learn more about Field Day at Summer Camp 2023 here.
Kids Camp: Exciting activities and games to keep the kids engaged, including a pottery studio, water fun, kids’ yoga, arts and crafts, drum circle, face painting, and more. Check out the Kids Camp activities at the festival here.
Soulshine Experience: Head to the Soulshine Tent for interactive fun like scavenger hunts, gardening, and live art. Find out more here.
Where is the Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 venue?
Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois, has hosted the Summer Camp festival since its first edition in 2001. In 2023, the weekend festival will return to the 400-acre private park for its 22nd year. The park has a natural outdoor amphitheater and open fields, making it the perfect venue for large festivals like SCamp 2023.
Summer Camp 2023 festival and camping grounds at the Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe are about 15 miles north on Route 29 from Peoria. It’s just across the Illinois River, at the south end of Chillicothe.
The address is 17189 Illinois Route 29, Chillicothe, IL. Use the map below for directions, and see the festival grounds map here to get around the park during the weekend.
How to reach Three Sisters Park?
The only way to reach the small town of Chillicothe is by car, even if you take a flight to Peoria airport. The General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport is a half-an-hour drive or 23 miles south of the Summer Camp music festival venue.
By road, Chicago is around 150 miles from Chillicothe – it will take about two and a half hours. You can take the I-55 South and the I-80 South to IL Route 29. See distance from other major cities nearby:
- St. Louis – 185 miles (3-hour drive)
- Indianapolis – 229 miles (3.5-hour drive)
- Milwaukee – 207 miles (3.5-hour drive)
- Des Moines – 275 miles (4-hour drive)
- Fort Wayne – 278 miles (4.5-hour drive)
- Kansas City – 397 miles (6-hour drive)
From downtown Peoria, take IL Rt. 29 north. Three Sisters Park is on the west side of Rt. 29, 5 miles past Mossville Caterpillar plant, just before entering Chillicothe. Look for the large ‘Three Sisters Park’ sign with the event description.
Is there Summer Camp 2023 parking at Three Sisters Park?
If you are not camping, park in the general lot outside the Summer Camp Music Festival grounds. VIP pass holders get priority parking spots from across the VIP camping grounds. The VIP lot is closer than the general lot.
You cannot take your car inside the festival or campsite. Only vehicles with RV camping passes are allowed inside the venue. ADA/Accessible parking spots are also available at the general lot; you must have an ADA parking pass. Golf carts are available from the parking lot to the campsites if you need assistance unloading your vehicle.
How much is Three Sisters Park parking?
Summer Camp Music Festival 2023 parking is $30 per car at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe. You won’t find alternative parking options near the venue. However, if you stay outside the festival grounds and need additional Peoria parking outside event hours, check out Three Sisters Park parking deals online. You’ll find daily rates (up to 24 hours) as low as $22 at safe and affordable lots within a mile of the Summer Camp venue.
See: How to Book City Parking on Way.com: A Step-by-Step Guide
*Lineup, set times, dates, and event rules are subject to change. Check the official website and social media feed for up-to-date details.
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Celine is your ‘Need-a-car-because-I’ve-got-places-to-be’ friend. With 10 years of experience in travel & lifestyle writing, she’s always searching for the latest user-friendly features in a car. While she’s not relaxing on a long road trip or catching the next flight for a weekend getaway, you’ll find her home huddled up with a good book or a new show and armchair traveling into distant lands or fantastic worlds.
