The organizers of the annual Summer Soulstice Music Festival announced on Monday that the 2020 installment of the fest has been canceled. The fest was previously scheduled for June 20. It would have been the 20th anniversary of the popular East Side event.
“This year, because of COVID-19 implications, we made the hard decision to cancel Summer Soulstice,” reads a Facebook post. “However, this event is too beloved to let pass without a tribute or acknowledgment, so we decided to host a virtual ‘Tribute to Soulstice’ instead. We are excited to come back for our 20th celebration in 2021! ”
About that virtual “Tribute to Soulstice”:
From April 27 to June 14, participants will be entered to win a weekly drawing for a gift card to a featured local business that has been a supporter of Soulstice. Send pics, videos, and/or memories to our Facebook or Instagram page, or [email protected] – one chance to win per entry. This is an opportunity to have fun or be strategic! Choose a week to submit all your memories if you’re angling for a gift card to a particular business, or submit them throughout the Tribute for a chance to win any of the 7 gift cards!
Here’s the “Tribute to Soulstice” schedule (with business-specific details in the links):
Week of April 27
Milwaukee Film
Week of May 4
Crossroads Collective
Week of May 11
Hooligan’s
Week of May 18
Ian’s Pizza
Week of May 25
Izzy Hops
Week of June 1
Hacienda Brewing Co.
Week of June 8
Von Trier
The Facebook post continues: “On June 20 (when Soulstice would have taken place), we will unveil the collection of Soulstice memories and winners of each week’s submissions.”
Speaking of memories, here are some photos from last year’s Summer Soulstice, followed by a press release. (All photos courtesy of Tayler Photography unless otherwise noted.)
Photo: Matt Wild
Photo: Matt Wild
Photo: Matt Wild
Photo: Matt Wild
Photo: Matt Wild
Photo: Matt Wild
Photo: Matt Wild
Photo: Matt Wild
Photo: Matt Wild
Summer Soulstice Music Festival Pivots to a Virtual Tribute
In lieu of being able to gather in person, past attendees are invited to share their memories to benefit local supporting businessesMilwaukee, WI – The East Side Business Improvement District (BID) made the difficult decision to cancel the Summer Soulstice Music Festival this year due to COVID-19 implications. This year’s event would have been its 20th anniversary celebration.
However, The East Side BID wanted to figure out a way to continue Summer Soulstice’s good vibes. “This event is too beloved to let it pass without a tribute or acknowledgment, so we decided to host a virtual Tribute to Soulstice instead this year,” said East Side BID Executive Director Elizabeth Brodek. “We’re trying to be as innovative as our businesses in this pivot, and support those that have supported us. The Tribute will allow people to relive the community that makes Soulstice so awesome, and support businesses that have sponsored the event over the years. We’ll be excited to bring Summer Soulstice back for a big 20th celebration next year.”
The Tribute to Soulstice will replace and update the current event. To take part in the Tribute, just share your favorite Summer Soulstice memories in the form of pictures, videos, and/or written memories about favorite times at Summer Soulstice, or why you love Summer Soulstice.
The Tribute will take place from April 27 to June 14. Anyone who submits a Soulstice memory during that time will be entered to win a weekly drawing for a gift card to a featured local business that has supported Summer Soulstice. To enter, send photos, videos, and/or written memories to The East Side BID via their Facebook or Instagram page, or [email protected]. Each memory submitted counts as an “entry” in the drawing for the gift card to that week’s featured business. Brodek points out that this is an opportunity to have fun or be strategic in sending in those memories.
“Someone could look and the lineup of featured businesses and choose a week to submit all their memories if they’re angling for a gift card to a particular business, or submit memories throughout the Tribute for a chance to win any of the 7 gift cards.”
A schedule of featured businesses is below:
– Milwaukee Film April 27-May 3
– Crossroads Collective May 4-10
– Hooligans May 11-17
– Ian’s Pizza May 18-24
– Izzy Hops Swig & Nosh May 25-31
– Hacienda Beer Co. June 1-7
– Von Trier June 8-14On June 20 (when Summer Soulstice would have taken place), The East Side BID will unveil the collection of Soulstice memories and recipients of the gift cards.
“It won’t be as good as being together, but at least we’ll get to look back on some great times,” says Brodek.