WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Tweet comments and/or photos with the hashtag of #MileOfMusic, and see them below.
Welshly Arms @welshlyarms
We are super excited to announce that we will be performing at this year's @MileOfMusicFest! Catch us in Appleton,… https://t.co/OU0CMval42
Apr 18
Betsy Ade & the Well-Known Strangers @wkstrangers
So pumped to be a part of this great event once again! The city of Appleton, along with all the @MileOfMusicFest st… https://t.co/daREbuNnNT
Apr 18
BLKBOK @blkbok
Just announced The first 50 acts for the @MileOfMusicFest and look who’s coming to town….. #blkbok #mileofmusic https://t.co/KjXeDo4WjP
Apr 18
Joy Clark @JoyClarkMusic
Let's go @MileOfMusicFest !🙌🏾 #mileofmusic #joyismusic https://t.co/vmF9BPM26Z
Apr 18
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
Mile 10. First 50. (And more to come!) 🎶🥳 Join us August 3-6, 2023 in Downtown Appleton. Listen on Spotify here:… https://t.co/cJVF2c3uo8
Apr 18
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
We can't keep it a secret much longer. 😜The Mile of Music Team is excited to share festival updates & our much-anti… https://t.co/RpY3yvYZ7L
Apr 6
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
Spring has sprung, and warm weather is on its way! 👏 We're gearing up for Mile 10 and doing a little spring cleanin… https://t.co/BiERwrNh0m
Mar 23
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
It's a gray day in Appleton today, but we're celebrating the fact that we'll be kicking off Mile 10 in just 150 day… https://t.co/8t72n72aPP
Mar 6
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
A glimpse into just a few of the 34 ice sculptures that are currently displayed throughout @dwtnappleton! Head outs… https://t.co/RBzM5vIjiS
Feb 17
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
It's been nearly ten years of music and smiles, We're just so excited to see you on The Mile! Happy Valentine's Da… https://t.co/oQW1DgjxVH
Feb 14
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
Six more weeks of winter... so you can find us thinking about this summer at Mile 10! 🎵☀️ #MileofMusic https://t.co/8B7Y0iSR39
Feb 2
Phillipmscales @PhillipMScales
Last night at @StoneArchBrews was an ENTIRE blast! Let's do it again tonight see you there: https://t.co/j4jo4a9dTMhttps://t.co/F45KimFygd
Feb 1
WLUK-TV FOX 11 @fox11news
To provide fundraising support and to keep #MileofMusic going each year, Appleton Community Music, Inc. was formed… https://t.co/C5tpkLWwpG
Jan 24
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
As the #MileOfMusic readies to commemorate its 10th festival in August 2023, Appleton Community Music, a recently f… https://t.co/ig6UjUMPzF
Jan 24
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
Learn more about Appleton Community Music, Inc.'s support for #MileOfMusic on Tuesday, January 24! If you'd like… https://t.co/e3ehFJfWUN
Jan 20
Phillipmscales @PhillipMScales
#appleton, I love you. Ya'll pretty much #soldout the first show so @StoneArchBrews decided to add another night!… https://t.co/LxVet7cQFp
Jan 16
Phillipmscales @PhillipMScales
Hey Appleton! We got a 🚨Low Ticket Alert🚨 for 1/31 at @StoneArchBrews! You definitely want to grab em before they'r… https://t.co/KyaWqDs6LZ
Jan 12
Phillipmscales @PhillipMScales
Stoked to chat with @TheAvenue91 about the @StoneArchBrews show on the 31st. What should we talk about #appleton? #mileofmusic
Jan 10
Keegan O'Brien @KeeganROBrien
Ending 2022 with a #MileOfMusic show from @the_astronomers! https://t.co/z0LJ8pL5H1
Dec 31
Mile of Music Festival @MileOfMusicFest
If you're looking for the perfect gift for the #MileOfMusic fan in your life, look no further than our gift bundles… https://t.co/PNS3lBpjbX
Nov 23
Betsy Ade & the Well-Known Strangers @wkstrangers
On deck! We are invading the @cityofappleton with the full band on December 3rd at the wonderful Gibson Community M… https://t.co/AF90wblUwb
Nov 19

Official Festival Update: Mile of Music’s 2020 Festival Canceled

Posted May 14, 2020
Blog

Dear Mile of Music Community,

It is with great disappointment and sadness that we share the news of the cancellation of this summer’s Mile of Music festival (Mile 8) planned for July 30 – Aug. 2 throughout Appleton’s Downtown.

The simple fact is that the health and safety of all involved is paramount. After consultation with public health officials about the expected reopening timetable for large gatherings and the timeline concerns for the continued spread and potential resurgence of COVID-19 in our area – not to mention the sheer uncertainty of the overall situation – the prudent and safe decision is to cancel. Though it is clearly the right decision, it is very much a painful one.

For our local artists and the many touring artists who had planned to make their way here, for the venue owners and staffs who rely upon this weekend for much-needed revenue – especially in the times we find ourselves – and for the fans who have made Mile of Music Weekend a milestone of their year, we are heartsick. The same holds true for the sound engineers and production partners who have been the backbone of more than 5,000 live music sets over seven years, as well as our sponsors, collaborating partners, music educators and volunteers who have contributed so much to, as we like to say, help make the music happen.

We know – because so many have told us – that Mile of Music has become so much more than a festival that takes place for four days of the calendar each year; it’s become a vibe and a spirit and a pulse for our community that carries year-round. And that makes delivering this unfortunate news even harder.

Dave Grohl of The Foo Fighters wrote just this week in The Atlantic, “There is nothing like the energy and atmosphere of live music” – and we could not agree more. His words underscored for us, in making our decision, that one thing we can’t work around are the facts: The Mile is known for bustling venues at peak capacity, enthusiastic attendance by large numbers of “seasoned” music fans, and as a walking festival that packs sidewalks with music fans for the better part of four days – all of which doesn’t mix well with the social/gathering restrictions and health concerns that will continue through the summer.

The Mile Team waited for as long as we could into this unprecedented pandemic with hopes that a glimmer of light would emerge, perhaps offering up potential to stage even a scaled-back version of the full Mile experience. We have spent the past six weeks considering more than a dozen scenarios and alternatives, including the trendy notion of a virtual/online fest in its place. Ultimately, the options all fell short when compared with The Mile’s one-of-a-kind live music experience.

Though Mile 8 will not be rescheduled for 2020, we intend (and hope) to bring the Festival back in 2021, barring any further complications from the pandemic. We ask that everyone band together and channel their good vibes toward that goal for August 5 – 8, 2021.

Thank you for your understanding of our decision, and please remember to be there for each other in the days and weeks ahead as we all look forward to the time when we can safely experience the positive power of live original music and, together, shine as only Appleton and the Fox Cities can.

-The Mile Team

P.S. – Since that first chord was struck at noon on The Spatio on Aug. 8, 2013, and the music wave of The Mile began for our community, one of the coolest things we’ve witnessed is how our emerging music scene has stepped up and been there for each other in lots of different ways. With that supportive spirit

in mind, it is critical that we share some honest, sobering news about the future of The Mile as an event – and the status of the Team that puts its heart and soul into producing it each year. Because The Mile has always been a free, accessible-to-all festival that puts its resources back into improving the experience each year, we have not been able to build up any significant reserves to withstand such an unprecedented and mandatory shutdown. Large gatherings were the first to be stopped and they’ll be among the last activities to return. It would be an understatement to say the suddenness of the pandemic shutdown has cast everything about our previously thriving music scene into doubt. The Mile is no different, and we need your help. Because our ability to produce the next Mile is in jeopardy, we’ll be launching a crowd-funding effort later this month and we hope you’ll be able to support it at whatever level is possible. We share this now because it’s important for you to know that, just as many of you have told us how you are going to need The Mile more than ever when this dark cloud clears, the plain truth is that we’re going to need you just as much. Please watch for more information on our crowd-funding campaign – Going The Extra Mile For The Mile – where we’ll be looking for those from our great community who have enjoyed the Festival to help prop us up…to help us survive to the other side so we can ensure Appleton resumes its place as a special music destination

6 Responses to Official Festival Update: Mile of Music’s 2020 Festival Canceled

  • Denise Krueger says:

    We support your hard decision and will look forward to helping in the future as we have done in the past. We are here for you and will support the Mile Team however we can. The next Mile will be even better!

    • Mile of Music says:

      Thank you so much Denise! You are an amazing member of our extended team and we appreciate you so much.

      Thank you for your kind words & continued support!

  • Roxanne Steele says:

    Woodward Radio Group has your back in this decision. I’m sure it was such a difficult one to make and trust that every avenue was explored. Looking forward to 2021! Stay Safe. Be Well.

    • Mile of Music says:

      Thanks for your kind words, Roxanne. We love your team at Woodward, and you have certainly helped us get to this point. We look forward to continuing to work with you.

  • MK says:

    We will be there for you M.O.M., just as you have been there for us. Looking forward to the crowd funding initiative…and of course Mile 9. 😭

  • Sonya R says:

    Thank you for giving us a heads up and taking one for the team so we can all stay safe and enjoy this spectacular event in 2021!

  • Leave a Reply to Sonya R Cancel reply

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