Summerfest 2020 moves to new dates in September 'in the interest of safety and in cooperation with artists'

MILWAUKEE --  Summerfest 2020 will move to new dates: Sept. 3-5, 10-12, and 17–19, 2020, officials announced on Monday, March 23  in the interest of safety and in cooperation with artists -- all because of the coronavirus. Officials said the new dates provide the best possible option to deliver the Summerfest experience fans and sponsors have grown to love.

In a news release, Milwaukee World Festival Inc. stated the following:

Back on March 10, Summerfest CEO Don Smiley said he wasn't planning on making changes, but said he was closely monitoring the evolving situation.

"We don't really know at this point in time, except we're full steam ahead, until we're not," said Smiley on March 10. "There's all of these mixed messages as to what's canceled, and what isn't canceled, and so on, and so forth."

As time passed, it became more clear Summerfest couldn't happen in June and July.