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Summer Camp music festival continues to grow; attendance nearing 20,000 people

Imagine throwing a big party for some friends with a band or two and suddenly finding it taking over three days with 100 bands and friends that decide to just camp out in your yard.

In a way, that's how Summer Camp at Three Sisters Park got started. It was a one-day event in 2001 and is now a three-day music festival that has become an annual event on Memorial Day weekend at the park just south of Chillicothe.

The festival has become nationally known, drawing some top-notch music for the three days on seven stages operating almost simultaneously as well as drawing a growing number of campers and concert goers every year, said Mike Armintrout, director of operations for Jay Goldberg Events.

In 2001 about 1,000 people attended the first Summer Camp. In 2011, the event drew more than 18,000 people and Armintrout said even more are expected this year if advance ticket sales are any indication. Summer Camp 2012 is scheduled for May 25-27.

"It definitely has been on an upward trend and there is no reason to think it won't grow again this year. It has grown every year, even through the worst part of the recession," said Armintrout, who started working for Goldberg just months before the first Summer Camp in 2001 and has watched Summer Camp grow from basically a front row seat.

He said Summer Camp was the brainchild of Ian Goldberg, son of local concert and event promoter Jay Goldberg, who has offices in Peoria and Urbana. "I really don't think any of us imagined at the beginning it would get this big. We wanted it to, of course, but it has exceeded our expectations," he said.

"We have a pretty die-hard following, people who camp out with us every year. But more and more people come every year and get their friends to come and we just keep growing. I think people keep coming back for a lot of reasons, but seeing friends they made while they were here the first time or two is probably one of them," Armintrout said.

Tickets are on a structured pricing system, meaning the earlier you buy the less you pay. But the $100 early bird special was sold out within an hour, he said.

By the time the event kicks off, tickets at the gate will be in the $200 range. But Armintrout said that is still a great deal because it covers all three days of the event, including camping privileges and access to any of the seven stages. He added that to see many of the bands in concert, particularly the headliners, would cost at least $25 a ticket.

"Here, you can see any of them for what breaks down to $2 a band. Some are playing all three days, including headliners Moe and Umphrey's McGee. We also have Jane's Addiction, Pretty Lights, Primus, and a lot of great artists that people who really listen to a lot of music know about. We keep getting that kind of talent to join us, we'll keep getting bigger crowds," Armintrout said.

There also will be a one-day pass available for the Sunday of the event for $60. That will give the buyer access to the entire park for the day, Armintrout said. "A lot of people from the Peoria area like that because they are curious what the festival is all about and this way they can get pretty much the whole experience," he said.

Those who stay for the event can pitch their tents pretty much anywhere in the park. There is a VIP area if they want to pay a little extra for special parking, a real bathroom with showers and a separate bar. Also, there are spaces for recreational vehicles, including some where they can hook up to utilities.

Cars are not allowed to pull into the camping areas for safety reasons and the later campers arrive the further from the center of action they will be. But Armintrout said that really isn't a problem because the park is compact enough that one can stroll from one end to the other in about 10 minutes. "The closeness of everything is part of the reason people keep coming back. It's like everyone is camping together," he said.

There are rules to follow, of course, including that no outside alcohol is allowed. Also not allowed is vending; only registered vendors may sell items.
No weapons or illegal substances are allowed, either, and Armintrout said that is well policed at the park. Summer Camp has its own security force as well as a medical team to assist campers and organizers work closely with local, county and state authorities to keep the area safe. The number of arrests have dropped considerably the last couple years, he said.

"Our main concern is for the safety and well being of our patrons. Chillicothe has been very supportive of us and the authorities work well with us to keep the bad seeds out so our campers stay safe while enjoying themselves," he said.

Many campers want to come on Thursday of festival week to get the best camping spots. That's fine, Armintrout said, but they will have to pay extra to do so. But the Thursday Pre-party Pass includes early music, as well, he said.

Campers can come and go during the weekend, but their ticket comes with a wristband they must keep on in order to get back in. If it gets lost they will have to buy another ticket.

For more information about Summer Camp, including other amenities at Three Sisters Park during the festival, music instruction workshops, kids camps, additional rules and a complete list of the artists scheduled to perform go to summercampfestival.com.

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