Milwaukee’s Summerfest will not require masks, proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative tests in 2022 – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee's Summerfestis not planning to require masks, proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results for entry in 2022, officials with parent company Milwaukee World Festival Inc. announced Wednesday.

The country's largest music festival canceled for the first time in its 54-year history in 2020 because of the pandemic drew mixed reactions for putting requirements inplace duringlast year's September festival.

In doing so last year, Summerfest was following the lead of other festivals, including Lollapalooza in Chicago, which implemented safety protocolsas cases began to grow again due to the delta variant. Beyond requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test for all guests, Summerfestofficials also required children under 12 to wear a mask in 2021, although that rule was not enforced.

For this year's festival taking place June 23 to 25, June 30 to July 2 and July 7 to 9 such requirements are not planned.

"MWF will monitor the situation and continue to work closely with health experts, while following local guidelines," festival officials said in a news release Wednesday that announced Rod Stewart's festival headlining performance at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater July 7.

More: Rod Stewart is headlining Summerfest as part of his 38-city summer tour, his first Milwaukee show in 10 years

More: These are all the arena, amphitheater and stadium concerts happening in Milwaukee in 2022

The news camea day after California's Coachella, arguably the country's most prestigious music festival, and itssister event Stagecoach announced that they would have no COVID-19-related protocols for their April events.

In addition to Stewart, Summerfest 2022 has revealed three other headliners for the amphitheater, which completed a $51.3 million renovation last year.

Jason Aldean will headline on opening night, with Gabby Barrett opening. Justin Bieber will play the amphitheater June 24, with openers Jaden, Harry Hudson and To?, a show initially scheduled for 2020, before COVID-19 forced the tour to postpone and Summerfest to cancel.And Halsey, who originally booked Summerfest shows in 2020 and 2021 before canceling their tours, will perform at the amphitheater July 2 with the Marias and Abby Roberts opening.

ContactPiet at (414) 223-5162 orplevy@journalsentinel.com. Followhim on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

Piet also talks concerts, local music and more on "TAP'd In" with Evan Rytlewski. Hear it at 8 a.m. Thursdays on WYMS-FM (88.9), or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Milwaukee's Summerfest will not require masks, proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative tests in 2022 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel