Chill on the Hill Is Back

The outdoor concert series Chill on the Hill will return on Tuesday, July 13 following the end of the mask mandate and limits on outdoor gatherings in Milwaukee, the groups involved in running the event announced today. 

The Bay View Neighborhood Association (BVNA) and Milwaukee County Parks announced last May that the event would be delayed, with a hopeful start date in July. The event was eventually cancelled due to the pandemic. This year, Chill on the Hill executive producer Patty Thompson held off on announcing any anticipated start dates due to uncertainty on how mask requirements and capacity limits would impact the event.

“We were very dedicated towards trying to put something together, but it certainly made it a lot easier to not have to do ticket sales and reservations,” Thompson said in an interview. 

Today’s announcement noted that the 2021 series will begin July 13 and run on Tuesdays for 10 weeks until September 14. Each night will feature two headline performances starting at 6:30 p.m. 

This will be the summer tradition’s 16th season at the Humboldt Park band shell in Bay View. The series normally runs from early June until late August. 

The concert series will not go completely back to its pre-pandemic format. It will take up a larger part of Humboldt Park to accommodate social distancing. A stretch of the Parkway between Howell Avenue and Idaho Street will be closed on Tuesdays to provide more room for concert guests and food vendors. 

“My advice would be to get there early to stake out your space,” Thompson said. “Maybe try out spaces where you haven’t sat before.” 

The BVNA also asks that all guests abide by whatever current COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines are in place for outdoor events from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

“We’re doing our best to try to create a safe space by asking people to stretch out and give everyone enough space,” Thompson said. “There’s no need for everyone to sit on top of each other. You can hear the music just fine.” 

The BVNA is just starting fundraising efforts for this event. Thompson said she hopes to provide opportunities for community members to buy reserved spaces, similar to a season pass. She hopes this event will help reconnect the community, even if it is at a distance. 

“After staying away from each other and staying in our homes, this is the opportunity that we have to come back together again and continue to connect with our neighbors and make this a better place to live,” Thompson said.

2021 Chill on the Hill lineup:

July 13: The Hungry Williams, Eric Blowtorch and the Bodyguards
July 20: Long Mama, Cabin Essence
July 27: Holy Pinto, L’Resorts
August 3: YUM YUM CULT, Wonderful Bluffer
August 10: Fellow Kinsman, Lauryl Sufate + the LOL
August 17: Devils Teeth, Decoteau Black
August 24: The Midnight Purchase, No Seatbelts
August 31: Donna Woodall, The Sunkin Suns
September 7: Fressure Point, Fuzzysurf
September 14: The Mike Benign Compulsion, Testa Rosa

All acts are subject to change without notice.