Mayday Parade
The Maine
The Wonder Years
We The Kings
Knuckle Puck
Real Friends
Summer Set
Daisy Grenade
Galleries and review by: Alexandra Geshel
Sad Summer Fest is currently touring around the states and celebrating its 5th year anniversary! Now if you were a summer at the warped tour kid of kid/teen like I was back in the day then Sad Summer Fest is honestly the ideal fun one-day fest to do with friends or even solo! This year was my first year attending, and I would love to return! It was so much, super organized, and had an amazing line-up! Heading for Chicago was Mayday Parade which closed out! Before them, the lineup went The Maine, The Wonder Years, We The Kings, Knuckle Puck, Real Friends, The Summer Set, Daisy Grenade, and Diva Bleach who opened the festival! Besides the amazing emo bands and music, Sad Summer Fest had some amazing merch. With every purchase, you were given a coin to try and win your very own stuff Sad Summer Bear from a claw machine in the Arcade area of the fest which is one of the most unique ideas I have ever seen I am here for it! All the bands were of course selling merch as well and some even had Sad Summer Fest exclusive merch which who doesn’t love that? For food options, there was a wide variety but that is due to where Sad Summer Fest was this year here in Chicago! The Fest was held at The Salt Shed and the Salt Shed Fairgrounds which was a cool and unique setup! Lastly, Sad Summer Fest has all the main bands play on one giant stage which is unique but I also do feel like it makes it easier instead of playing the guessing game of what stage do I need to be at and what time.
Overall, I would love to do Sad Summer Fest again! If you have never done a festival or if you feel like doing a 3 day one is just a little too much for you, then definitely check out this fun one-day fest! Plus Sad Summer Fest tours and certain dates may have different bands which I also kind of like! Makes it more fun to travel and follow it around! The fest itself has become my favorite one-day fest in a while and I will say, I am more sad that the fest is over than actually being there 😜.
