Editor's note, July 24, 2024: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the streets which will be closed for parking during Mile of Music. Parking will be unavailable on Appleton Street, between Lawrence Street and College Avenue from 3 p.m. on Thursday until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
APPLETON — Mile of Music is just around the corner, and with over 700 shows and events, there’s a lot to look forward to for its 11th year. The four-day music festival runs from Aug. 1 to Aug. 4, featuring over 200 artists and 40 participating venues over a one-mile stretch in downtown Appleton.
Curious about the festival or looking to attend? Here are some must-know details to help set you up for a lively, music-filled weekend!
How to navigate the weekend
A schedule and map of the event are readily available on the Mile of Music website, however, using the Mile of Music app is highly recommended as it keeps attendees up to date with any changes throughout the weekend (weather dependent and otherwise). The app, called Mile of Music, is free to download in the Apple and Google app stores.
Those planning to go can choose to review the schedule ahead of time on the app, website, or official guide to customize their experience or use the schedule on the fly.
What kind of music and events can you expect?
There’s an artist performing for almost any music genre you can think of. With a wide range of music styles from indie-rock and soul, to country, rap, and hip hop, there’s a little bit of everything for all attendees to enjoy. Mystery pop-up shows will also be happening throughout the festival for people to discover on a whim.
In addition to the live shows, there are also interactive music and dance workshops festival-goers can attend to immerse themselves with different instruments and cultures. These events are run by the music education team and workshop artists to give everyone the opportunity to express themselves creatively.
Is Mile of Music intended for all ages?
Many of the live performances, venues, and other events are considered all-ages. You can check out each event’s details on the website, app, or the official guide to note which stages and venues are 21 plus.
What do I have to pay for?
Mile of Music has always been a free event, but there are still some expenses you'll want to plan for.
Parking is one of them. The ramps located downtown cost no more than $6 a day. Limited street parking will be available during the event as Appleton Street, between Lawrence Street and College Avenue, will be closed from 3 p.m. on Thursday until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Parking locations can be found by visiting Appleton Downtown Inc.’s parking map .
Food is a must when going all out at a music festival, and Mile of Music has a variety of options outside of the restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops located downtown. Attendees can find food trucks at several stage locations, including:
- Houdini Plaza Main Stage
- Lawrence Lawn Main Stage
- Jones Park
- Fox River House
A complete list of stage locations with food trucks can be found on the FAQ page .
Merchandise is another possible expense, as attendees can show support for the festival by purchasing a souvenir. Merch stores will be set up at several different locations along the mile. There will also be merch from previous years on sale at a discounted price.
Changes to the Mile of Music bus
There is a minor change to this year’s Mile of Music, as some attendees may notice that the Mile of Music bus will no longer be driving around during the festival. Instead, the bus will be stationed outside of the Fox Cities PAC, with over 50 performances taking place inside.
In previous years, the bus would drive around the festival, but as a compromise due to Valley Transit’s struggle with understaffing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the festival runners opted to keep the iconic bus stationary so attendees and artists could still use and enjoy it.
There are new ways to support the event
One of the biggest ways to support Mile of Music is to become a Music-Maker , which gets you a variety of perks before and during the event. This year’s Mile of Music has the addition of two new Music-Maker subscription tiers for those who want to support the festival. Subscriptions can be purchased at any time and a list of the tiers and perks can be found on the festival website.
There will also be dip jars stationed around the festival in several different venues. Dip jars allow people to tap or insert a debit or credit card to donate any amount towards the event.
Check out Mile of Music’s FAQ page , or feel free to email me at fhuey@gannett.com and I'll do my best to get an answer for you!
Faith Huey is a business reporter for the Appleton Post-Crescent. You can reach her at fhuey@gannett.com or view her Instagram profile at @Faith.Huey .
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: 6 Things to know before hitting Appleton's 2024 Mile of Music
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