Music Events

Rock Fest 2016 to Stage Over 70 Bands

Hailey Novak |

The 23rd annual Rock Fest is coming up this weekend – July 14-16.  Though the festival was cut down from a four to three day event this year, it’s boasting over 70 bands on five stages. Headliners include Five Finger Death Punch, Alice in Chains, Slipknot, Hollywood Vampires (a rock supergroup formed in 2015 and made up of Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Johnny Depp for those of you who don’t know) and Marilyn Manson.

Hollywood Vampires are set to take the stage at 11pm on Thursday and the epic weekend ends with Slipknot closing out the festival at the same time on Saturday. While there’s an insane number of bands ready to rock out with fans from all over the world, music is far from the only thing taking place this year.

Hollywood Vampires (Aerosmith's Joe Perry, with Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper) hit Rock Fest 2016 on Thursday night (July 14, 11pm).
Hollywood Vampires (Aerosmith's Joe Perry, with Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper) hit Rock Fest 2016 on Thursday night (July 14, 11pm).

The Texas Showdown Festival will be on the grounds complete with a master tattoo artists. There will be actual "freak shows." Additionally, a wedding chapel has been set up to host ceremonies and vow renewals. Make sure to snag one of the 7,000 campsites before they sell out (which opened Sunday for early fest-goers), and take advantage of the taxi service ($3 per-way) ready to shuttle you the grounds from the campsites. If you’re a 3-day pass holder then you’re in luck because the grounds are open to you starting Wednesday for the Bonus Bash party. VIP pit passes are already sold-out for Five Finger Death Punch, Slipknot, Hollywood Vampires, In This Moment, and Marilyn Manson so it’s clearly going to be a festival like never before.

If you find yourself in need of some reprieve during the three-day madness, be sure to check out one of the shaded hammocks at the Rock ‘N Rest station so you’re set to keep rockin’ all night long. Lastly, get ready to show off your best pose on the jumbotron this year by using the tags, #RockFest2016 and #WhereWeJustRock on all of your social media pics.

Rock Fest • July 14-16 • Chippewa Valley festival grounds, Cadott •  www.rock-fest.com