Wisconsin teens can now attend private music festivals that serve alcohol

MADISON - Teens and 20-year-olds can now attend music festivals at venues where alcohol is served without their parents accompanying them, under legislation signed by Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday.

Music festivals now join the ranks of venues that have an exception to the state law that prohibits patrons under 21 from being in bars and other businesses that serve alcohol. A music festival must bring in more than 2,500 people to be considered exempt.

Assembly Bill 194 passed the Senate and Assembly earlier this month and Walker signed it into law Wednesday. In the Chippewa Valley, for instance, festivals bring in $40 million annually, according to the GOP governor's office.

“When you look at other locations that are exceptions to the presence of underage persons, including bowling alleys, movie theaters, and sports stadiums, adding music festival grounds to the list just made sense,” Walker said in a statement.

Music festivals on public property owned by local government, like Summerfest, can already have teens on the grounds even if alcohol is served. But festivals hosted at private venues, such as Eaux Claires festival, are technically not allowed to have unaccompanied minors, even though in past years the law hasn’t been enforced.

The state’s Department of Revenue had recently become aware of the technicality and announced it would enforce the law starting this month, according to Matalin Schoone, an aide to bill sponsor Rep. Rob. Summerfield (R-Bloomer). 

Under the new law, music festivals at private venues will now be treated the same as public venues.