MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS) - The 2020 Democratic National Convention will kick off by welcoming thousands of guests to one of the host city’s signature spaces: the grounds of Summerfest.

Friday the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee announced Henry Maier Festival Park as the site of the official delegate welcome party. Almost 4,000 Democratic state delegates and their guests will take over the grounds Sunday, July 12, one week after the conclusion of Summerfest.

The DNC host committee and Summerfest officials say it is a perfect location to give out-of-town visitors a first impression of Downtown Milwaukee.

“We hope that we can demonstrate our community’s passion for hospitality, our commitment to diversity and, of course, that we really love a great party,” said Sarah Pancheri, chief operating officer of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

The delegate reception is one of three major events organized by the host committee. The first will be a media welcome party Saturday, July 11 and the volunteer appreciation party will take place Friday, July 17 after the convention’s conclusion.

The investigation into a toxic work environment with the host committee led to the firing of its top two officials, president Liz Gilbert and chief of staff Adam Alonso.

Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett, a co-chair of the committee board, said Friday the shakeup has not slowed any convention planning or fundraising efforts.