Editor's Note: The new location and headliners and lineup of Riot Fest's "RiotLand" For 2024 have been revealed. Our original story continues below.
On the eve of the release of its 2024 lineup, Riot Fest organizers say that the event will leave Chicago’s Douglass Park and will instead be part of an event dubbed “Riotland” later this summer.
The message, which was posted on Tuesday night, featured a video with a scrolling message, including an announcement that the festival would be leaving the park that has housed it since 2015.
“Riot Fest will be leaving Douglass Park. And – allow me to be as clear as the azure sky of the deepest summer – our exodus is solely because of the Chicago Park District,” the message read. “Their lack of care for the community, you and us, ultimately left us no choice.”
Riot Fest is scheduled to take place Sept. 20-22 in Chicago.
According to officials, the festival’s lineup and details on “Riotland” will be released on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Local
The three-day music festival began in 2005, originally using a combination of venues before it moved to Chicago’s Humboldt Park. In 2015, it was moved to Douglass Park, but in recent years has become the subject of community pushback, including petitions to remove the festival from the park.
Festival organizers said they have spoken to 24th ward Ald. Monique Scott about the decision, praising her stewardship of the area but blasting the park district for their actions in negotiations over the event’s home.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.
“I was tired of Riot Fest continually being the lowest hanging fruit,” the message, attributed to festival cofounder Mike Petryshyn, said. “I was tired of playing their games. I was tired of watching something I love being continually used to deflect away from their own internal deficits. So it became evident change was needed.”
In a statement emailed to NBC Chicago overnight, the Chicago Park District said the district had worked "tirelessly to strike a balance between community interests and our Special Events organizers."
"Community voices are critical to our decision-making process, which is why a comprehensive community engagement process is a necessary component in evaluating a permit application," the statement read in part. "Last year, Riot Fest organizers completed this process successfully, received a permit and hosted their event in Douglass Park."
The full statement from the Park District can be found below.
The Chicago Park District has learned indirectly that the organizers of Riot Fest have stated they do not intend to go forward with their event in Douglass Park this September. The permit application for the event has not been withdrawn, and in fact it is currently pending provisional approval by the Park District Board of Commissioners. This approval process by the Board is one that was established two years ago for Special Events Permit Review and ensures that organizers engage community to get feedback about impact to community and dialogue about event production adjustments that should be considered to address community concerns.
The Chicago Park District has worked tirelessly to strike a balance between community interests and our Special Events organizers. Community voices are critical to our decision-making process, which is why a comprehensive community engagement process is a necessary component in evaluating a permit application. Last year, Riot Fest organizers completed this process successfully, received a permit and hosted their event in Douglass Park.
For large-scale events our top priorities are to minimize the impact on the community, protect our park assets and ensure the organizers are planning a safe and well-organized event. It is imperative that an event organizer work with and understand the community in which they are hosting an event. Prior to Board approval, we require that they engage local residents, community organizations, elected officials, businesses and the Park Advisory Council to provide detailed information pertaining to the event.
This year, the Chicago Park District reinforced its commitment to community by announcing the creation of a new initiative to reinvest a portion of event revenue fund directly back to the parks that host special events with 3,000 or more attendees. Parks hosting multi-day events with 3,000 or more guests, will receive a direct re-investment of 10 percent of the permit fees collected from event organizers in addition to any park restoration fees. A key part of the initiative are the engagement opportunities that residents will be invited to attend to provide feedback on the potential capital improvement projects.
