Just two months after news broke that Riot Fest would be relocating from Douglas Park and taking place at southwest suburban SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview for its 2024 edition, festival organizers announced Wednesday that the music extravaganza will return to the longtime Chicago venue next month.
“Strong support from North Lawndale leaders and the community” was one of the main reasons for the location change, according to a Wednesday announcement from the Chicago Parks Board, Councilman Monique Scott (24th District) and festival organizers. The festival is scheduled to run from Sept. 20-22.
The announcement said approval from the parks board was still required, but parks board CEO Rosa Escareno said she did not expect any complications.
“We were prepared to approve the permit in June,” Escareno said, “and as long as they attend our September board meeting and meet all the requirements again, we would welcome them back.”
She credited local Councilwoman Monique Scott with bringing RiotFest back to life.
Riot Fest moved to Douglas Park in 2015 after receiving complaints from neighbors at its old site in Humboldt Park. The complaints continued even after the festival moved to its new location. Residents and local organizers have long campaigned to have Riot Fest and other summer music festivals move out of Douglas Park. They argued the festivals disrupt patients at nearby Mount Sinai Hospital and tie up park resources for local residents.
Tyler Pasiak Lariviere/The Sun-Times
“The councilwoman strongly believes this is a good thing for the community, and if that’s the case, there’s no way we’re standing in the way.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Bridgeview event was still listed on the festival’s website.
The announcement also noted that part of the deal involves discussions with the park district “about a long-term partnership that will ensure the future of the festival in Chicago.”
The festival announced in June that it was pulling out of Douglas Park after 10 years in recent years amid controversy between community groups who have hailed the event as a promising economic asset for North Lawndale and other community groups, and local residents who believe the event impedes summer access to the park.
As in past years, 10 percent of Riot Fest’s revenue will be reinvested into Douglas Park, and the 2024 festival is expected to bring in about $712,000 for the park district fund, which coordinates capital improvement projects with community input.
In June, festival co-founder Michael Petryshyn told the Sun-Times that the decision to move to Bridgeview was the result of an “unfair process” during the permitting phase.
Riot Fest co-founder Michael “Riot Mike” Petryshyn announced in June that Riot Fest, which has been held in Chicago for nearly a decade, would move to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview with a Riotland concept featuring unique attractions.
Ashley Lesin/Sun-Times files
When asked how the decision would affect his passionate fan base, Petryshyn told the Sun-Times “we have the best fans in the world,” but said long-term stability was also important.
“We’re in Chicago. We’re not leaving. This is home,” he said.
“This is not something that was planned, it’s just a 360-degree turn,” Petryshyn added. “When you make a move like this, the first thing you think is, ‘What about the fans?’ This has been discussed for months, because without the fans we are nothing. In many ways, the fans are the soul of the team.”
Petryshyn said Mayor Brandon Johnson also influenced his decision to return to Chicago, and Councilman Scott helped organize a meeting at the mayor’s request after the move to Bridgeview was announced.
“Sometimes things get lost in communication, or a lack of communication,” Scott said.
“It was the first time someone in that position had reached out to Riot Fest. He just wanted to talk,” Petryshyn said. “I walked away from there seeing a mayor who was sincere and willing to listen.”
“I was serious from the beginning, saying, ‘This is not good for Chicago.’ … Later that week, I decided there might be a way to come back. And that meeting resonated with me. So, over the last few months, we’ve been working towards that.”
Scott said events like Riot Fest “boost our local economy by creating jobs, attracting tourists, supporting youth, and providing a national stage for North Lawndale and Little Village’s small businesses and artists. The return of Riot Fest is a win for our community, and we look forward to the positive impact it will continue to have.”
Petryshyn had nothing but praise for Bridgeview.
“At the end, Mayor Steven Landeck was also happy for our success and said you guys deserve Chicago. Our door is always wide open for you guys. … They opened their doors to us. They were kind and great to work with. I’ll always be grateful for that. … There’s a future to do something there.”
Bridgeview Village spokesman Ray Hanania said in an email that the village has “no comment” on the festival’s relocation.
Councilman Scott’s brother, Cook County Commissioner Michael Scott Jr., was instrumental in bringing Riot Festival to Douglas Park when he represented the area on the Chicago City Council.
He said he was “overjoyed for the community” that the festivals were returning, saying “events like Riot Fest bring attention to the positive things happening in the community.”
“You see people from other neighborhoods walking up and down the street interacting with North Lawndale residents. It’s like one big happy family. Everyone’s happy to have them come. Everyone’s happy to make a little money off of them. And all the concert-goers are enjoying historic, majestic and beautiful Douglas Park.”
News of the festival’s return came as an unwelcome surprise to some Douglas Park residents on Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s a shock to the community because we had a beautiful park back and everything was nice and tidy,” Herix-Valentine said. “I think it’s going to be disruptive to a lot of people’s lives. It feels like a step backwards.”
Valentine said she has lived on the west side of the park near Albany Street for two years and has experienced the negative impacts the event has had on local residents, including longer commutes. She challenged festival organizers and Scott, saying local residents want the event moved back to Douglas Park.
“It’s awful to have weeks of traffic and noise and trash,” Valentine said. “It’s really tough.”
Yesenia Trejo, 37, agreed. She doesn’t live near the park but drives her two teenage sons to Douglas, where their soccer team practices on the grass field on the east side of the park. She said the festival takes away space from local kids.
“Young kids come to practice, and when you take away their space, they stop coming, and then when you open it up again, there’s trash everywhere,” Trejo said. “They come back and damage the grass. We’re told the money will go to repair the park, but we’re not seeing any improvements.”
Trejo said the park is often the cheapest option for area residents who want to spend time outdoors in summer weather but can’t afford to go elsewhere.
“They’re taking away something that’s free for the whole community,” she said. “I was so happy to hear it was going to be held in the suburbs, so far away from here.”
Nezza Roldan has lived on the east side of the park near California Avenue for seven years. Roldan, who is CEO of the Binational Human Development Institute, a nonprofit that helps immigrants, said she was disappointed to hear the festival would be returning.
“This goes completely against all the principles of our right as citizens to enjoy the place we’ve lived in for so many years,” Netza Roldan, who lives across from Douglas Park, said when she found out Riot Fest would still be happening next month.
Tyler Pasiak Lariviere/The Sun-Times
“This goes completely against all the principles of our right as citizens to enjoy the place we’ve lived in for so many years,” he said, complaining about noise, litter and excessive drug and alcohol use by festival-goers.
“Not only is this a real nuisance, but I think it’s disruptive to our peace and our neighborhood,” Roldan said.