After the cancelation of the decision to move to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, the Riot Fest of 2024 is back to its home in Chicago Douglass Park.
The Riot Fest is a much old music festival that focuses on punk and rock music and for nearly a decade it was held in Douglass Park in Chicago but this venue was decided to be changed due to the delays by the Chicago Park District for the approval of the festival’s permit. This was said by the organizer of Riot Fest Mike Petryshyn. Through a text-only video, Mike had said, ‘Several weeks ago, I had enough,” he wrote. “I was tired of Riot Fest continually being the lowest hanging fruit. 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. This prevented us from giving us the experience you deserve.
‘So, it became evident change was needed. 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. Their lack of care for the community, you, and us ultimately left us no choice.’ But the decision was canceled only one month before the festival which is set to be held on September 20-22.
In a press meet, Petryshyn expressed his appreciation for working with the Park District saying that he has ‘loved working with [the Park District] recently’. Last year too, the venue of the fest was decided a few months before the celebration and the fest saw a jump in its permit cost from $300,000 to $700,000. For many years the Fest has faced mounting criticism due to the amount of damage it causes to the ground.
Alderwoman Monique L . Scott, who oversees the North Lawndale neighborhood in which Riot Fest takes place, called the festival ‘a cornerstone of positive impact and opportunity in our community’ and described most of the opposition as a ‘false narrative’ from a small number of people, some of whom don’t live in the 24th Ward.
With a quick announcement, Riot Fest let the fans know that they are returning to Douglass Park, Chicago on their website saying, ‘We’re Back. We’re not just coming home — we’re coming back stronger, with an even greater purpose, and doubling down on our commitment to Chicago, our fans, and our community. Riot Fest was born and bred here; it’s where we belong.’
This three-day musical festival will be headlined by legendary bands like Fall Out Boy on Friday, followed by Beck and Pavement on Saturday, and Slayer on Sunday. The lineup also includes magnetic pop-punk, alternative, metal, alternative rock, and straight-up punk artists like Rob Zombie, The Offspring, Sum 41, St. Vincent, Descendents, Dr. Dog, Sublime, Lamb of God, Mastodon, and more.
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