Future of Chicago street festival at risk due to rising costs, lower donations
The Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce told CBS News Chicago that festival essentials are more expensive than in past years, and donations at entry gates have dropped.
Because of that combination, we can expect to see some cost-cutting moves this year, such as fewer stages and fewer performers. This includes the Wicker Park Fest and Northhalstead Market Days.
Twenty Chicago street festivals are now coming together to form a coalition to raise awareness about this issue. It's headed by Pamela Maass, a member of the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce.
She says the cost of producing these festivals rises every year for things like security, EMTs, insurance, fencing, and portable bathrooms.
And unlike city-produced festivals, these neighborhood fests do not get city funding.
If the event uses public streets, sidewalks or parkways, they can't charge for admission and are limited to asking for donations at the gate.
Maass says those donations are plummeting, partly because people think these are funded by taxpayer dollars.
The Silver Room Block Party did not return last year and now many others are at risk.
Some of the festivals apart of this coalition include Ribfest, Andersonville's Midsommarfest, and Chicago's Pride Festival.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Everybody's welcome' to large powwow at Cape Breton's Open Hearth Park
SYDNEY - Every First Nation on Cape Breton Island will come together on the weekend of Aug. 8-10 to take part in a Powwow at Open Hearth Park. And we're all invited. 'Everybody's welcome. We invite all people. If you're a human being you're welcome. All nations, all backgrounds. This is a Mawio'mi – that's what it is – a coming together in a good way,' says Jeff Ward, the powwow emcee and executive producer. Ward is also the general manager of the Membertou Heritage Park. 'If it was a rodeo – everybody goes. If it's the North Sydney Exhibition everyone goes.' 'Everyone goes to Ribfest at the very same location as this. If you're all welcome to come to Ribfest – you're all welcome to come to the Mawio'mi.' The annual Membertou Powwow is being held the weekend before on Aug. 1-3, so people living in Unama'ki will have two opportunities to attend a powwow or mawio'mi. Mawio'mi is a Mi'kmaq word increasingly being used as a synonym for powwow. It signifies a cultural gathering, celebration, or powwow where people come together to celebrate traditions, share stories, and connect with their culture. It is an important time of community-building and passing along of traditions to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. The powwow on Aug. 9-10 is being held as part of the cultural Wi'kipaltimk (we-ga-ball-dim-k) 2025 festival being held that weekend in Sydney. Each of the First Nations communities in Cape Breton – Membertou, Eskasoni, Potlotek, Whycocomagh and Wagmatcook – welcomes the opportunity to host new friends and old friends who will attend this event of joy, dance, song, drums and artistry. FOR FAMILIES Ward stresses that the festival is a true family event. It will include award-winning performers at night; traditional food; drumming and dancing; cultural vendors; and educational workshops and teachings. He says every generation from babies to great-grandparents, will be participating and welcoming others. He hopes people outside the Indigenous communities attend for the cultural learning it will provide. For example, he wants people to listen to the drumming because he knows how much the sound draws people in. 'Everybody that has a heart is connected. That drum – I call it the Big Bang Theory – is the very first sound you heard in your life. It was your mother's heartbeat. That's the beauty of the drum and the secret to spirituality,' Ward says. 'The first teaching of the Mi'kmaq seven teachings is love. It was love that brought you here.' 'The opposite of love is fear. Some people are fearful of coming to our powwow and asking, 'Why does that drum attract me?' They're scared – they know there's something here (and he hits his chest) but they don't realise it's based on love.' GUIDED BY SURVIVORS The festival is being led by Indigenous voices and guided by survivors of Indian Day School. Ward is one of them. He says there has been so much emphasis on the abuse suffered by those who attended Indian Residential Schools that some people may not know about the Indian Day Schools. He says the things that happened there get overlooked. 'People say, 'Well, they got to home every day,' but there were still experiments done to us.' One of the examples he remembers is daily fluoride flushes. 'Why were we doing it every single day? That kind of exposure to fluoride is not healthy.' Another was giving them milk every day, even though it made some of them sick. 'They made sure we had milk every day even though we are lactose intolerant,' he says. (Lactose intolerance is common among the Indigenous population.) When he entered regular school in Sydney for Grade 7, those things stopped because children in regular school didn't have the same treatment. 'It was like the system was set up for us to fail because we weren't prepared,' Ward says. 'We didn't have the same curriculum in Indian Day School as others. Why wasn't it identical when we were going to go to the same universities?' Other survivors have stories from school that traumatized them and changed their lives. Wi'kipaltimk 2025 will honour those who survived Indian Day School by bringing their treatment to light and showing respect by offering them a time of joy, compassion and healing. The entire weekend is an alcohol and drug-free event where intoxication and bad behaviour will not be tolerated by organizers or security guards on duty. This includes the evening concerts featuring some of the best musical talent in Nova Scotia. Headliners include Neon Dreams, the duo that just won the East Coast Music Award for Best Group 2025. Ward is pleased that so many Unama'ki First Nation communities will be coming together to celebrate Wi'kipaltimk 2025 in the same place. 'It's important to honour your local people as much as you can because that's where pride is. You have that sense of belonging by honouring your people.' If You Go Where: Wi'kipaltimk 2025 cultural festival, Open Hearth Park, Sydney When: Aug 8 –10 with Powwow Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 5 p.m. Things to Bring: Bug spray and sunscreen A sun or rain umbrella Bring a chair just in case. There are chairs for elders but bring your own lawn chairs and leave them in the car unless needed. Cameras to take lots of photos Blankets or jackets for evening events An open heart Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Axios
24-07-2025
- Axios
TBDBITL, Blues & Ribfest and other Columbus weekend events
🥁 Hang with the Best Damn Band in the Land as the OSU marching band joins Picnic with the Pops at the Columbus Commons. 8pm Friday and Saturday, 160 South High St. $18-112. $10 lawn tickets for kids ages 3-12, under 3 free! 🍖 Get your barbecue fix at the Canal Winchester Blues & Ribfest. 5-11pm Friday and noon-11pm Saturday, downtown Canal Winchester. Free! 🎸 Enjoy warm weather with the great Lucy Dacus outdoors at Kemba Live. 8pm Saturday, 405 Neil Ave. $57. 🌍 Experience another culture at the Columbus African Festival in Genoa Park.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Fremont Pride Festival returns with food, games and surprise guests
Fremont Ohio Pride presents its 5th annual Fremont Pride Festival at Walsh Park from noon to 6 p.m. on July 19. According to a community announcement, over 40 vendors and community agencies are expected to participate. A diverse lineup of performers will take the main stage, and there will be a family zone featuring lawn/family games, jewelry making, rock painting and tie dying. Local food and beverage trucks will also be available. Special guests include LGBTQ+ families from the Hulu documentary 'We Live Here - the Midwest' and surprise guests from Camp Wannakiki. Entry is a $5 donation at the gate or online at This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Lawn games, tie-dye and Hulu stars: Fremont Pride Festival is back Solve the daily Crossword
