Chicago street festivals at risk due to rising costs, dip in donations, organizers say
Launched on April 18, the Save Our Street Festival Coalition brings together nearly two dozen organizers. As a result of financial strain, Pamela Maass, executive director with the Wicker Park-Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, warns that many festivals may not be able to continue.
'In 2024, we had an executive director meet-up of a number of chambers across the north and east side of the city, and we all had the same issue — 2024 gate donations dropped,' Maass told WGN anchor Ray Cortopassi on Friday's Evening News at 5 p.m. 'Some fests report anywhere between 25%. Festivals like Wicker Park Fest, the festival that my organization produces, gate donations dropped by almost 50% compared to the year before, so we really wanted to band together before festival season started.'
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While overall attendance remains high, organizers note that the costs to produce the festivals have risen each year, in addition to the increasing expenses of security, EMTs, insurance, fencing, and portable restrooms.
Maass suggests that a funding misconception is also lending to dwindling returns for street festivals.
'In 2024, festival attendees showed up at the gates with a very different attitude of 'I don't need to pay for this. My taxes pay for this,' and we need to stop this misinformation in its tracks,' Maass said. 'Street fests, in those little neighborhoods, those tucked away little gems, are all independently funded, and we need to make sure that messaging is very clear.'
A list of street festival organizers who have joined the coalition includes:
Belmont Sheffield Music Festival
Ribfest Chicago
Andersonville Midsommarfest
Taste of Randolph
Wells Street Art Fest
Chicago Pride Fest
Square Roots Fest
Roscoe Village Burger Fest
Ravenswood on Tap
Wicker Park Fest
Northalsted Market Days
Thirsty Ears Festival
Edison Park Fest
Lakeview Taco Fest
Edgewater Music Fest
Ravenswood Art Walk
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts
Norwood Park Fall Fest
Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest
Chicago German-American Oktoberfest
Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines
Watch the full interview in the video player above.
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