Riot Fest reverses course, will stay in Chicago
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Riot Fest at Douglass Park in 2019. Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Redferns
In a shocking turnaround, Riot Fest organizers announced they're coming back to Chicago's Douglass Park for this year's music festival.
The big picture: In June, Riot Fest announced it was bolting for the suburbs, blaming the Chicago Park District for a slow permit process.
- Now, organizers say the festival is back in Douglass Park from Sept. 20-22.
What they're saying: "If there was no Chicago, there'd be no Riot Fest," the festival's founder Michael Petryshyn said in a statement.
- "Riot Fest was born and bred here; it's where we belong."
The intrigue: The festival parted ways with the city after years of complaints from neighborhood groups about the use of Douglass Park.
- After Riot Fest announced it was moving to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, it was revealed that the festival was going to push out the Chicago Red Stars from their already scheduled match set for that same September weekend.
- Meanwhile, Chicago Ald. Monique Scott and other neighborhood leaders have lobbied to keep it in the West Side park.
Flashback: Riot Fest started in 2005 and played at various venues before landing in Humboldt Park, but it outgrew that space quickly.
- It moved to the larger Douglass Park in 2015.
State of play: Riot Fest organizers are honoring tickets already purchased for the SeatGeek Stadium shows and are offering discounts for the trouble.
- "To the management of SeatGeek Stadium and the officials in Bridgeview, IL, we have nothing but love and thanks for their generous offer to take us in," Petryshyn said. "They opened their arms to us and we can't wait to work with them in the future."
What's next: The festival headliners were already announced, but new lineups will be revealed Thursday morning.
- Beck, Public Enemy, NOFX, St. Vincent, and Sublime were set to play in Bridgeview.