Chicago street fests are back. So is donation fatigue

State of play: Pride Fest, like all Chicago street festivals, cannot charge entry but suggests a $20 donation to help pay performers and workers.

Reality check: Suggested donations help organizers keep fests in business, and festgoers are not reaching for their wallets, organizers warn.

• "The suggested donation has increased gradually over time in response to rising costs across the board: city services, infrastructure, security, insurance, and talent," Chicago Pride Fest chairperson Mark Liberson tells Axios. "We'd rather be transparent about what it costs than watch Pride Fest become another casualty."

Yes, but: Many Chicagoans still skip the suggested donation, opting to spend their cash on food and drinks instead.

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