Chicago street festivals at risk due to rising costs, dip in donations, organizers say

CHICAGO (WGN) — Chicago street festivals are facing rising costs and declining donations, prompting the formation of a coalition to try to save the events.

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.”

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

Watch the full interview in the video player above.