Summer is a time filled with outdoor activities, hanging with friends, letting your hair down, and one that specifically targets the music demographic is Riot Fest. Three days of rock, emo, and punk band line-ups make this festival take place Sept 20-22 in Douglass Park.
The event features five stages where bands will play, food trucks, local food vendors, carnival rides, and a VIP tent, which features air-conditioned restrooms, unlimited re-entry, exclusive bar and food options, and special vendors such as a massage therapist.
This year, Friday headliners include Fall Out Boy, Sum41, The Offspring, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill. Saturday will showcase bands such as Beck, Bright Eyes, Taking Back Sunday, Spoon, and St. Vincent. Sunday wraps it all up with Slayer, Rob Zombie, Sublime, Something Corporate, and Lamb of God.
Riot Rock History
Beginning in 2005, Riot Fest booked its first weekend of punk and alternative rock music in Chicago featuring bands such as The Dead Kennedys, The Bouncing Souls, and the Misfits. During the next seven years, the festival gained popularity through Facebook followings and the masterminds behind this fest decided they were going to need a bigger boat.
In 2012, Riot Fest expanded its venue not only to Humboldt Park but beyond Chicago to neighboring states as well. They also decided to vamp it up adding carnival rides and Lucha Libre, a Mexican style of wrestling that includes dramatic movements, high-flying maneuvers, and colorful masks depicting each character.
Giving Back is so Rock and Roll
Riot Fest is also about giving back to the community. Each year, its “Beyond the Fest” program gives over 1500 tickets local residents. Its Community Corner is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate local artists and businesses. They offer paid internships and scholarships, host workshops to help those in small business, and created 230 jobs in the local area just last year.
Working with the True Star Foundation, “From the Go Fest” gives 500 local youths the opportunity of a summer or after-school apprenticeship, which allows them to try on different careers and learn essential skills for entering the workforce.
“Boxing Out Negativity” is also crucial to supporting the Little Village and North Lawndale community. It was created in 2009 by boxing coach Derek Brown, who wanted to provide a supportive environment to youths at risk.
In 2010, The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless became the official charity partner of the festival and has helped raise over $150,000 as a result of selling contributions from performers such as t-shirts, autographed albums, and other memorabilia.
In 2022, Riot Fest began its job fairs for the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN), which helps unemployed residents find a position, including those who have been incarcerated.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are another hard time for those without enough income to support their families and so Riot Fest donates turkeys to those in need. Hundreds of toys are also donated each year because no child should have to expect nothing for Christmas.
True to its goal of supporting local businesses, Riot Fest gives priority to local restaurants to provide tasty options to festival-goers. Non-profits in the area will also be given a free booth to give the community awareness of their business and raise funds.
For those wanting a little more of a bonus late-night rock block, there are several Aftershows beginning Sept 18 and going through the weekend. This is an opportunity to continue to enjoy the bands you love in smaller, more intimate venues after the festival is over. Tickets are still available, but some shows are already sold out, so hurry and purchase a personal concert experience.
Whether you’re a die-hard rock fanatic or have just always wanted to see that one band in concert, Riot Fest is your opportunity to headbang with the best of them. Come out and show support for this amazing event that cares so much about giving back and supporting their community. If we don’t support local businesses, we will lose what makes Chicago such a great city to be a part of. Do your part: have a riot.
