Organizers Push To 'Save Our Street Fests' After Decline In Donations, Rising Costs

Organizers Push To 'Save Our Street Fests' After Decline In Donations, Rising Costs

WICKER PARK — Wicker Park Fest is returning in July for its 21st year — but it is scaling back the scope of its offerings.The festival is shrinking from three performance stages to two, and it will feature about 20 fewer performers than usual as costs rise while gate donations have plummeted, organizers said.Wicker Park Fest is organized by the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce. It usually features 50-60 bands, DJs and other musicians as …

Organizers Say Chicago's Summer Street Festivals Are in Jeopardy

Wicker Park Summer Fest (Photo Credit: Facebook). The Chicago neighborhood street festival, that summer ritual integral to city life, is in jeopardy. Increased expenses and dwindling donations have threatened the future of numerous festivals organized by nonprofits. According to organizers, if attendees don’t donate at the gate, it will translate to fewer live music stages, food vendors or the shuttering of small businesses that rely on these ne…