Riot Fest is known for combining a dizzying array of incredible bands and carnival attractions in Chicago’s historic Humboldt Park. To celebrate its tenth year, organizers are announcing a move to the northern section of the park, with an expanded footprint, more stages and even more rides and fun for pleasure seekers from around the world.
Organizers are very excited about the new grounds, with the fest now operating between W. North Ave. and W. Division St. as the north and south boundaries, and within N. Kedzie Ave. and N. California Ave. as the west and east boundaries. They hope to make this large new footprint their permanent grounds for the next ten, or more, years to come!
The expanded grounds will allow for significantly more attractions, including two Ferris wheels, and many other carnival rides such as crowd favorites like bumper cars and tilt-a-whirl. All in all, the new site will house over a dozen rides and numerous games to round out the carnival element of the festival. To ensure you’re able to make the most of the carnival experience, 3-day all-you-can-ride passes are available now.
That’s just the start of additional attractions though! A custom built 9-hole mini-golf course will be placed on the grounds. Enjoy an interactive game with some friends on this unique and cleverly designed course. A full-scale haunted house from Zombie Army Productions (known for their terrifying Stateville Haunted Prison) will provide an outlet for horror fans and thrill seekers to contribute their screams to the fest as they pass through the haunted zombie containment facility.
As in past years, Lucha Libre wrestling will take place in the onsite wrestling ring throughout the weekend. This time though, Dannie Diesels Bump and Grind Academy presents Gospel For The Guilty burlesque shows will use the ring as a stage in between matches. Organizers are also happy to welcome back The Worlds Greatest Rock-N-Roll Circus Stunt Show….HELLZAPOPPIN CIRCUS SIDESHOW REVUE! with performances throughout the weekend.
In response to last year’s incredibly well received Butter Stamos, a sculpture of John Stamos carved onsite completely out of butter, organizers have scheduled daily chainsaw sculpting. In tribute to the late Dave Brockie of GWAR, Friday’s sculpture will be of Oderous Urungus. Keeping with tradition, Saturday’s sculpture will be of Riot’s unofficial mascot John Stamos, and Sunday’s sculpture will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Behind the scenes, Riot Fest has always been mindful of charitable duties and has partnered with Chicago Coalition for the Homeless for several years now. This time, they are bringing the cause to the forefront by housing a classic 20-game arcade on the grounds. All proceeds from the arcade will fuel Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and these classic games are sure to fuel your taste for nostalgia.
Food and drink offerings will be impressive as well, with local operators of some of Chicago’s coolest restaurants and food trucks at every price point. As a new addition, organizers are very happy to be bringing in a wine bar for those who would like alcoholic beverage options outside of beer.
The site map is now available revealing the stages and layout of what is known as one of the most awesome offerings of music, food and fun around. This year’s lineup features over 100 artists, with a mix of Riot alum and newbies across 7 stages. There will even be an additional 8th stage on Friday to house the special interactive panel with Russian conceptual artists and formerly-imprisoned activists, P*ssy Riot (Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alekhina). Details on the panel discussion with P*ssy Riot will be announced in the coming weeks, but fans should anticipate a novel festival experience unlike one ever witnessed at Riot.
3-Day passes are going fast and are nearly sold out! Don’t miss out on a full weekend of music and fun – get tickets while they’re still available! For those that can’t make the whole weekend, 1 and 2-day passes are now available too.
Chicago festival passes: http://www.ticketfly.com/search/?q=humboldt+park
All-You-Can-Ride Carnival Passes: http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/577021
Tomorrow tickets for mini-golf and the Haunted House will be on sale!
Tickets for all 3 Riot Fests are on sale now at: Ticketfly.com
CHICAGO SEPTEMBER 12-14
THE CURE * JANE’S ADDICTION * THE NATIONAL * RISE AGAINST * WEEZER * THE FLAMING LIPS SOCIAL DISTORTION • SLAYER * THE OFFSPRING * PRIMUS * WU-TANG CLAN * SAMHAIN DESCENDENTS * TEGAN AND SARA • METRIC * CHEAP TRICK * P*SSY RIOT (PANEL W/ NADYA TOLOKONNIKOVA & MASHA ALEKHINA) * PATTI SMITH * TAKING BACK SUNDAY
DIE ANTWOORD * CITY AND COLOUR * PAUL WELLER * THE USED * BRING ME THE HORIZON
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BILLY BRAGG * TELEVISION * THE HOLD STEADY * BLUE MEANIES * LUCERO * NEW FOUND GLORY SAOSIN * SAY ANYTHING * MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES * THE MURDER CITY DEVILS
TOKYO POLICE CLUB * MUDHONEY FAILURE * HOT SNAKES * THE DANDY WARHOLS
THURSTON MOORE * CIRCA * SURVIVE * THE GET UP KIDS * MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK
ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES * STREETLIGHT MANIFESTO * CLUTCH * GWAR * BUZZC*CKS ANDREW W.K. * BOUNCING SOULS * STIFF LITTLE FINGERS * FACE TO FACE * KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS * WAVVES * BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS * WE CAME AS ROMANS
SENSES FAIL * THE ORWELLS ALL * MINERAL * TITLE FIGHT * LA DISPUTE* RX BANDITS * SAMIAM
7 SECONDS * ANTI-FLAG * ONLY CRIME * THE MENZINGERS * THE FRONT BOTTOMS * SILVERSTEIN FRNKIERO AND THE CELLABRATION * EMAROSA * THE WHIGS * CITIZEN THE WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE… * PITY S*X * LEMURIA * FROM INDIAN LAKES * THE PIZZA UNDERGROUND
THE HOTELIER * NOSTALGHIA * IN THE VALLEY BELOW * RADKEY * PIANOS BECOME THE TEETH MODERN BASEBALL * I AM THE AVALANCHE * SKATERS * LAURA STEVENSON * CEREBRAL BALLZY * RED CITY RADIO * PUP * DADS * SHOW YOU SUCK * LUCKI ECK$ * THE UNLIKELY
CANDIDATES •JESSICA HERNANDEZ AND THE DELTAS * MY GOLD MASK * THE BOTS * TINY MOVING PARTS * BRONCHO * THE AMERICAN SCENE * BABY BABY * RESTORATIONS
WOUNDS * PLAGUE VENDOR * TEAM SPIRIT * THE PICTUREBOOKS * SOMOS * SURVAY SAYS! ROSE’S PAWN SHOP * CHUMPED * ARCHIE POWELL & THE EXPORTS * THE CROMBIES * EX FRIENDS