- Credibility:
WICKER PARK — The 17th annual Wicker Park Fest remains tentatively scheduled despite a growing wave of summer festival cancelations across Chicago.
Scheduled for July 24-26, the festival is presented by the Wicker Park-Bucktown Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber has been following recommendations from government officials when deliberating whether or not to cancel the festival, spokeswoman Colleen Ryan said Monday.
“Our organization will be making decisions based on the information, recommendations and guidance from leadership,” she said.
Last week, Gov. JB Pritzker said he thought all large events planned for the summer should be canceled to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot didn’t go so far, saying it was “too soon” to make decisions for events that will happen in July and August. But on Monday Lightfoot said she thinks the stay at home order and other measures will still be in place after April.
On Monday the West Town Chamber of Commerce canceled three festivals: Do Division Street Fest, West Fest Chicago and Dancing in the Streets. The festivals typically take place in late May, July and August, respectively.
The West Town decision came two weeks after local leaders in South Shore canceled their summer festival. The Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park has also been canceled.
RELATED: Beloved West Town Summer Festivals West Fest And Do Division Canceled Due To Coronavirus
The city’s largest summer and early fall music festivals — including Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Pitchfork, which draw tens of thousands of people — say they’re still on for now.
Chicago event planners told Block Club this week they worry how the city’s performers and artists can afford a summer with no festivals and how Chicagoans’ morale will fare without being able to celebrate the season with their neighbors.
“People live through the crappy winters we have here for summer events,” said Eric Williams, founder of the Silver Room Block Party.
“I’ve heard people call it a ‘lost summer,’” Williams said.
RELATED: What Could A Summer Without Festivals Look Like For Chicago? ‘Devastating,’ Event Planner Says
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