- Credibility:
WEST LOOP — Taste of Randolph, one of the West Loop’s most anticipated summer events, has been canceled for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Carla Agostinelli, executive director of the West Loop Community Organization, said the festival will “absolutely be back” in 2022.
Organizer StarEvents canceled the festival last summer due to coronavirus. Other neighborhood festivals — including the Logan Square Arts Festival, Midsommarfest in Andersonville, the Silver Room Block Party and Do Division — have also canceled this year’s events because of uncertainty around the pandemic and not having enough planning time.
The three-day festival is usually held in mid- to late June. The 23-year-old street festival celebrates West Loop’s restaurants and brings bands from across the country to the neighborhood.
Agostinelli said the West Loop group will instead host smaller, outdoor events. More details will be announced after Memorial Day.
The group will adhere to public safety protocols for events this summer, Agostinelli said.
City officials said last week street festivals could operate under limited capacity with 15 people per 1,000 square feet.
The first to return will be Windy City Smokeout, an annual barbecue event that is expected to host up to 12,500 people per day come July. The outdoor fest will be held in the parking lot of the United Center and will have a musical lineup.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Tuesday the city could “fully reopen” without capacity limits by July 4 as COVID-19 metrics stabilize and fall and vaccinations continue.
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