It appears that the $180,000 tab that Riot Fest racked up making repairs to Douglas Park was money well-spent. Today, organizers confirmed that the festival plans to return to Douglas Park next year, on September 16, 17 and 18. The announcement was accompanied by the news that a limited number of early bird weekend passes to the annual festival will go on sale tomorrow at 11am for the low, low price of $99.98.
Of course, it's important to take this announcement with a grain of salt. Riot Fest had every intention of holding the 2015 edition of its festival in Humboldt Park, until pressure from neighborhood residents and leaders forced organizers to move the festival to a new location. Local reactions to the Riot Fest's inaugural year in Douglas Park seemed positive— 24th Ward Alderman Michael Scott Jr. told the Tribune, "I would be willing to entertain them coming back again." Organizers may want to hold the Riot Fest in Douglas Park next year, but if the community isn't supportive of the decision, the event could be forced to move to (another) new location.