We weren’t quite expecting this. After turning down the one and only offer to run Taste of Chicago, Mayor Daley still seemed adamant that privatizing the festival was the way to go. But according to Crain’s, he’s decided to hand the duties over to the Chicago Park District. The organization will be in charge of Taste for year, as it tries to figure out a way to not lose money on the festival. Though we’re not quite sure what this will mean for the food, we do know that music will play a far lesser roll.
Instead of big name musical acts, they’ll bring in small acts from some of the other festivals around Chicago. According to the Tribune, the Gospel Fest, Celtic Fest, the Country Music Fest, and the Viva Chicago Latin Music Festival will no longer have their own separate events. Instead they will be be “featured on one day during the Taste.” Apparently those four were also “money losers” last year.
While it is unexpected, this move seems to make sense, reflecting the fact that the city had to cut a lot of money out of the summer festival budget.
Daley to turn Taste of Chicago over to park district [Crain’s]
Park District taking over ‘Taste;’ no ‘bigmusical acts’ [Tribune]
