Messages about Riot Fest needing to leave Douglass Park greeted festival-goers, but the music played on to delight of thousands gathered for the annual festival.
Members of the Insane Clown Posse spray Faygo soda at the crowd while the hip-hop duo performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Near the entrance to Riot Fest on Saturday afternoon, fence scrims along Ogden Avenue had been spray painted with messages of dissent, and messages about Riot Fest needing to leave Douglass Park, echoing the “no parks for profit” refrain and telling festivalgoers to “go back 2 the burbs.”
But that didn’t deter music fans from descending on the park for the second day of the fest on the city’s Southwest Side.
Here’s a look at some of the sights at Riot Fest 2023, which continues through Sunday.
The Postal Service performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
The Postal Service performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
The Postal Service performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fans sing along as The Postal Service performs.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Ben Gibbard performs with The Postal Service on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Shaggy 2 Dope, of the Insane Clown Posse, performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Violent J, of the Insane Clown Posse, performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
The Insane Clown Posse performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Members of the Insane Clown Posse spray Faygo soda at the crowd while the hip-hop duo performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Shaggy 2 Dope, of the Insane Clown Posse, performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Insane Clown Posse fans ride the Scrambler in Douglass Park as they wait for the hip-hop duo’s performance on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Josh Homme performs with Queens of the Stone Age on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Queens of the Stone Age performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Lauren Tully, a professional body piercer, joins thousands in Douglass Park for day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Attendees gather in Douglass Park for day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Josh Homme performs with Queens of the Stone Age on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Queens of the Stone Age performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Josh Homme performs with Queens of the Stone Age on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fan listen to Death Cab for Cutie on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Death Cab for Cutie performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Death Cab for Cutie performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Death Cab for Cutie performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Death Cab for Cutie performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fan listen to Death Cab for Cutie on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Attendees gather in Douglass Park for day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hannibal Buress performs as Eshu Tune on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hannibal Buress performs as Eshu Tune on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hannibal Buress performs as Eshu Tune on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hannibal Buress performs as Eshu Tune on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fans cheer as Corey Feldman performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Attendees gather in Douglass Park for day two of Riot Fest, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Sebastian Murphy performs with the Viagra Boys.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
The Viagra Boys perform on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fans cheer as the Viagra Boys perform non day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Sebastian Murphy performs with the Viagra Boys on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Sebastian Murphy performs with the Viagra Boys.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Viagra Boys perform on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Viagra Boys perform on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fans crowd surf as Corey Feldman performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Corey Feldman performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Corey Feldman performs on Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fans smile as Corey Feldman performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Corey Feldman performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fans wait for Corey Feldman’s performance to begin on Day 2 of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Corey Feldman performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fans crowd surf as Corey Feldman performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Corey Feldman performs on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Attendees walk past graffiti on perimeter fences as they head to Day 2 of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on Saturday afternoon.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Music fans enjoy the sights and sounds of Riot Fest on Saturday afternoon in Douglass Park.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Jehnny Beth entertains the crowd during her afternoon set at Riot Fest on Saturday.
Bob Chiarito/For the Sun-Times
Jehnny Beth entertains the crowd during her afternoon set at Riot Fest on Saturday.
Bob Chiarito/For the Sun-Times
Attendees gather in Douglass Park for day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Enola Gay performs on day two of Riot Fest in Douglass Park on the Southwest Side.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fionn Reilly performs with Enola Gay at Riot Fest on Saturday.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Fionn Reilly performs with Enola Gay on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Jehnny Beth joins Enola Gay on stage on day two of Riot Fest.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Juggalos arrive at Riot Fest on Saturday afternoon in advance of the late-night headlining set by Insane Clown Posse on Day 2 of the festival.
Bolstering that depth is Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson’s biggest summer objective. He believes doing so will help the team in the short term without affecting any of his long-term plans.
A documentary series on Black Chicagoans’ struggles to gain equal access to good jobs could help to push back against those who say there are jobs that no Americans want — forgetting about a pool of Black workers that remains underutilized.
The investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability into excessive force complaints tied to arrests of pro-Palestinian demonstrators should be an educational tool to gauge what methods are most effective in deescalating potential hairy situations.
