TITLE
AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE PROVISIONAL APPROVAL FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION FOR ARC MUSIC FESTIVAL TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EVENT DAY AND REVISE THE DATES
BODY
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District:
I. Recommendation
Pursuant to Chapter VII, Section C.3.c of the Code of the Chicago Park District (the “Code”), the Chief Administrative Officer recommends that the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District (the “Board”) amend the provisional approval for the special event permit application for ARC Music Festival (the “Application”) to: (1) add an additional special event day; and (2) revise the dates.
II. Initial Approval Information; Authorization
Date of Provisional Approval: February 11, 2026 Board Meeting
Special Event Applicant: Auris Presents LLC
Park: Union Park
Original Number of Special Event Days and Original Dates:
Number of Special Event Days: Three
Set Up Dates: August 25-September 3
Special Event Dates: September 4 - September 6
Tear Down Dates: September 7 - September 11
Amended Number of Special Event Days and Amended Dates:
Number of Special Event Days: Four
Set Up Dates: August 26 - September 3
Special Event Dates: September 4 - September 7
Tear Down Dates: September 8 - September 11
Authorization: Authorize the additional special event day. Authorize the revisions to the set up dates, special event dates and tear down dates (“Revised Dates”). Authorize the General Superintendent or their designee (“General Superintendent”) to adjust the Revised Dates as the General Superintendent deems necessary or advisable.
III. Explanation
The Board provisionally approved the Application on February 11, 2026. After the Board’s provisional approval, the Chicago Park District’s Department of Revenue (“Department”) learned that due to a miscommunication between the Department and the applicant, the special event dates provisionally approved by the Board for the Application did not include the last day of the ARC Music Festival. As can be seen from the above dates, in the event the Board authorizes the requested amendment to the Board’s provisional approval for this Application, ARC Music Festival will have four special event days instead of three. Due to this increased number of event days, the projected special event permit fee will increase from $282K to $302K. ARC has held successful events in the park for five years. The addition of one event day will not impact the permitted time in park, because the load out final day remains September 11.
Therefore, it is in the best interest of the Chicago Park District to amend the provisional approval for the Application to: (1) add an additional special event day; and (2) revise the dates.