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PROVISIONAL APPROVAL FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR FOREVER MINE MUSIC FESTIVAL AND MICHELADA FEST
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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 Director of Revenue recommends that the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District (“Board”) provisionally approve the special event permit applications for: (1) Forever Mine Music Festival; (2); and Michelada Fest (collectively, the “Applications”). A brief overview of the Applications may be found on Exhibit A attached hereto. The Applications all are for multi-day special events.
II. Information; Authorization
Special Event Applicants: See Exhibit A
Special Event Sponsors (if any): See Exhibit A
Contract Type: Special event permit
Authorization: Provisionally approve the Applications. Authorize the Department of Revenue to continue the special event application permitting process for the Applications.
III. Budget and Financial Information
All special event permit fees collected from the Applications shall be deposited as follows:
Budget Classification: Operating Revenue
Fiscal Year: 2026
Fund line: 001.9310.9310.423005.00001.01.01.00001
IV. Explanation
The Chicago Park District’s (the “Park District”) special event permitting process allows individuals and organizations to hold special events in Park District parks throughout the City of Chicago (the “City”). Special events come in a variety of sizes and types and offer many benefits to the Park District, such as:
• Providing a revenue source that supports Park District parks and programs City-wide;
• Subsidizing and supporting the Park District’s mission to maintain low-cost or free program fees;
• Increasing access to special event options for City residents;
• Enhancing park safety by activating park spaces and bringing the community together; and
• Enhancing City vibrancy by bringing City residents and visitors to the City’s seventy-seven communities.
Chapter VII, Section C.3.c of the Code requires that any special event permit application with 10,000 or more attendees per day receives provisional approval from the Board. If provisionally approved by the Board, special event permit applications with 10,000 or more attendees per day are further subject to the terms and procedures set forth in the Park District’s special event permit application, including but not limited to, paying all required fees, obtaining all required insurance and receiving all required permits and permissions through the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events process.
As can be seen from Exhibit A, all of the Applications are for special events with 10,000 or more attendees. Each special event will activate the park spaces and bring people together to enjoy music and other activations. If issued, the special event permits are projected to provide a combined total of over $300K to the general operating fund for the Park District.
In addition to requiring provisional approval from the Board, the size of the special events requested in the Applications mandates the applicants follow the Park District’s large event community engagement guidelines (the “Guidelines”). Introduced in 2022, the Guidelines require applicants for one day events to provide notice to and engagement with the community in which the special event will be held. Applicants are required to submit to the Department of Revenue a community engagement plan showing how applicants will keep neighboring residents, businesses and other stakeholders abreast of the special event’s planned operations. Further, the Guidelines encourage applicants (and, if applicable, sponsors) to bring benefits to the community by hiring local residents and securing local vendors. The Guidelines also encourage applicants (and, if applicable, sponsors) to engage with community members in meaningful ways. This can include anything from park volunteer clean-up days to hosting holiday food and toy drives.
V. General Conditions
1. Conflicts: No special event permit issued pursuant to the Applications shall be legally binding on the Park District if issued in violation of the provisions of the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act, 50 ILCS 105/0.01 et seq.
2. Ethics: All special event permits issued pursuant to the Applications will contain a provision requiring compliance with all Park District ordinances, including but not limited to the Park District’s Ethics Code, Chapter III of the Code.
3. Economic Disclosure Statement (“EDS”): Applicants have submitted full and complete EDSs prior to submission to the Board.