Denied city permit a second year, Chicago’s fest shifts

The African/Caribbean International Festival of Life, now in its 33rd year, was denied a Chicago permit for the second year in a row. Organizers say the Chicago Police Department could not provide enough officers for the July 3-5 run at Union Park, and the fes

The African/Caribbean International Festival of Life was supposed to brighten Chicago’s July 4 weekend at Union Park, but by spring its organizers were already bracing for a familiar disappointment.

For the second year in a row, the family-friendly celebration was denied a permit by the City of Chicago, organizers told the Sun-Times on Thursday. The festival—now in its 33rd year—had been scheduled for July 3-5 in the West Loop. It will instead take place Sept. 26-27 in Union Park.

Founder Ephraim Martin said the Chicago Police Department could not provide enough officers to support the event. He added that the denial came on April 17, despite applying in November and receiving a conditional permit from the Chicago Park District.

Martin said Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office agreed to intervene, but he hasn’t heard back. He also said his additional requests for assistance have gone unanswered this week amid the mayor’s trip to visit Pope Leo in Rome.

Even with the move to fall, Martin said he doesn’t want to leave Chicago. “We don’t want to leave Chicago,” he said. “But on the other hand. if it feels as if we are not welcome anymore. then we may have to do that. I know there are several cities that have been asking us to come. but we are not sure what we’re going to do.”.

He said the festival’s own security is already in place and that. since the pandemic. it has drawn about 1. 000 attendees each day. Martin said he was baffled by the city’s decision. particularly given that last weekend’s Forever Mine R&B music festival at Union Park sold 10. 000 tickets across two days.

When asked for comment, the Chicago Police Department referred the Sun-Times to the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, which did not immediately respond.

Martin said he was told CPD could not accommodate another event in the West Loop during Fourth of July weekend. and suggested the city change the date of the fest or move it to Washington Park on the South Side. He said he had a similar exchange last year, when the department rejected the festival’s permit for Park No. 540 on the Near South Side.

In that prior case. Martin said CPD first asked that he move the event to the street and then suggested the organizers transition to Washington Park. which he agreed to. “They claimed that our people would have created a traffic jam. and they didn’t have the resources to manage our crowd. and can’t deal with that in the South Loop. ” Martin said.

He said those last-minute shifts cost his operation more than $100,000.

Now, with September plans set, Martin said he and his team will still face a financial hit. “We were hoping that we would not have to go through this again and here we are,” he said. “We’re still going to suffer a great loss. but in order to deliver for our stakeholders and the people. we have to accept it and combine both events [in September].”.

The Sept. 26-27 dates will place the African/Caribbean International Festival of Life in Union Park alongside Martin’s Jerk, Seafood & Vegan Fest.

Martin said the festival unites nations through music and culture, and that a central location like Union Park would better accommodate the bulk of its attendees—who come from the West Loop, the North Side, and the North and West suburbs.

Chicago African/Caribbean International Festival of Life Ephraim Martin Union Park Chicago Park District Chicago Police Department Brandon Johnson Jerk Seafood & Vegan Fest