Forever Mine Festival kicked off at Chicago’s Union Park with a Y2K-themed weekend of house music, local DJs, and Chicago food—from Destiny’s Child throwbacks to silent disco. Organizers say more than 10,000 tickets were sold and the festival is built “by Chic
On Saturday, Union Park didn’t just fill up—it leaned into the feeling. One stage carried the glow of late-’90s and early-2000s summer drives. soundtracked by Destiny’s Child. Lloyd and Monica. while pulsing lights and house basslines rolled across the park with DJs Slugo and Kaytranada turning the space into something closer to a sprawling neighborhood party.
Forever Mine organizers billed the festival as Chicagoans’ nostalgia test—and their welcome back. The first day of the Y2K-themed weekend brought hundreds of music lovers to the West Loop park. and Sunday’s lineup included headliners Kaytranada and Monica. Organizers said the audience wasn’t just there for the familiar hits. The festival centered local Black and brown DJs. vendors. artists and restaurants. shaping what they described as a distinctly Chicago experience built around the city’s own cultural communities.
The turnout was immediate. Organizers said more than 10,000 tickets were sold across both days.
Behind the weekend was a small team led by Chicagoans Fernando Nieto and Miguel Torres. Nieto framed the festival as homegrown commerce and culture rather than a major-label spectacle. “We truly are a homegrown, by Chicago, for Chicago small business,” he said. “The most Chicago thing about this festival is the food, the lineup, the vendors and the vibe.”.
Local DJs weren’t an add-on—they were the point. DJ NDULGENCE. who performs as Basia Pettis. said the biggest payoff for her is hearing Chicago’s “deep cuts” represented right on the bill. “The fact that most of the DJs on the lineup are Chicago DJs is fire,” Pettis said. “We got the babies out here, the aunties, the mamas, the sisters — everybody is definitely on 2000s vibes for sure.”.
Kennard Redmond, also known as Kickn Kenny, DJs with Sounds of Chicago, an event series spotlighting local talent. He was one of three DJs who opened the festival’s silent disco. where attendees wear headsets and listen to each DJ playing simultaneously via dedicated channels. Redmond said he was happy to share the stage with so many of the city’s acts. “I’m happy to be here with so many great DJs and so many 2000s artists that I grew up listening to. ” he said.
Food was woven into the theme the same way the music was. Organizers said they wanted vendors that reflected Chicago’s food scene. bringing in Harold’s Chicken alongside local pizza and taco spots. Kendall Robinson, a manager at Oak Park-based barbecue restaurant Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs, said being selected for the festival was a rare opportunity to get the business in front of more people. “My grandfather has really been trying to get us here,” Robinson said. “I’ve been making TikToks a lot. and I just want our name to get out there more so we can expand.”.
The marketplace leaned further into Y2K nostalgia with offerings including tooth gems, haircuts and old-school caricatures. Mike Bochat. co-founder of Big O Airbrush—an airbrush art and clothing company—said the resurgence of Y2K culture has brought renewed momentum to his team’s work. “I love the ’90s festivals,” he said. “We’re happy that we’re making money again and keeping the art form alive.”.
Elected officials also showed up, with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. making appearances.
For some attendees, the draw was less about the decade and more about who it centered. Mariah Devon said she couldn’t remember another Chicago festival that celebrated Black and brown communities in the same way. “I’m loving being brown in 2026,” she said. “I feel really happy. It feels like a prominent moment, and they’re showcasing that.”.
Kayla Williams said the weekend mattered even beyond nostalgia. “This festival feels like it’s for the people — the Black people and people of color in Chicago,” Williams said. “Chicago’s a unique city where the communities that have been here forever still run this city. even with transplants here. Let’s not forget who really drives the culture.”.
Forever Mine Festival Union Park Chicago house music Y2K nostalgia Kaytranada Monica silent disco local DJs Black and brown communities West Loop