Riot Fest ended its 20th anniversary weekend with a bang and an official proclamation. Mayor Brandon Johnson made an appearance in Douglass Park to proclaim Sunday as Riot Fest Day.
The star of the weekend, John Stamos, made another appearance on Sunday afternoon, joining Hanson onstage to play “MMMBop.” The brotherly trio also brought out Descendents guitarist Stephen Egerton to help cover “Hope” in one of those moments that could only happen at Riot Fest.
Throughout the day, bands like Lambrini Girls, Dehd, Idles, and Green Day took the opportunity to rail against fascism and ICE to cheering crowds. Idles front man Joe Talbot spread a message of unity over division, championing feminism and the contributions of immigrants. The dynamic performance included a surprise appearance by Jack White, who joined Idles for “Never Fight a Man with a Perm,” before closing with Soft Play joining on “Rottweiler.”
Green Day opened their headlining set with “American Idiot,” which remains shockingly relevant despite being more than two decades old. “I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda,” Billie Joe Armstrong sang, swapping the lyric. “Now is the most important fucking time to speak your mind,” he said before launching into the anti-war anthem “Holiday.” The set’s pyrotechnics matched Green Day’s fiery 90-minute performance. As fireworks exploded overhead, we all had the time of our life.
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger,’ and she has contributed to several travel guidebooks. Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
