Chicago’s house heads will have to get their fix online.
UPDATE: The lineup for the virtual event was announced June 21.
It’s finally here – all the details you need for the 2021 #ChosenFewPicnic & #HouseMusicFestival, streaming exclusively on https://t.co/GxjE7i4zFZ on Saturday, July 3rd!… pic.twitter.com/myJr2prFqe
— The Chosen Few DJs™ (@Chosen_Few_DJS) June 21, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has put yet another popular Chicago music festival on hold as the city’s house heads are feeling the brunt of the new normal.
The Chosen Few Picnic & House Music Festival, which generally brings in 40,000 attendees annually, was scheduled for July 4 in the South Side’s Jackson Park neighborhood, has been postponed, according to an official announcement Friday.
In its place, a virtual event scheduled for the same date, will feature a free, live-streamed performances and DJ sets from the Chosen Few DJs, and more.
“The decision to transition our beloved ‘Woodstock of House Music’ from a mass in-person gathering to a virtual one this year was not an easy one,” said picnic officials in a statement. “Like many of you, we want nothing more than to get together with our fellow house music lovers in person, just as we have done for the past 29 Julys. However, given the extraordinary time we are in, and the critical health dangers associated with large gatherings, we know this is the safest course of action for our picnic attendees, guest performers, vendors, and neighbors.”
Tickets purchased for the 2020 festival will be honored at the 2021 event. Ticket holders also have the option to submit a request for a refund at https://explore.seetickets.us/refund-form-chosen-few-2020/. Refund requests must be made by 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2020.
Details about this year’s virtual event on July 4 will be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition, for the first time in the festival’s history, organizers are asking the public for online contributions to help support COVID-19 charitable efforts. Details about making the donations will also be announced in the coming weeks.
Chosen Few DJ Alan King says a lot of thought will go into the virtual event.
“We’re going to encourage people to go out in their backyards and set up a tent like they would have if they went to the Chosen Few [picnic], but in their backyard or on their rooftop,” said King.
Earlier this week, the city canceled some of Chicago’s biggest summer music events, including the Blues and Gospel festivals.
South Side summer event cancellations/postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic include the Silver Room Block Party, South Shore Summer Festival and the Taste of WVON, among others.
