Riot Fest 2025 Marks 20th Anniversary with Pop-Punk Headliners
Chicago’s Riot Fest celebrated its 20th anniversary this past weekend at Douglass Park, reaffirming its commitment to alternative music as other festivals shift towards pop-centric lineups. The punk-leaning festival featured a headlining trio of Blink-182, Weezer, and Green day, alongside a diverse undercard of established artists and emerging talent.
While the festival has grown in scale since its inception, organizers maintained the event’s original ethos-a spirit encapsulated by the tongue-in-cheek mantra, “RIOT FEST SUCKS.” This year’s lineup notably included returning acts from past Riot Fest iterations, such as The Effigies, Alkaline Trio, Smoking Popes, and bad Religion, highlighting the festival’s consistent dedication to its core sound.
The 2025 edition proved to be both a celebration of the festival’s history and a vibrant showcase of the current punk and pop-punk scenes. Attendees enjoyed a weekend filled with music, rebellion, and the long-awaited payoff to years of John Stamos-related jokes.
[Photo gallery of action shots follows.]
