Douglass Park in Chicago, IL — September 19-22, 2025

Riot Fest’s 20th anniversary at Douglass Park this year came with high-energy and a storm warning. The crowd showed up in droves— including wizard hats, vintage Riot Fest merch, and every kind of tattoo sleeves, leather, and hair dye. The threat of rain hung over the weekend, but instead of killing the mood, it made everything feel more urgent: crowd surfers braving slick grounds, punks splashing through puddles, and voices hoarse from screaming along to classics from headliners Green Day, Blink-182, and Weezer, alongside newer bands making their mark in the scene. The lineup was a reminder Riot Fest still holds its punk/alt/rock crown—beloved nationally for its nostalgia, yes, but also for introducing fresh blood and letting the weirdos roam.

Performances rocked from joyous absurdity to biting sincerity. John Stamos finally played with the Beach Boys after years of playful begging from Riot Fest organizers (but yes, he came bearing butter statues and other ridiculous demands). Jack White leaned into the crowd like he’d missed them, opening with a cover of “T.V. Eye” and closing with signature guitar storms that felt like his middle finger to complacency. Knocked Loose unleashed fury onto the crowd, and the crowd threw it right back. Rico Nasty brought a slightly new rap-punk perspective to the Riot Fest crowd. Amid the chaos, bands like Microwave, Militarie Gun, The Linda Lindas, and many more from the weekend showed up with integrity and undercard heat in true Riot Fest style: the big names are the marquee, but it’s the fringe moments that linger in memory. Rain threatened and amps buzzed —after twenty years of headbanging, you could see why Riot Fest isn’t just surviving; it’s still essential.

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

Words & Photography: Kenny Jusino