This summer’s Ruido Fest has been canceled, according to an announcement on the event’s social media channels. The two-day festival of Latin alternative music had been planned for Aug. 19-20 on the Chicagoland Fairgrounds in the Little Village neighborhood.
“We have made the painfully difficult decision to cancel this year’s Ruido Fest,” read the announcement in part, posted Monday on the festival’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. “We explored every option we could think of to continue on with this year’s fest, and while the cancellation is heartbreaking for us, it is what is necessary now for us to continue our mission.”
No further reason was given for the sudden cancellation; a spokesperson for the festival referred the Tribune to the online statement. Previously announced headliners included Kali Uchis and Juanes.
Those who have purchased tickets to concerts will be refunded at their original point, according to the announcement. Online purchasers will receive an email from SeeTickets with a timeline for automatic processing and links to customer service. Related “Ruido Presents” concerts in other venues will continue.
Last summer’s Ruido Fest was a three-day event in Union Park, Aug. 19-21, 2022, with headliners including Cuco and Cypress Hill. Ruido Fest is presented by the Chicago-based Ruido Company, founded in 2015, the event’s first year.
Interest in music festivals devoted to Spanish-language and Latin music has grown in Chicago in recent years, including for the second annual Sueños Music Festival in Grant Park this May and the recent Miche Fest in Harrison Park in Pilsen.
The announcement was hopeful Ruido Fest would continue. “When we started work on the first festival in late 2013, our main goal was to expand opportunities for Latin artists and fans of Spanish language music in Chicago in the long-term. … We intend to be a part of Chicago’s Latin music scene in the present and the future, and we will be reaching out to you with new events soon. See you at the next show.”