Taste of Joliet attendance dips as heat wave keeps crowds down, Park District says
The Taste of Joliet festival, held June 20-22 at Memorial Stadium, drew about 42,000 attendees over three days, a figure Joliet Park District officials say was affected by a heat wave that pushed temperatures above 90 degrees and, at times, toward 100 degrees.
Daily attendance figures provided by the district show 12,000 people on Friday, June 20; 25,000 on Saturday, June 21; and 5,000 on Sunday, June 22, for a total of 42,000. In comparison, Mayor Terry D’Arcy noted last year that the combined June 2024 turnout topped 60,000, exceeding the 2023 record of 55,000. The 2023 lineup featured Train and country acts including Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, along with Latin Grammy-winning Banda Los Sebastianes.
The festival featured a Friday headliner of Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and his Machines of God, performing at 9:15 p.m. Other Friday acts included Return To Dust, 7th Heaven, Olivia Minogue, Cool Kills, and Joliet’s Cornerstone Drumline. Saturday highlighted country music with Brett Eldredge headlining at 9:30 p.m., with earlier sets by Dylan Scott and Gabby Barrett. Sunday’s lineup closed with Los Rieleros del Norte, joined by RVL es Rival and Los de La Homan starting at 5 p.m., marking Joliet Park District’s Hispanic music finale for the event.
Park District Director Brad Staab attributed the attendance dip largely to the heat, noting the heat index was over 100 degrees across all three days. He praised the Joliet Fire Department and Joliet Police Department for handling multiple weather-related health emergencies throughout the weekend and emphasized that staff and volunteers were dedicated to delivering a quality festival despite the conditions.
As for 2025, the district reported that while invoices and payments are still outstanding, it appears the event will break even. Staab expressed pride in delivering a strong festival during a weekend with extreme heat and confirmed there were no major crowd incidents or arrests.
Comments from the Joliet Patch interview with Staab reflected satisfaction with the overall experience: Billy Corgan delivered a solid performance that his fans appreciated, and Saturday’s lineup drew a large crowd. Staab underscored the district’s appreciation for community support and for everyone who contributed to making the Taste of Joliet happen.
Additional context and considerations for future events
– Hot weekend conditions clearly influenced attendance patterns; organizers may consider more shaded areas, cooling zones, ample hydration stations, and extended cooling measures to help attendees stay comfortable at outdoor events.
– The festival’s ability to attract big-name acts like Billy Corgan demonstrates ongoing appeal, even in challenging weather, and could shape planning for future lineups and sponsorships.
– Safety and emergency response appear to have been effective, reinforcing the importance of coordinated support from local agencies during extreme heat events.
Summary
A hot, humid weekend limited turnout at the Taste of Joliet, but the event still drew substantial crowds across three days, featured high-profile performances, and demonstrated strong organizational resilience. With hopes of improved balance between weather, attendance, and revenue, the Park District is planning toward a break-even outcome for 2025 while continuing to engage the Joliet community. A more heat-aware approach for future editions could help maximize attendance and ensure comfort and safety for attendees.