Change is good, and we rave ‘till the grave! Spring Awakening Music Festival (SAMF) was the festival of all festivals in Chicago. From being at Soldier Field to Addams/Medill Park, React Presents its biggest move of Spring Awakening to Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates, IL.The festival will take place on June 7th to June 9th,
and many Chicagoans are upset at the fact that the festival moved an hour away, but is it really that bad?
With this new location comes 27 acres of land which is 3 times bigger than when it was at Addams/Medill Park, on-site festival parking, and complimentary shuttle buses. With a bigger location comes bigger stages, more lights, more rides, MORE EVERYTHING! This new location allows Spring Awakening to grow into something bigger and better. Our rave family/community will be extended. On top of that, the line-up is insane: Zomboy, Spag Heddy, Illenium, Subtronics, Rezz, and many more!
With SAMF no longer being in Chicago brings a lot of conflict in the sense that the festival might lose a lot of money since people do not want to drive an hour to and from the festival. Having to book a hotel for a festival that should’ve stayed in Chicago has locals second guessing whether they will be attending SAMF or not.
If we get on an airplane to go to EDC in Las Vegas, Orlando, Mexico, etc. AND drive for 6 hours to Ohio for Lost Lands, an hour drive to Hoffman Estates is not the end of the world.
But why the location change? Adams/Medill Park will be changed into an Exelon Student Recreational Center where it will house an indoor track, artificial turf field, and much more, according to Chicago Construction News. We should be happy that this is being created, right? It allows students and residents to have a facility where they can be active on a day to day basis.
This development plan was limiting the space for SAMF to expand. With their fans in mind and the future of SAMF in mind, moving it to Hoffman estates not only allows SAMF to grow but also gives their fans a brand-new experience, according to SAMF.
Change brings doubt when it comes to festivals because a lot of people think of it as a downgrade. Despite the fact that it is an hour away, people might have to spend more money to book a hotel, for an Uber, or whatever it may be, the change is for a good cause. There is a new facility being built at Addams/Medill Park and SAMF gets the chance to expand and give its fans the greatest festival they’ve dreamed of at Poplar Creek.
This new change brings new experiences within our rave community and our friends as well. It allows a festival that is near and dear to some of us to grow and also support our favorite artists. Music festivals are a place to be free and open-minded, so be open-minded to change. At the end of the day, raves are about the experience and who you are with, the location is only a bonus.