Photos from Riot Fest 2025 at Douglass Park on Sept. 19-21, 2025.

While its 20th anniversary year’s lineup leans into emo, metalcore and a healthy amount of nostalgia, it celebrates Chicago — its sole location since organizers stopped holding Riot Fest in other cities in 2017 — in a big way.

Blink-182 performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Blink-182 performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Blink-182 performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Blink-182 performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
"Weird Al" Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Fans enjoy a performance by Sparks at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Fans enjoy a performance by Sparks at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A group of friends have some fun at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)A group of friends have some fun at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Stephanie Santoro (cq) takes in the scene in her unicorn skeleton blow up while attending Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Stephanie Santoro (cq) takes in the scene in her unicorn skeleton blow up while attending Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A group poses for a photograph at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)A group poses for a photograph at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
An image of Rico Nasty is cast on the big screen as she performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)An image of Rico Nasty is cast on the big screen as she performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
"Weird Al" Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The Willis Tower in downtown Chicago is seen in the distance as Riot Fest takes place at Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)The Willis Tower in downtown Chicago is seen in the distance as Riot Fest takes place at Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A family makes a portrait while attending Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)A family makes a portrait while attending Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A couple shares a moment at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)A couple shares a moment at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Jenny Lewis leads Rilo Kiley at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Jenny Lewis leads Rilo Kiley at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Jenny Lewis leads Rilo Kiley at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Jenny Lewis leads Rilo Kiley at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A statue is seen on display at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)A statue is seen on display at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A music fan poses for a photograph at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)A music fan poses for a photograph at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Stephanie Santoro (cq) peers out of her unicorn skeleton blow up while attending Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Stephanie Santoro (cq) peers out of her unicorn skeleton blow up while attending Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Music fans hang out at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Music fans hang out at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
A lit cross is seen on stage between performances at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)A lit cross is seen on stage between performances at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
"Weird Al" Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Blink-182 performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Blink-182 performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
"Weird Al" Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Fans enjoy a performance by Sparks at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Fans enjoy a performance by Sparks at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Fans enjoy a performance by Rilo Kiley at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)Fans enjoy a performance by Rilo Kiley at Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)