Darien Fest Site Bad For Families: Candidate

DARIEN, IL – A candidate for the Darien City Council this week criticized the location of Darien Fest, saying it's bad for families.

The Darien Chamber of Commerce is in charge of Darien Fest. But the city is heavily involved with the group and provides police protection for the annual event at Darien Plaza.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Rachel Lazich, who is facing Ward 6 Alderman Eric Gustafson in the April 4 election, spoke about the issue.

She questioned why Darien Fest was held in front of Q Bar, Darien Liquor and the soon-to-come High Haven, a marijuana dispensary.

"When I think of packing up by boys for a family-friendly event, it's not going to the Q Bar parking lot in 100-degree weather," she said. "I would urge us all to be creative where we can host an event. And maybe some healing with our park district may go a long way to hosting an event that is safe for all residents to attend and really give us a great visual on who Darien is."

The event used to be held at the Darien Park District's Community Park. Shortly before the pandemic, the park district and chamber got into a dispute over damage to the park. The city tried to resolve it, but was unsuccessful.

Darien Mayor Joseph Marchese said the city has been "extremely creative" on Darien Fest sites. The city, he said, has good communications with the park district, but noted it was a separate taxing body.

"The park district will tell you that the fest can go there. But they will also tell you that there will be a significant dollar amount that has to be paid for that," Marchese said.

He talked about a possible site between 75th Street and Plainfield Road, but that would require closing the street or extensive traffic control, which he said would prompt "screams" from the public.

Even at Community Park, the mayor said, neighbors objected to the inconveniences related to Darien Fest.

Marchese said he liked that Q Bar keeps liquor sales and drinking confined to a corral. By contrast, people could drink anywhere at Darien Fest at Community Park.

Wherever the event goes in the future, Marchese said he would insist on keeping drinking limited to a specific area.

Lazich urged the city to reimagine Darien Fest.

"Darien Fest is a cookie cutter of what other areas are doing. Would it be so challenging for Darien to be different?" she said. "Maybe that's part of the creativity that we are missing as a city."