Commissioner vows ‘ambitious’ arts and culture agenda as funding lacks for Taste of Chicago 

Chicagoans still should not expect big-ticket events like Taste of Chicago and the Air and Water Show to run their typical course this year, but city leaders are still a long way from any official decisions about this year’s slate of summer events, officials told aldermen Wednesday. 

Aldermen in the City Council Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation unanimously approved an ordinance (O2021-781) on Wednesday granting the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events legal authority to partner with vendors and sell tickets to dozens of major festivals and other summer events. The ordinance is a routine annual legal checklist item, but this year is far from typical, facing department leaders with a set of hard choices.