Oct. 05--City Hall is ending its financial support of the Great Chicago Fire Festival, and it's unclear whether the Redmoon Theater-produced event will be held next year.
The city kicked in $100,000 a year for three years for the festival, but Special Events Commissioner Michelle Boone told aldermen on Monday that the funding is not being renewed.
The event started out as a public embarrassment in 2014 when model houses failed to ignite while floating in the Chicago River during the festival's climax, earning the nickname "the fiasco on the river" from one alderman. But the festival moved to dry land on Northerly Island this year, and Boone deemed it "great."
"I commend (Redmoon) for not being discouraged by last year's disappointment, and coming back strong, and realizing the vision for the fire festival," she said.
While the climactic conflagration worked this year, officials at the nearby Burnham Park Yacht Club said ashes, smoke and embers from the event wafted into the harbor, damaging an awning at the club and frightening diners.
This year's edition of the festival cost about $1.2 million, according to Redmoon. In addition to the $100,000 from the city, the Chicago Park District supplied $75,000 and the National Endowment for the Arts contributed $20,000. The rest was raised through donations from private individuals and corporations.
Boone said she hopes Redmoon hosts the event again next fall, but said the theater had not notified the city whether it plans to give it another go. The theater could still apply for funding from the Chicago Park District to help defray costs, she said.
Redmoon has not decided whether to go ahead with a third Great Chicago Fire Festival, according to theater spokeswoman Debbie Saul.
"Redmoon does not make firm decisions on future productions until we conduct a comprehensive assessment and consult with our board," Saul said in an email.
jebyrne@tribpub.com
