CHICAGO — Korean Festival is expected to bring in tens of thousands of festgoers, but the event — which mixes traditional and modern Korean culture — is facing financial woes.
Festival organizers are asking for donations from $5 to $100, with "I Saved K-Fest!" T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies available to those who donate $25 or more. The money will go toward covering some of the festival's costs.
The festival is "working with a negative bank account in the tens of thousands and with significantly less sponsors," according to a news release.
Kelly Bauer says the festival has had some recent issues, pushing it $10,000 into debt:
"Due to budget restraints we are in danger of having to scale back the festivities for this year's 19th Annual Chicago Korean Festival," the festival's website says.
The news release notes that some festival committee members dropped out after the festival was moved from Northeastern University to Bryn Mawr Avenue between Kimball and Kedzie avenues. The kimchi preparation demonstration was canceled and the B-Boy Battle is in jeopardy due to the change in location, according to the news release.
"We will strive to make each year better than the year before, and we are already looking forward to next year's 20th-year anniversary of K-Fest," Samuel Bain, the fest's main event concert co-producer, said in the release.
MC Jin, J-Reyez and Lil Crazed, among others, will perform at the weekend festival during the main event concert, a new event this year. Korean food will also be sold, and attendees can participate in a 5K race and singing contest or watch the Ssireum Tournament (Korean wrestling).
General admission for the main event concert are $30, and a VIP ticket is $45. Tickets are available online.
The festival will run from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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