Could city's budget cuts sink Venetian Night?
Revenue decline could force reduction in special events, move other lakefront festivals
Venetian Night — Chicago’s annual parade of illuminated boat floats that draws up to 500,000 people to the lakefront — could be sunk, thanks to cost-cutting tied to Mayor Daley’s 2010 budget.
Special Events Director Megan McDonald said the decision to end a time-honored tradition that dates back to the days of former Mayor Richard J. Daley was dictated by a decline in corporate sponsorships.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
Chicago’s production costs were $100,000. But that taxpayer tab was multiplied by the cost of police, fire, traffic and sanitation needed to stage the event.
“It’s more than just boats and nice fireworks. It’s being able to accommodate a half-million people on the lakefront,” she said.
McDonald noted that Venetian Night nearly bit the dust this summer, only to have Red Bull “save the day.” This time, there was no corporate savior.
The sponsorship drought will also force the city to shave another day off an already reduced Jazz Fest — from three days to two —and move the Country Music Fest, Celtic Fest and Viva Latin from Grant Park to Millennium Park, she said.
“That’s the toughest pill for us to swallow — this reliance for better or worse on corporate sponsorships,” McDonald said.
“In a tough economy, people need to have an outlet. They need to be able to enjoy their city. But when we rely so heavily on corporate sponsorships at a time when sponsorships are dropping off the radar screen, . . . it makes that job even harder.”
On July 27, Chicago’s 52nd annual Venetian Night celebration drew more than a half-million people to the lakefront to watch a parade of decorated and illuminated boats float by.
The floating parade in Monroe Harbor — from the Shedd Aquarium to the Chicago Yacht Club — is followed by fireworks and concerts.
Aldermen bemoaned the city’s decision to eliminate an event widely known as a highlight of Chicago’s summer season.
“Venetian Night is one of those activities that makes Chicago what it is. People look forward to it. We can’t get rid of it,” said Ald. Ed Smith (28th).
Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) noted that the wildly popular event fills downtown hotels and restaurants, increasing local tax revenue.
“We should quantify that before we cut that program out. It’s clearly a big draw,” Fioretti said.
Ald. Bernard Stone (50th) countered that Chicago cannot afford to bankroll Venetian Night at a time when the city is rolling in red ink.
“I’ve gone to Venetian Night. It’s very nice to look at. But when it’s bad times, traditions have to be changed. There are times when you have to bite the bullet,” Stone said.
“If the people who participate in Venetian Night desire to have Venetian Night, they can do it by volunteering to pay for the cost” or soliciting corporate donations.
Ald. George Cardenas (12th) added, “People are taking [24 annual] furlough days. We can’t be partying when the situation doesn’t allow for us to do that.”
The decision to sink the annual lakefront boat parade could turn out to be as unpopular as Daley’s 2009 decision to eliminate the popular Jumping Jack program that provides inflatable moonwalks to neighborhood festivals.
The mayor’s budget eliminated the program, only to have it emerge as a cause celebre during City Council budget hearings. Aldermen subsequently found a way restore the money.