The city’s been holding a garage sale of sorts in recent years, auctioning off its assets: The Chicago Skyway, the infamous parking meters and then the proposal to sell the rights to operate Midway International Airport.

Now comes word that our music and cultural festivals are up for grabs, including signature events like the Blues Festival and the Taste of Chicago. The city is entertaining bids to manage those and other free concerts in an effort to help close the city’s gaping budget deficit.

Jim DeRogatis, has been covering the story for the Vocalo blogs on WBEZ.org. 

He joined “Eight Forty-Eight” along with the president of the Civic Federation Laurence Msall to talk about how privatizing festivals could affect not only the city’s bottom line but also the festival-going experience.

What do you think? Should we privatize the festival circuit? Tell us below in the comments section.

Music Button: Guitar Shorty, “Who Needs It?”, form the CD We The People, (Alligator)