Ciara Williams, 32, middle, blows bubbles in the crowd during a performance at the Chosen Few Picnic and Festival in Chicago.
Ciara Williams, 32, middle, blows bubbles in the crowd during a performance by Lidell Thompson, one of 14 on the bill for the Chosen Few Picnic in Jackson Park. Williams traveled to Chicago from Pittsburgh with her friend Tay Thompson, 31, right, for the long-running event. Williams attended the fest last year, but 2023 was Thompson’s first time. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ

For a day, Chicago has one of the largest dance floors in the world

The Chosen Few Picnic is a largely word-of-mouth fest that has become one of the largest house music parties in the world.

Ciara Williams, 32, middle, blows bubbles in the crowd during a performance by Lidell Thompson, one of 14 on the bill for the Chosen Few Picnic in Jackson Park. Williams traveled to Chicago from Pittsburgh with her friend Tay Thompson, 31, right, for the long-running event. Williams attended the fest last year, but 2023 was Thompson’s first time. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ
By Brittany Sowacke
Ciara Williams, 32, middle, blows bubbles in the crowd during a performance at the Chosen Few Picnic and Festival in Chicago.
Ciara Williams, 32, middle, blows bubbles in the crowd during a performance by Lidell Thompson, one of 14 on the bill for the Chosen Few Picnic in Jackson Park. Williams traveled to Chicago from Pittsburgh with her friend Tay Thompson, 31, right, for the long-running event. Williams attended the fest last year, but 2023 was Thompson’s first time. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ

For a day, Chicago has one of the largest dance floors in the world

The Chosen Few Picnic is a largely word-of-mouth fest that has become one of the largest house music parties in the world.

By Brittany Sowacke
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Groups of house heads traveled from Pittsburgh and St. Louis — the St. Louis contingent wore matching tees — to Chicago’s Jackson Park for a rare 14 hours, and it was all to attend the biggest house music dance party in the world.

Margaret ‘Rita’ Stadrou, 85, of Oak Park poses for a portrait at the Chosen Few Picnic.
Margaret ‘Rita’ Stadrou, 85, of Oak Park, attended the Chosen Few Picnic in Jackson Park with four generations of her family including a great granddaughter. ‘I thank God for it,’ she says. ‘I love house music, people enjoy themselves, and family comes together. I don’t think that’s changing.’ Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ
The 31st year of Chicago’s Chosen Few Picnic and Festival attracted 30,000 attendees on Saturday, and despite early rains, people started lining up at 5 a.m. for a premium spot. The crowd danced, ate ribs, blew bubbles and reunited with friends they hadn’t seen since previous festivals.

They also, for a day, turned a public park in Chicago into what organizers say is the largest, longest running house music festival.

The fest is now a ticketed event, but it started as a free family barbecue in the lawn behind the Museum of Science and Industry in 1990, growing organically by word of mouth and eschewing advertisements and paid ads. The unofficial festival turned legit in 2000 when organizers started selling tickets to avoid fines.

Composed of seven core members who came together in 1977, the group of “Chosen Few” DJs includes co-founder Wayne Wiliiams and his stepbrother, Jesse Saunders, who created the first recognized house track “On and On” in 1984, as well as Tony Hatchett, his younger brother Andre Hatchett, and Alan King. Later, house DJs Terry Hunter and Mike Dunn were added to the official lineup. Chosen Few features these originals every year, plus a few friends, including Chicago natives Lori Branch, and Lidell Townsell, and gospel star BeBe Winans.

Leondra, 41, of North Center, dances at the Chosen Few Picnic
Leondra, 41, of North Center, dances at the Chosen Few Picnic in Jackson Park on Saturday, July 8, 2023. ‘I’ve been many, many times, it’s an annual event for me. House is everywhere,’ she said. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ
“This is the best dance floor in Chicago,” David Nasca, 32, of Pilsen said while dancing Saturday. Gov. JB Pritzker also declared the day “Chosen Few DJs Day.”

Multiple attendees, including Michael Byrd, referenced The Warehouse, a terracotta building at 206 S. Jefferson St. in the West Loop, which was established in 1977 by Robert Williams, a NYC DJ who moved to Chicago a few years prior. “I was there when house was born,” said Byrd, “in The Warehouse, when I was a teen.”

Michael Byrd, 61, dances with festival goers.
Michael Byrd, 61, dances with festival goers. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ

Williams, along with Frankie Knuckles, both black gay men in the club scene, opened the doors for a $5 admission. Patrons danced from midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday every weekend in a safe and welcoming environment.

In 2004, Chicago renamed the block “Frankie Knuckles Way,” and declared Aug. 25 Frankie Knuckles Day.

This past June, Chicago’s City Council voted to grant the Warehouse building landmark status.

WBEZ contributing photographer Brittany Sowacke captured scenes from this year’s Chosen Few festivities.

A man feels the music at the Chosen Few Picnic in Jackson Park on Saturday, July 8.
A man feels the music at the Chosen Few Picnic in Jackson Park on Saturday, July 8. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ
A crowd dances into the evening at the Chosen Few Picnic in Chicago.
Organizers say the Chosen Few Picnic is the largest and longest-running house music fest in the world. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ
Kelli Bigalo, 55, of Baltimore mimes playing keyboards while dancing at the Chosen Few Picnic.
Kelli Bigalo, 55, of Baltimore mimes playing keyboards while dancing to Chicago’s own Lidell Townsell at the Chosen Few Picnic. Bigalo and her fiancé, William Jones, have been coming to the festival since 2008. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ
Tymujin El, 54, of Chicago’s West Side, sells cigars.
For the second year in a row, Tymujin El, 54, of Chicago’s West Side, sells cigars. El is the owner of ‘House of El Cigar’ and he brought seven different infused cigars, which feature flavors such as Hennessy and Chocolate, to the picnic. El attended the event ‘back in the day, when it was free — feels like that’s all that’s changed though.’ Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ
A group dances in a circle at the Chosen Few Picnic in Chicago.
Friends, Nomi, 28, of Humboldt Park, right middle in the pink shirt, and David Nasca, 32, of Pilsen, far left, dance at the Chosen Few Picnic in Jackson Park. Nomi, who has attended the fest twice before, commented ‘that’s the nature of this thing,’ as strangers moved into their circle and began dancing together. ‘It’s the best dance floor in Chicago,’ said Nasca, ‘and I’ve been to a lot of dance floors.’ Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ
Jessica Kuykindall, 37, of South Shore, a hairstylist, poses for a portrait at the Chosen Few Picnic.
While friends are shouting ‘get it girl!,’ Jessica Kuykindall, 37, of South Shore, a hairstylist, poses for a portrait at the Chosen Few Picnic. Brittany Sowacke for WBEZ

Brittany Sowacke is a photographer based in Chicago.