Riot Fest and Friday headliners the Foo Fighters have something in common other than a love for rock ‘n’ roll: Both know what it means to survive. Presenting more than 90 artists on five stages, Riot Fest arrives in Douglass Park Sept. 15-17 for its annual celebration of rock, punk, goth, hip-hop and offshoot styles. Its return to the West Side park was not a given.

Since expanding to a three-day outdoor event in 2012, the independently owned festival has drawn heat from neighborhood residents for damaging parks and making green spaces off-limits for weeks. Such pushback prompted organizers to leave Humboldt Park in 2015 and decamp to Douglass Park the following year. Residents continue to voice their concerns.

In April, a meeting at a North Lawndale school about the festival turned into a shouting match between supporters and detractors. Granted, Riot Fest is not the only Chicago music gathering to spur conversation regarding public versus private access to parks. (In lieu of resident complaints, two other music fests — Summer Smash and Heatwave Festival — ended their prior affiliation with Douglass Park and booked new locations for 2023.) However, the ongoing debate has seemingly motivated Riot Fest to evolve into what’s arguably the city’s most community-minded festival.

Organizers currently hold a job fair, clothing drives, charitable giveaways, park cleanups and book drives targeting the Lawndale and Little Village neighborhoods. Riot Fest installs little libraries, co-sponsors a youth baseball camp and welcomes artwork submissions from the community. A handful of artists (Future Nobodies, Through N Through, 1300cadoe) from the immediate area grace the 2023 lineup. Residents who live around Douglass Park can attend the fest for free (registration is now closed).

Riot Fest’s future in Douglass Park will continue to be debated. For now, there’s a solid bill of music that offers something for almost everyone interested in loud, urgent, rowdy fare.

In any other year, the Foo Fighters would be the major get of the weekend. In 2023, the Dave Grohl-fronted band — healing from the unexpected death of Taylor Hawkins and, retooled with new drummer Josh Freese, supporting its finest album (“But Here We Are”) in recent memory — represents a coup. Go early to catch a trio of fellow ‘90s icons and grrrl-power staples: former Sonic Youth bassist-vocalist Kim Gordon continues her decades-long obsession with experimentalism; bet on feminist musician Ani DiFranco to jump on a political soapbox in an environment receptive to her messages; ex-Sleater-Kinney percussionist Janet Weiss anchors the noisy, rollercoaster fun of Quasi. The extroverted personality of funk architect George Clinton and taut, shout-it-out-loud momentum of modern hardcore quartet Turnstile also warrant attention.

Co-headliners Queens of the Stone Age specialize in the type of hard, sticky riffs that burrow into the subconscious and convince lower limbs to loosen. Armed with new material for the first time since 2017, Josh Homme and Co. can also draw from a rich back catalog steeped in sensual melodies and desert-baked psychedelia. Chaos and zaniness come by way of the jazz, rock, metal and ska juggled by Mr. Bungle. The avant garde collective remains fronted by ever-adventurous vocalist Mike Patton and kept on the rails by former Slayer time-keeper Dave Lombardo. Contemporary duo 100 gecs takes a similarly gonzo albeit less focused and skilled approach. Plus: Don’t sleep on the atmospheric sounds of Warpaint and raw intimacy represented by ex-Savages singer Jehnny Beth.

If you missed The Cure’s epic June show at United Center, rest assured the British band seems in top form — and arrives with a fresh batch of moody songs to accompany gloomy favorites that inspired teenagers around the globe to don all-black outfits in the ‘80s and ‘90s. In another blast from the past, local pop-punk heroes Smoking Popes satisfyingly wed crooner vocals with swooning hooks. Few bands champion heart-on-the-sleeve heartland-style rock with more earnestness than New Jersey’s again-reunited The Gaslight Anthem. For aural cinema, the slow instrumental journeys of Godspeed You! Black Emperor take the prize. Bonus: The Canadian ensemble usually projects film-loop backdrops that underscore its widescreen feel.

Per Riot Fest tradition, eight bands are scheduled to play one of their records in their entirety. Friday sees The Breeders run through the eclectic classic “Last Splash” (1993), Quicksand rip through the metallic mazes of “Slip” (1993) and Braid fly the emo flag with “Frame & Canvas” (1998). Saturday will have the Postal Service commemorate the 20th anniversary of the low-key indie-pop favorite “Give Up,” Death Cab for Cutie blow out 20 candles for the relationship-themed “Transatlanticism” and Rival Schools revisit tamed aggression on “United by Fate” (2001). “Album Plays” concludes Sunday with Danzig howling its hard-nosed self-titled debut (1988) and Gorilla Biscuits rampaging through their hardcore landmark “Start Today” (1989).

Want a break from the music? Ride the carnival attractions, which include a Ferris wheel, Zipper and Tilt-A-Whirl. Or browse the jewelry, art, records and other trinkets on offer from local merchants. Looking for romance? The Riot Fest Wedding Chapel will celebrate the matrimony of at least 32 couples already signed up to take their vows over the weekend. Feeling competitive? A tent full of free arcade games awaits your inner gamer. Courting danger? The Riot Pop! skate ramp hosts professional skateboarders demonstrating gravity-defying tricks.

Riot Fest runs 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The entrance and box office are located at the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Sacramento Drive. Re-entry is not permitted for general admission ticket holders. VIP, Deluxe and Deluxe+ passes require users to pick up wristbands at the box office before entry; they allow in and out privileges. On-site lockers are available for rental. Cash and credit cards are accepted by most vendors. Food will include vegetarian and vegan options. Festival proceeds rain or shine.

Allowed Items:

Bags and belongings are subject to search before entry. For a full list of allowed and prohibited items, visit riotfest.org

• Standard-sized backpacks, bags and purses.
• Bug spray and sunscreen in non-aerosol containers
• Empty, transparent water bladder systems; empty plastic water bottles
• Air loungers; blankets
• Factory-sealed E-cigs
• Small handheld fans
• Phone chargers; non-professional cameras
• Prescription and OTC medications
• Raincoats and ponchos
• Strollers and soft-sided wagons
• Breastfeeding pumps

Prohibited Items:

• Coolers; outside food and drink
• Large bags
• Glass; metal containers; aerosol containers
• Umbrellas; chairs
• Drones; professional camera or recording equipment; selfie sticks; glow sticks; laser pointers; laptops; professional radios or walkie-talkies
• Air horns and noisemakers; megaphones
• Pets (except service animals)
• Weapons of any kind; mace
• Skateboards, scooters, bicycles and rollerblades
• Totems or signs on sticks
• Fireworks
• Hula hoops; soccer balls, footballs and frisbees; water guns and balloons

Getting there: To avoid inevitable headaches, take public transportation, hop on a bike, or get a taxi or rideshare. There is no designated automobile parking at Riot Fest. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is located at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Sacramento Drive. Bicyclists can use the bike parking lot staffed by Working Bikes at California Avenue and 19th Street. The California stop on the CTA Pink Line is .71 miles from the entrance. The 82 Kimball-Homan bus stops several blocks from the festival and is generally less crowded than the train and exponentially cheaper than rideshare.

Tickets: General admission daily passes start at $104.98; three-day passes begin at $299.98. VIP passes start at $169.98/day and feature unlimited re-entry, expedited entry, air-conditioned bathrooms and other amenities. Deluxe ($299.99/day; $949.98/three-day) and Deluxe+ ($649.98/day; $1,499.98/three-day) options include all VIP features and add access to enhanced viewing areas, lounges and more. Children 5 years and younger get in free. Tickets available at riotfest.org

Bob Gendron is a freelance critic.