Like most professional event organizers, Star Events has the connections and experience to help struggling volunteer-based organizations put on major events; they understand the industry and give the sense that, despite the chaos that ensues with any event behind the scenes, they have you covered. Unfortunately, Star Events has too many internal issues to list here; mainly, business "leaders" John and Michelle have a tendency to hire a mouthpiece (typically named Jessie) to serve as their "everything is fine" smokescreen while they figure out ways to tighten their grip on community events. This "Jessie" role turns over frequently, sometimes resorting to another, without this namesake, who is equally ineffective. The harsh truth is that events are unruly, and no matter the money you've paid an organizer, they never really have control. So, the management process becomes one of seeking power and glory; enter John and Michelle (this is when they normally get involved in the process) because their personal self-interest is Star Events priority. If you are a community-based organization seeking to improve your relationship with your community through your event, do not hire Star Events; your proceeds are going to interests outside your community with no vision from these "leaders" on how to make it a community-sustained event that grows engagement and philanthropy. If you are seeking relief from the stress of event planning, do not hire Star Events; your worries compound when they cut off contact because of internal turnover or make false promises based on "20,000 years of combined experience." Lastly, if you are seeking a good strategic partner, do not hire Star Events; they only want to use your event to take ownership of it and all the events in your community so the proceeds can all go to--you guessed it--John and Michelle. If you DO hire Star Events even after this warning, I wish you luck because you are in for the ride of your event-planning life! read more

Love the street festivals in the summer. My favorite are Midsommer fest and Retro on Rosco. read more

I partnered closely with StarEvents at several festivals for the past 3 years, and I had a great overall experience. Their team is always responsive, easy to work with, and flexible when we had to pivot plans. I'm consistently impressed with their organization during event set up, load in and load out, specifically; I recognize getting many vendors into the tight streets of Chicago isn't an easy undertaking, so kudos to their team for doing so seamlessly. They are always open to and gather feedback before, during and after each event which shows that they actually care about vendors' experience. I attend the events StarEvents puts on every year for fun as well. They have an eclectic lineup of artists and I enjoy discovering new local eats thanks to the food vendors they bring in. You can't beat Chicago summers, and festivals by StarEvents are a major contributor to the fun. I can only imagine the hard work that goes into the planning for all of the events year-round. Thanks for the memz and thanks for everything that y'all do. I'd recommend working with StarEvents in a heartbeat. read more

We have used Star Events for two years to plan a breast cancer fundraiser/event for 400 people. Every year their team brings it to the next level! We could not be more thankful for the professionalism and creativity they bring to the table and their ability to meet our objectives and budgets. The venue decor, band, catering service, and staff were next level. Much thanks to Michelle, Erin and their team for making our "Moonlight" event such a success. read more

*** Important information for Vendors *** The practices they used to accept new vendors are unacceptable, deplorable and inmoral. Piña Tropical, Inc applied for Live in Lincoln 2018 kind of late but WAS NEVER REJECTED. In fact we were ask to produce more paper work including but not limited to insurance for their event which now we are out of pocket $205 because once you purchase insurance for an event is for that particular event. Come to find out 2 days before the event #LiveInLincoln on July 7 & 8 we were denied. I wonder if they got more money from another piña colada vendor and is the real reason why we were denied 2 days before the event. @StarEvents your event producers practices are unacceptable, unethical and dishonorable! #StarEvents read more

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If you are an artist planning on applying for a StarEvents show please protect yourself. I applied and was accepted to a 4-day show in Naperville, Il over the Labor Day 2019 weekend. When we received the load in information 1 week before the show we were informed it was only a 3-day show. By this time I had already requested time off and arranged travel to accommodate 4 days. When we arrived they had us in a location where there was no foot traffic. Out of 13 artists, there were a total of 5 sales for the entire day. All artists were understandably upset and asking Star for a solution. The solution of relocating to a more populated area was denied by the community organization they were working alongside. All artists packed up that night and left the show completely. We have petitioned for a full refund due to breach of contract. StarEvents has replied to our request stating "weather issues" was the reason for us packing up and will refund us half the booth fee and $100 credit to their next show. They still have yet to actually address or acknowledge our actual concerns. Please, please be cautious when working with this company. Their customer service is extremely unprofessional. read more

very unprofessional and have zero regard for other established businesses their events block. Very hard to deal staff.

I think the Yuletide event was great. I had lots of traffic at my booth. The people were great to work my first inquiry to tear down. Nice job. I look forward to the next event. read more

This stranglehold this company has on the Chicago street festival scene is completely tragic. Every weekend it's the same regurgitated street festival setup with the same lousy cover bands. Depressing. Like shopping at Wal-Mart because you have no choice, depressing. read more

Street fests to me are a magical place where anything is possible. It could be the beer I drink, or it could be the fact that I grew up in a place that didn't really have anything comparable to Chicago street festival season. Either way, I enjoy myself thoroughly when I attend festivals run by this place. In June I went to Taste of Randolph. The food selection there was great in my humble opinion. I approach fests the way I approach concerts: I'm going to have to wait in line to pee and drink, and I didn't have to wait much for either. At ToR, an amzing punk band from Tokyo called Peelander Z played. I don't even know what kind of sorcery brought this amazing band to Chicago, but I love the fact that it happened. Hands down the best fun I've had at a concert in a very long time (the 90's...egad!). Now living in NYC, I went to another Peelander Z concert when I returned to the big apple. And I was not let down. Overall, I think the fests are well booked, well paced, and fun. Did I mention that they provide free booth space for a local non-for-profit that supports and promotes local up-and-coming artists? Yahtzee. I feel that's harder and harder to find these days... read more

The Star Event girls always seem to be at the majority of the festivals slinging Budweiser beers and occasionally 312's with a semi-smile. They are polite but slow as it takes twice as much time to get a beer than to drink it. I looked "behind the scenes" to analyze the problem. They have 5 lines, 5 cashiers, 3 girls pouring beers, and ONE FUCKING cash register. Let's all say it together ""BOTTLENECK". Hello, Star Events management???? If you can't get the line to move, you make LESS money and you piss off your customers. My dead parakeet from the 6th grade knows better. read more

I love the virtual festival they have been doing! I really missed shopping at all the festivals and it was cool to be able to still support the community! -Mark read more

Street fests can be so great. Star Events seems like they aren't even trying. The same terrible bands, year after year. Food and Beverage options are terrible also. Really not sure why everyone uses this event co. read more

I've always had a ton of fun at any StarEvents event I've been to. Great food/drink options and great atmosphere!

As the Chair of Edgefest, we greatly depended on the expertise Star offered. We were not let down. Star, if anything, under promised and over produced. I strongly recommend their team. read more

StarEvents festivals are great! The music is great and varied; the food reflects the best of each neighborhood, and there are great vendors. Each festival includes daytime family events in addition to the great cover bands at night. Best of all, they keep the grounds clean throughout the entire festival. It's also very cool that they have neighborhood partnerships that provide donations to help the community. Can't wait for this summer! read more

I have been on Star Events talent roster since 2009 for festivals and other events and I only see the same handful of bands being booked for these venues. Now I know that these promoters from these events would like a different band every now and then..what's the deal!! read more

There are few things in life better than summer in Chicago... Thanks StarEvents for making it possible to dance in the streets, eat great food and check out the best of every neighborhood. read more

RE: Taste of Randolph Street 2010 This Event is advertised on Start Events website as a FREE event and the $10 entrance fee is being DEMANDED....YES...DEMANDED AS AN ENTRANCE FEE...however, if you pay attention to the small letters on their banner it says "donation". they have positioned their staff strategically at each entrance...blocked off the entire event, so that you have to pass their staff. they immediately ask for $10 and do not mention at any time that it is just a donation. when i asked them after they "requested" my entrance fee and i paid and then later realized it was pure voluntarily what the donation is for...they proceeded to tell me it's for the band...EXCUSE ME??????? for the band??? they pay them little money, all vendors pay between $500-1000 for a booth. if you consider at least 5,000-10,000 people attending this event it's another $50,000-100,000 for STAR EVENTS. they are extorting money by placing their staff strategically at each entrance. i can think of a few reasons why they are doing this: A) they are not allowed to charge an entrance fee by the city and by calling it a "donation" they are getting around it B) tax break? if something is called a donation? C)...WHAT DO YOU THINK??? I am wealthy enough to place out of spite staff next year at each entrance and advise everyone that these are "donations" and don't be fooled by the word donation...they are making enough money by their vendors paying them fees for having a booth at this event. they are deceiving people!!!! not against making money...believe me...but these are deceiving, ambush money making techniques. you are being scammed!!!!!! join me in filing complaints with the city about the aggressive ambush techniques by their staff requesting $10 entrance fee. read more

dont ever do promotional events with this company! I got hired to work a beer tent for a 6 hour night and they promised $10/hr plus tips and they took all the tips and gave me $70 TOTAL when hundreds were brought in from tips! ummmm...so you are telling me when the tips got divided it came out to $10 per person.....um no, you scamers probably used the tips to pay for everyones hourly wage....... read more

This is a real review, with real facts! I participated as a food vendor at the "Mayfest 2012 Event". I was expecting a street event with bands and food. Especially after the $2,000.00 they charge for a 10'x10' booth entrance fee. It was a little fenced off parking lot with a tent that bands played under. WHAT A DECEPTION and A RIP OFF! You were lucky if 2500 people showed up all three days. All the commercial vendors were complaining they lost money. They had 5 food/beverage vendors, all duplicating each others items, that event could barely accommodate 1 vendor with that attendance. They charged me for a handwash station I never received, It took three months to receive my clean up fee from StarEvents. When all was said and done I lost $3,000.00. Not even a professional courtesy call or email from Candice, Heather or John the owner, thanking you for your participation. ( no just the silence of a typical corporate screwing). The only items that people were paying for was the Entrance Gate Fee, the BEER, WINE and ALCOHOL all of those fees went directly into STAREVENTS pockets. Please, any non-profit booth that was there, was there for show only. I am a professional caterer/concessionaire of 30yrs. This company StarEvents should be ashamed for what i see they stand for, screwing all commercial and food/ beverage vendors. read more

Star Events is an intelligent and motivated event management company! They are more than capable of managing a wide variety of types of events, and benefiting worthy non-profit organizations and charities. With the help of this team, your future fundraising event is sure to be high-quality, efficient, and successful. PS - You can receive notifications of their upcoming events on Twitter by following @StarEvents read more

This company have a fewe good festival on the city, but the price they charge for electricity is extremely expensive

This is the worst event company. The main staff is exceptionally rude and fail to meet the needs of anyone other than themselves. On top of their problematic personalities, the company in general is extremely dysfunctional. I have worked for countless promotional companies for events/tradeshows/liquor promos and this is one i will never work for again. They seemed to pay all of the beer staff girls out of their tips and then give them what was leftover for tips (either that or they are incapable of simple math). I ended up speaking with one of the main individuals about an issue I had and she told me that if I didn't want to be there I could leave. I am not a confrontational person and was merely curious regarding a certain situation, so this really hit me the wrong way. I mean manners are free, theres no excuse not to use them. Eventually I had had enough and left my shift early and didn't return the next day. If I could rate them lower than 1 star I would... honestly how they are still in business is beyond me. read more

I've lived in Chicago for over 20 years now, and every summer I look forward to the MANY awesome street fests that Star Events puts on. There are always a lot of great bands that play a variety of music....if you aren't into one band, just walk down the street and usually there's another band playing that you will be into. Plus, there's always a wide variety of food options, and the neighborhoods that hold these fests are great and diverse. Every fest has a different feel to it, based on the neighborhood that is hosting. From Mayfest to Andersonville to Roscoe Village to Taste of Lincoln Ave, I know that if I'm ever looking for something to do on a weekend during the summer, there will usually be a Star Events street fest pretty close by to go and hang out at, have some cold beers, do some great people watching, and get my Summer fix of outdoor fun in the sun! Thanks for doing what you do Star Events...you help make Chicago the absolute BEST city to live in during the summer! read more