On Sunday, Frank Van Buer Plaza turned into a dance floor as the city welcomed its first-ever House Music Fest. Hosted by Behind The Beats, the free event brought together DJs, food trucks and a crowd ready to move.
Behind The Beats, a local production group specializing in DJ events and sound design, curated the experience from start to finish. Known for transforming everyday spaces into immersive music environments, the team handled everything from sound setup to talent coordination.
Their vision for the House Music Fest was clear: Create a space where DeKalb could celebrate house music culture in full color and sound.
“There’s a fest for everything — but not for this,” event organizer Kristian “DJ Kris” McCullough said. “This is for people that love good music, and that’s kind of the culture of house music.”
The music lineup featured Vinyl Richie, Ro Stone, Ray Gooden, DJ Kris, Joe Majesty and DJ Passa, showcasing a range of house styles and influences that kept the plaza bouncing. Even in broad daylight, the energy was electric with attendees dancing freely as music filled every corner of the square.
When the “Percolator” dropped, longtime house heads in the crowd erupted in cheers, moving instinctively to the familiar beat. Later, the energy spiked again during “Hey Hey (Heard You Say),” which drew loud cheers for its pulsing Electronic Dance Music (EDM) style house rhythm. At one point, a separate saxophone riff was blended into the EDM mix, adding a smooth and unexpected layer that had people moving and nodding in appreciation.
Mitchell, a retired DJ, returned to the stage after decades away.
“The organizer talked me out of retirement,” he said. “I haven’t performed in probably 25, 30 years, but he knows I’m a house head. He knows that I love house music, so he gave me two months to knock the rust out.”
Mitchell reflected on the genre’s deeper roots.
“It was a music of freedom. It was a movement of liberation, specifically in Chicago, more specifically around the LGBT community — it really became a safe space where they could gather and not have to worry about being ridiculed or oppressed,” he said.
Mitchell’s words point to house music’s origin as a refuge — a sound born in Chicago’s underground clubs in the early 1980s. Emerging from Black and LGBTQ+ spaces, the genre has since grown into a global force. At Sunday’s fest, that legacy wasn’t just remembered — it was lived, as dancers of all ages filled the plaza in broad daylight, moving to the beat of unity and joy.
Festivalgoers came prepared with folding chairs and good vibes. They lined up for Big D’s Hotdogs and Jah Love Jamaica while Fatty’s Pub & Grille kept drinks flowing with cold beer and cocktails. The event followed a bring-your-own chair policy and allowed only water as an outside beverage.
Rita Meeks, co-owner of Jah Love Jamaica, said being part of the fest was a meaningful milestone.
“We are one of the first Jamaican trucks in the area, so to be invited to this event was really good.”
Their menu featured jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail, jerk fish and more.
“Our jerk sauce is made from all vegetables and is made from scratch,” Meeks said. “It’s all natural, just vegetables and it’s really good.”
As the afternoon picked up, the plaza filled with more dancing, laughter and the steady pulse of house beats. Families, longtime fans and curious newcomers gathered not just for the music, but for the sense of connection it brought.
Julie Aspera, a DeKalb resident, was excited to come out and support the event.
“We love house music,” Aspera said. “They never have these kinds of events in DeKalb, so we had to come out and support.”
For Aspera, house music represents something deeper.
“It represents united, you know, like we’re able to all come together as one and have a good time. And it doesn’t matter our cultural beliefs or our political beliefs or anything like that,” she said.
Gipsela Sanchez, who traveled from Rochelle, welcomed the chance to reconnect with the spirit of house music she grew up with and appreciated that the event began at 2 p.m. and catered to more than just the late-night crowd.
“It’s a daytime event. I think they kind of forget that it’s always the nighttime crowd, but we older folks like to come out during the day,” Sanchez said. “Personally, to me, it really means like soul and love. When we were out back in the day, it was all about coming out and having a good time. Nowadays, people forget about those things, and it’s always all the negatives. It’s nice to have an event for everybody to come out and dance, it’s just amazing.”
For some, the draw was irresistible, such as for Abrian Pearson, a DeKalb native now living in Rochelle.
“I left a Bears’ party to come to DeKalb House Fest.”
