Bitter Jester Mobile Stage Rentals for Festivals, Fairs, Concerts, Parties, and Events
Photo by Mark Hersch
Would you like to rent a mobile stage in Chicagoland, Illinois, or Wisconsin and support a great local nonprofit public charity at the same time? Look no further than the Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts.
Need to rent a mobile stage / portable stage trailer in IL or WI? CONTACT US TODAY (click to email) (foundation[at]bitterjester.org) or call 847.433.8661. Our 28’x20’ covered stage is perfect for charity events, concerts, art festivals, music festivals, block parties, fundraisers, parades, runs, street fairs, special events/local events, and more!
And the best part? All rental proceeds directly help support the non-profit Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Highland Park, IL, and its original youth, music, and arts programming!
“Working with the Bitter Jester team has always been exceptional. Their crew is knowledgeable and experienced and they are problem solvers. They always put safety and production quality first for both performers and audience members. I couldn’t ask for a better production experience and highly recommend them!”
“We can’t thank Bitter Jester Foundation enough for stepping in at the last minute when our previous vendor cancelled for our outdoor concert. From start to finish, Nic and his team were incredibly professional, communicated clearly, and made the entire process seamless. They had everything set up and running flawlessly, and truly went above and beyond to ensure our event was a success. We’re so grateful for their expertise and reliability, and we’d highly recommend them to anyone looking for a top-notch stage.”
- Jillian, Event Manager
Need an ADA-compliant ramp for wheelchair access? No problem! We’ve got you covered.
History of the Bitter Jester Portable Mobile Stage
2006-2012
For the first seven years of the Bitter Jester Music Festival, our performers played the Grand Finale Concert on an uncovered, hot, aluminum platform in front of a tree.
Up until 2012, our Preliminary Concerts had no budget for lights or sound (performers all had to bring their own), so this seemed like a decent situation.
It was not.
2013-2020
In 2013, the festival began renting a custom-built mobile hydraulic stage trailer for its Grand Finale, replacing the platform you see above.
The stage was brand new, having been constructed in 2012, and was owned & operated by a private individual.
In 2018 it was sold to a local businessman, who continued renting the stage to Bitter Jester for two more seasons. There were no rentals in 2020 as the festival temporarily switched to a virtual format.
2021
During the pandemic years, the stage had fallen into disrepair. Neglected, practically abandoned, and left to sit unused in a parking lot, it was in bad shape. The Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts was able to dip into its “rainy day fund” and, on a proverbial rainy day in August, 2021, the Foundation acquired the stage.
Securing this valuable asset for its growing music festival - and ensuring that it remained in the local community, available for other arts events - the stage was given a new lease on life. BJFA replaced old steel with stronger structural steel, hired contractors to perform welding repairs & improvements and replace older parts with newly fabricated pieces, and added multiple safety enhancements.
2022-23
After two years of steady repair work and numerous upgrades (most of which was donated by professional craftsmen or grant-funded) including a re-built & repaired hydraulic system, all new hard line hydraulic pipes, 100% new electrical wiring, new electrical outlets, new brakes, additional safety & structural enhancements, additional welding, and a lot of TLC, the Bitter Jester Mobile Stage was re-born and ready to rent to other non-profits and local organizations BJFA believes in!
Our portable stage trailer rolled out and saw its first season of event rentals over the Summer, Fall, and Winter of 2022 during the Bitter Jester Music Festival’s off season.
In early 2023, the stage underwent another major upgrade to make the roof a positive action hydraulic system, which significantly reduced all setup and dismantle times. The Bitter Jester Mobile Stage then had a second season of successful Chicagoland rentals in 2023, all in support of our nonprofit arts and youth music programming!
2024
In 2024 we completely removed and replacement of the original decking, which was tired, with brand new (and much more durable) weather-resistant hexa grip 14-ply Baltic Birch! The new deck looks and feels incredible! We also continued our electrical systems upgrades, preparing for the next phase of work.
We also repainted much of the frame and deck support steel so the stage looks even fresher and new and upgraded the grounding cables and attachments.
2025 (and beyond)
The Most recent phase of renovation was the continued upgrade of our electrical systems, installing brand new wiring and double 20A circuit outlet boxes on both the front and rear decks.
The rear deck outlets sport both USB-A and USB-C power ports for musicians and crew to use for phone charging or to power their behind-the-scenes GoPro cameras.
Next up, all-new low voltage wiring and additional safety enhancements and redundancies will be added… and we’ll be continuing to applying a new coat of paint in other places as well! 😃
