If you’re a live music fan, a Chicago native, or someone who enjoys the festival scene, you’ve very likely heard of Lollapalooza. In the early 1990s, the band Jane’s Addiction set off on a farewell tour that would eventually become a touring music festival hosted by their lead singer, Perry Farrell. Since then, the festival has grown tremendously while still staying true to its roots of offering a diverse lineup of artists and music genres. If you’ve been to Lollapalooza, you know that special feeling that comes over you while listening to one of your all-time favorite artists, surrounded by friends, sipping on a Bud Light or glass of rose, and watching the sunset over Chicago’s skyline. Whether you’re a first-time festival goer or a seasoned pro looking to brush up on your preparation skills, I’ve got you. This Lollapalooza guide contains everything you need to know to have an amazing and safe time at one of the best festivals in the country. Fully vetted by a Lollapalooza veteran and Chicago native, yours truly.
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Table of Contents
Background of Lollapalooza
As mentioned above, Lollapalooza was previously a touring music festival from its inception in 1991 through 1997 and again when it returned in 2003. It remained a touring event until 2010 when Lolla put down roots in Chicago. Although they stopped touring, different branches of Lollapalooza have popped up in various countries worldwide. In the early 1990s, the lineup was heavily composed of alternative rock and grunge bands, with some featured rap artists mixed in. Fast forward to today, Lolla is known for having a little of everything, including rock, heavy metal, electronic dance music, pop, hip hop, country, and even K-pop, in more recent years. Something for everyone! The blending of music genres is what makes this festival extremely special.
Know Before You Go
I’ve compiled some helpful tips for your Lollapalooza guide to make your pre-planning process a breeze.
- The festival is held annually in Grant Park, Chicago, for four days on the last weekend in July or the first weekend in August.
- The lineup typically drops three or four months before the festival. 4-day tickets go on sale the day after the lineup is released. Single-day and multi-day tickets go on sale after the single-day lineup is released in the subsequent weeks.
- Tickets come in four tiers: general admission (GA), GA+, VIP, and Platinum. Prices increase over time, so purchase your tickets early if you want the best deal. I’ve included additional details about the tiers later in this Lollapalooza guide.
- Lollapalooza is an all-ages festival. Children under the age of 8 can get in for free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
- While ATMs are located throughout the park, cash and credit cards are not the only payment methods available. Lolla Cashless allows you to pay for almost anything with a tap of your wristband.
- There are eight stages throughout the festival grounds, and each has its own unique vibe and typical genres that accompany it.
- The word Lollapalooza is defined as one that is extraordinarily impressive, and Perry Farrell named the festival after he heard the term used in a Three Stooges movie.
- There’s a festival within the festival just for kids called Kidzapalooza. This family-friendly section of Grant Park has music, fun workshops like dance lessons, and additional activities for the younger generation to enjoy.
- As a result of the pandemic, Lollapalooza now streams the 4-day festival on Hulu for those who can’t enjoy the festival in person.
- Not in the mood to carry around your personal items? You can rent a locker for $25 a day or $70 over the 4-day festival with a GA ticket.
Spending a weekend exploring Chicago?Check out my ultimate!
Ticket Information
The first step to experiencing Lollapalooza? Buying a ticket. While purchasing a Lollapalooza wristband was previously a Hunger Games stress level experience, it’s calmed down in recent years after the festival transitioned from three days to four. The day after the lineup drops, 4-day tickets are released on the Lollapalooza website for purchase. I recommend signing up for the email list, so you’re up to date on when the lineup is released and when ticket sales begin. The daily lineup and schedule are released in the following weeks, at which point the single-day and multi-day tickets go on sale. This timeline has varied over the years, which is why signing up for the email list is beneficial to ensure you secure your ticket.
Lollapalooza Guide Tip: Ticket prices for all tiers and days gradually increase as you approach Lollapalooza weekend. If you want to save money and skip picking up your wristband at will call (trust me, you do), purchase your tickets at least two months out.
If you want to go all four days, I recommend purchasing your tickets as soon as they become available to avoid paying the higher markup as time goes on. In years past, Lollapalooza would sell out within the first days (or hours) of tickets being released, and you never know if/when that will happen again. The single-day Saturday and Sunday tickets are usually the first to sell out once the daily lineup is released. If you’re a last-minute person, you can join the waitlist to see if more tickets are released once they’ve sold out or search the internet for re-sale tickets. While some friends have had luck buying scalped tickets outside the venue the day of the event, I know plenty who have been burned and would recommend avoiding this.
Ticket Tiers
Tickets come in four tiers: general admission (GA), GA+, VIP, and Platinum. GA is the baseline ticket to grant you access to the festival. GA+ gets you access to GA+ lounges with air-conditioned bathrooms, premium full-service bars with preferred pricing, and expedited entry into the festival. VIP gives you access to all the amenities above, premium viewing stages, additional VIP lounges, golf cart shuttles, and complimentary express festival hair and glitter treatments. And last but not least, platinum gets you access to all the amenities above, plus access to the platinum lounges with complimentary food and drinks, front-of-stage viewing at six stages, and an exclusive gift.
Travel Arrangements
What Airports to Fly Into
Traveling from out of town for the festival? This Lollapalooza guide has you covered. There are two main airports that feed into Chicago: O’Hare and Midway. You’ll likely fly into O’Hare if you’re traveling with United Airlines or American Airlines and Midway for Southwest. Both have public transit options to get you into the city, in addition to rideshares and cabs. If you’re traveling in the late evening, exercise caution if you choose the public transit option.
Where to Stay
Unlike some major festivals, you can’t camp at Lollapalooza. Booking a hotel, Airbnb, or Vrbo is critical. Grant Park is located in the Loop, which gives you many accommodation options to choose from. You can opt to stay in the Loop and walk to the festival or stay in one of the surrounding neighborhoods and utilize the public transit system or ride shares to travel to and from the festival. I’ve compiled some of my top accommodation options around the city:
The Loop
0-1.5 miles from the festival grounds.
CTA Train Line: Walkable!
- Hotel: Congress Plaza Hotel Chicago
- Hotel: citizenM Chicago Downtown
- Hotel: Hyatt Place Chicago/Downtown – The Loop
West Loop
2.5-3 miles from the festival grounds.
CTA Train Line: Pink Line
- Hotel: The Hoxton, Chicago
- Hotel: Hyatt House Chicago West Loop
- B&B: The Publishing House Bed and Breakfast
River North
1.5-2 miles from the festival grounds.
CTA Train Line: Red Line
- Hotel: Aloft Chicago Downtown River North
- Hotel: The Westin Chicago River North
- Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown
South Loop
0.5-1.5 miles from the festival grounds.
CTA Train Line: Red Line
- Hotel: Le Meridien Essex Chicago
- Apartment: Kasa South Loop Chicago
- Hotel: Best Western Grant Park Hotel
If you need a comprehensive packing list for all your travel needs, I’ve got you covered! I created the ultimate packing list for your upcoming adventures, including carry-on essentials, toiletries, clothing, and location-specific items.
How to Get Around
As I’ve mentioned, Chicago has a fairly robust public transit system. The CTA system consists of numerous bus and train lines that are relatively easy to navigate. The train system (affectionately known as the “L”) is extremely popular during Lollapalooza weekend, seeing that all lines feed into the Loop, making for a quick walk to Grant Park from several Loop stations.
Rideshares such as Uber, Lyft, or standard taxis are also obvious options for travel. Rideshares to Lollapalooza earlier in the day are usually pretty seamless, but getting one home can be a bit of a headache. If you choose to pre-book a rideshare for your journey home once Lolla has concluded, I recommend setting the pickup location a few blocks away from the grounds and giving yourself ample time to ensure you arrive at the pickup location without feeling rushed.
As you can imagine, Lollapalooza is a hectic weekend for Chicago. The festival hosts up to 400,000 people throughout the four days. Hundreds of thousands of people gathering in one spot can only mean one thing: traffic. If you can avoid driving, you should. The streets leading to Grant Park become severely congested. If you take a rideshare and you’re able, try hopping out of the car a few blocks before your drop-off location.
Pre-Lollapalooza Preparations
Download the App
The Lollapalooza app is a must-have app to download before the festival. The app allows you to build a schedule for each day, view the festival grounds map, and notify you of any scheduling changes or important updates regarding Lollapalooza. It’s essentially a mini Lollapalooza guide in your pocket. The notifications are particularly helpful on the weekends when there’s rain or inclement weather. If there’s lightning in the area, they have to close the festival grounds for safety purposes, which ultimately impacts the schedule. Notifications are a life-saver on crummy days since set times generally adjust to accommodate the weather.
Plan Your Outfit
I’ll admit, I’m a huge fan of festival fashion. I think it’s a unique way to express your personality through style. Some people go all out during festival season, while others keep it simple. You really can’t go wrong as long as you feel great and comfortable in what you’re wearing. Since Lollapalooza is a mixture of genres, you’ll also find a mixture of festival outfits among the attendees.
Lollapalooza Guide Tip: The one style tip I cannot stress enough is the importance of wearing comfortable shoes. Attending any festival, in general, entails a lot of walking. The walk between the north and south stages is roughly a mile long. Back in 2022, I walked over 10 miles on a single day at Lollapalooza. Comfortable shoes might look different depending on the person you’re talking to. I’m most comfortable in a pair of white sneakers. Others, however, are more comfortable in platform boots. Whatever that looks like for you, you do you.
What to Pack
Packing for a festival is about finding balance.Bring the necessities to keep you comfortable, but try to avoid bringing a massive bag that could prevent you from having a good time. If you’re a notorious over-packer and like to come prepared, you can rent a locker for $25 a day or $70 for the 4-day festival.
Here’s what you will find in my bag at Lollapalooza:
- IDs
- Credit card and a little cash
- Portable charger
- Hand sanitizer
- Sunglasses
- Travel hair brush
- Burts bees wax lip balm
- Ear plugs
- Non-aerosol travel-size sunscreen
- Rain poncho (weather dependent)
I highly recommend reviewing Lollapalooza’s allowed & prohibited list before packing your bags since they regularly update the rules.
Bag Policy
Be sure to brush up on the bag policy before you make your way to Grant Park. This is another festival guideline that has rapidly changed over the past couple of years. If you bring a bag of any size, your bag will be searched, and you should expect to wait in a longer line to enter the festival. I’ve included some recommended bags in this Lollapalooza guide that comply with current festival guidelines:
- A small fanny pack or crossbody
- A clear fanny pack or backpack
- A small hydration pack
If you can, travel light, leave your bag at home, and take advantage of Lolla’s no-bag express lanes when arriving at Grant Park.
Day of Lollapalooza Preparations
The day has finally arrived! Your first day of Lollapalooza. This might be the first day of your four-day experience, the last day of the festival, or somewhere in between. Either way, there are a few things to do before you arrive at the festival to ensure a memorable experience.
First up on the list is to hydrate before the festival (and keep it up throughout the day/night). Lollapalooza takes place at the end of July or early August, and the average temperature is around 82°F (27°C). I recommend adding a hydration multiplier like Liquid IV to your pre-Lollapalooza routine for an added boost.
To prepare your body for an action-packed day of walking, dancing, and everything in between, you need to fuel your body with a well-rounded meal (or two). This is critical in making sure my energy levels are up throughout the day, and I won’t feel famished within minutes of arriving at Lollapalooza.
Last but not least, apply sunscreen before you head to the festival. This is especially important if you don’t plan on bringing any extra sunscreen with you. While Grant Park does have tree coverage scattered around the grounds, don’t expect to be in the shade the entire day. A few of my favorite sunscreen products include Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen, Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, and NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30.
Experiencing Lollapalooza
Are you ready to rock and roll? Below, I’ve put together a comprehensive section of the Lollapalooza guide with plenty of useful tips to help you make the most of this amazing festival.
Arriving at Lollapalooza & Security
There’s a buzz in the air when you arrive at a festival. There’s so much excitement around you as everyone gears up to see their favorite artists, hang out with friends, and enjoy the experience that is Lollapalooza.
The occasionally frustrating but necessary experience that all must partake in before enjoying the magic of a music festival is security. At Lolla, there are two GA entrances that will get you into Grant Park: the north side on Monroe & Columbus and the west side on Michigan & Ida B. Wells. The Michigan and Wells entrance is the main entrance for Lollapalooza and, therefore, tends to be a little more congested. Either way, every person arriving at the festival is subject to a full pat down search and a bag check. Be courteous to your fellow security line-mates. You’re all working towards the same end goal of making it through as quickly as possible.
Establishing a Meeting Point
Grant Park is a massive festival ground with thousands of people congregating in the same area. That being said, cell service can be iffy at times, depending on your location and provider. Before the day gets away from you, it’s smart to establish a primary meeting point. A few recommended meeting points I’ve shared in this Lollapalooza guide include guest services, the Lincoln Statue, Buckingham Fountain, outside one of the co*cktail lounges, the Lolla store, or near the lockers. Bathroom breaks and group separation are generally unavoidable. To remedy this, it’s a good idea to also set up common stage location meeting points where you can reunite with your group. Have a friend that tends to wander off? It might be worth enabling Find My Friends so you can locate each other if separated.
Navigating Lollapalooza
The Lollapalooza festival grounds span one mile north to south in Grant Park and is home to eight different stages. The names of the stages may vary, but the general layout has remained extremely similar over the past few years. Downloading the Lollapalooza app ahead of time is a great way to learn about the festival and how to navigate the grounds.
The main and largest stage, currently known as T-Mobile, is on the south side of Grant Park in Hutchinson Field. This is the stage you will find the larger headliners and biggest names performing throughout the weekend. The second largest stage is on the north side, commonly known as the Bud Light stage. Most stages don’t have designated genres assigned to them since the lineup is very diverse. The only exceptions include the Kidsapalooza stage, which is tailored to family-friendly performances. And the stage just northwest of the main stage, commonly known as Perry’s, which primarily hosts electronic dance music artists and DJs.
Lolla Cashless
All festival-goers can set up Lolla Cashless when they register their wristband. The process is pretty seamless; you link your credit card information to your wristband, establish a pin, and then you’re ready to go! The pin you create ensures that no payment will go through without using the correct pin for added security measures. You can use Lolla Cashless to purchase food, drinks (alcoholic or NA), merch, and add tips to your purchases.
Even if you set up Lolla Cashless, I still recommend bringing a credit card and a little cash if a vendor doesn’t accept the wristband payment or your wristband is damaged. If you need a replacement wristband, you must bring your wristband, order confirmation, and ID to a Wristband Assistance location near the festival entrances. You’ll need a credit card to pay the $25 replacement fee.
Hydrate
It’s so important; I mention it twice. Please do yourself a favor and keep hydrated throughout the day (you’ll thank me later!). You have the option to bring an empty reusable water bottle or hydration pack with you to Lollapalooza, or you can buy water at one of the many drink stations throughout Grant Park.
Visit Chow Town
The Lollapalooza food court, lovingly called Chow Town, is home to local Chicago-based food vendors that serve entrees, snacks, desserts, and coffee. There’s a wide selection of food offerings, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. You can find all of the vendor information within the Lolla app. If you start to feel a grumble in your stomach, head over to Chow Town along Columbus Drive and grab a bite. The lines can be moderately long depending on the time of day, but they move fast! Your hunger will be resolved in no time.
Lollapalooza Guide Tip: The pizza lines are historically the shortest during peak times.
Safety Information
Festivals are a wonderful place to meet new people, experience your favorite bands, and enjoy the beautiful city of Chicago. Festivals are also known for a few specific safety issues, so it’s essential to come prepared for a good time and a safe time. A good rule of thumb is always to use the buddy system, watch out for your neighbors, and be kind to one another.
There are uniformed and undercover security officers throughout Lollapalooza, and their job is to keep the fans and artists safe. The undercover security officers will be dressed in plain street clothes and often weave their way through the grounds at the stages. Don’t hesitate to ask a security team member for assistance if you need it. If you see something suspicious, say something.
One of the biggest safety issues at festivals is keeping an eye on your personal belongings, mainly your phone. If you’re not actively using your phone, keep it stored in your bag with the zipper or clasp shut. If you don’t have a bag, store your phone in a friend’s bag or your front pocket, and be mindful when walking through crowds. I’ve had a few friends lose their phones at Lolla this way. If you find or lose something, you can stop by Guest Services since they manage the lost and found.
There are medical tents near all of the eight stages at Lollapalooza. If you or your friends begin to feel lightheaded, dizzy, weak, nauseous, or vomiting, you should seek medical attention since you may be experiencing a heat stroke.
Pace Yourself
Like with any festival, Lollapalooza is a marathon, not a sprint. That goes for alcohol consumption, cannabis use, sun exposure, or moshing if that’s your thing. Don’t go too hard early in the day so you’re worn out before you can see the headliner perform your favorite song. Rotate between alcohol and water throughout the day (hydration is a common theme in this Lollapalooza guide). Take breaks in the shade to sit down, hydrate, and eat something delicious from Chow Town. Most importantly, take care of yourself and your friends to ensure you have a memorable Lollapalooza experience.
Leaving Lollapalooza
Cue the sad tears since your evening at Lolla is over. I’ve included some helpful information in this Lollapalooza guide for exiting the festival in the hopes of getting you home safe and sound. Lollapalooza ends at 10:00 pm, and three of the four closing bands will finish at that time. This usually results in a massive departure from Grant Park. If you want to beat the rush, leaving 15 minutes early can never hurt.
Before you exit the grounds, use one of the restrooms or porta potties. Most major establishments outside Grant Park will be closed. If not, they do not want any Lolla-goers using their restrooms. If you’re utilizing the blue line to get home, go to the LaSalle stop to board. Similarly, if you’re utilizing the red line, go to the Harrison stop. Taking the train from those two stations can help you in avoiding the large crowds at the stops closer to Grant Park.
Aftershows
Can’t get enough of your favorite artist? You’re in luck since Lollapalooza hosts various aftershows in some of Chicago’s most well-known music venues around the city. The aftershow schedule comes out roughly two months before the festival, and tickets go on sale the following day. Aftershows are an excellent opportunity to see an artist you love or an artist you couldn’t see at the festival.
Lollapalooza Guide Tip: It’s a good idea to review the venue’s bag policy in advance to ensure that the bag you brought to Lollapalooza is permitted inside.
Final Thoughts
As a Chicago native attending Lollapalooza since 2014, this festival has a special place in my heart. It’s a magical experience to listen to good music with your friends while Chicago’s grand buildings light up the evening sky. I’ve seen some of my all-time favorite artists, bands, and DJs perform throughout the years, and some of those moments have become my core memories. Given my wealth of knowledge on the topic, I hope that this Lollapalooza guide helps you with your planning process so you have an equally memorable time at this legendary music festival.
Have you been to Lollapalooza? Tell me about your experience in the comments! If not, tell me about your favorite music festival below!
