Chicago’s largest music festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with an extra day of music.
J. Cole, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers and LCD Soundsystem are slated to headline Lollapalooza, which runs Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The 170-plus acts among eight stages are expected to draw about 100,000 music fans each day to Grant Park.
From transportation to prohibited items, the Tribune explores the logistics of the newly expanded festival.
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Charging
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ENTRANCE/
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BANDSHELL
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BMI
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EXIT
KIDZAPALOOZA
BALBO
LAKESHORE
PERRY’S
SAMSUNG
Tickets
General admission passes quickly sold out, but single-day VIP passes for each day but Saturday were available at presstime. The single-day VIP pass, which costs $650, allows access to Lolla lounges, golf cart transportation, special viewing platforms, meals catered by Big Star and Publican Quality Meats and air-conditioned restrooms, among other perks. A four-day VIP pass is priced at $2,200.
Four-day platinum passes, which cost $4,200 and include access to air-conditioned hospitality areas and free drinks, recently sold out.
Some of the festival’s hotel packages were still available at presstime. The InterContinental and Peninsula hotels are offering hotel stays and ticket packages ranging from $2,239 to $9,299.
The Lollapalooza box office is located at Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street. Box office hours are noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.
Getting there
The CTA plans to provide longer trains and more frequent service on the Blue, Red, Brown and Orange lines Thursday through Sunday. Longer trains are expected to operate on the Green Line Thursday through Sunday. More frequent Pink Line service is scheduled Thursday and Friday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Yellow Line service from the Howard station in Rogers Park is set to operate until 1 a.m. Friday through Monday.
Metra is planning extra service on its BNSF Railway, Rock Island District, Milwaukee District North, Milwaukee District West, Union Pacific North, Union Pacific Northwest and Union Pacific West lines throughout the festival weekend. There will also be more seats available on the Metra Electric line. Alcohol and glass containers will not be allowed on trains after 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. There is an increased likelihood that bicycles cannot be accommodated on trains throughout the festival weekend because of anticipated crowds.
Bike parking is slated to be available by Michigan Avenue and Balbo Avenue. The Divvy bike-share program plans to offer valet service at Michigan Avenue and Jackson Drive from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.
No parking is available on festival grounds. There are parking garages at Grant Park, Millennium Park and Soldier Field. Festival organizers also recommend using the SpotHero and ParkWhiz apps to find spaces.
Entry
All attendees must wear their wristband on their right wrist. The main festival entrance is at Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway and the north entrance is at Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. Security will check bags before entry. Passholders can re-enter the festival three times per day after their initial entry if their wristband is scanned when they exit.
Allowed items
Allowed items
Concertgoers can bring baby strollers; standard school-sized backpacks; binoculars; blankets, sheets and towels; nonprofessional photo and video cameras; empty CamelBak water bottles, hydration packs and plastic or aluminum water bottles; hand-held umbrellas 42 inches or smaller when open and two factory-sealed water bottles up to one liter each.
Prohibited items
Passholders cannot bring aerosol containers, including sunscreen and beauty products; professional photo, video and audio recording equipment, including professional detachable zoom lenses, stands, monopods, tripods and selfie sticks; drones and other remote flying devices; coolers (except for medical use); framed backpacks; hammocks; glass and metal containers; illegal substances; outside food or beverage (except two factory-sealed water bottles); pets (except service animals); professional radios and walkie-talkies; skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons and motorized vehicles; tents, canopies and shade structures; unauthorized solicitation materials including handbills, stickers, beach balls, giveaways and samples; weapons; explosives; fireworks; large chains; spiked jewelry; carts including red wagons; chairs; and inflatable furniture.
Lockers are available to rent each day for $20 or $60 for four days, as of presstime. The lockers are about 8 inches tall, 12 inches wide and 18 inches deep and come with a universal cell phone charger.
Food
Chow Town, curated by Chicago chef Graham Elliot, features more than 30 vendors offering items from tamales to lobster corndogs to Chicago-style hot dogs.
Organizers are adding “corner bodegas” this year that sell fruit, snacks, lip balm, ponchos, bandages and sunscreen, among other items. The bodegas will be on Columbus Drive at Jackson Drive and Balbo Avenue.
Concertgoers can pay for food and merchandise without using cash or credit cards through the festival’s cashless program. Passholders can register for the program when they active their wristband online.
Lost and found
Patrons who lose items can visit an information booth at the festival or file a claim at lollapalooza.com/lostfound.
Kidzapalooza
Children’s activities will be offered at Kidzapalooza, located southeast of Buckingham Fountain. The area will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Children 10 years old and younger will be admitted for free if their parent has a Lollapalooza pass.
Severe weather
Lollapalooza briefly evacuated last year on the third day of the festival because of a storm. A festival publicist said the severe-weather plans are the same as last year. Organizers say concertgoers should follow Lollapalooza on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for information about alerts and follow the instructions of public safety officials.
In the event of an evacuation, attendees are encouraged to take shelter at the Grant Park North Garage, 25 N. Michigan Ave.; Grant Park South Garage, 325 S. Michigan Ave.; and the Millennium Lakeside Garage, 5 S. Columbus Dr.
Aftershows
Official aftershows are set to begin Tuesday and run through Sunday. More than 110 acts, including Flosstradamus, Vince Staples and Miike Snow, are scheduled for 55-plus aftershows. Tickets and schedules are available at lollapalooza.com/aftershows.
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