One of the largest Chicago summer festivals of the season is upon us, which means that it's time to brush up on everything you need to know about Lollapalooza. It doesn't matter if it's your first time attending the gigantic event or you're a veteran of the Grant Park fest—Lolla is always evolving, so it's best to show up with as much information as possible. Here's what you need to know about Lollapalooza 2019.
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When is Lollapalooza?
This year's festival begins on Thursday, August 1 and runs through Sunday, August 4 (it expanded to four days in 2016). Gates open at 11am daily and close at 10pm each night.
Where is Lollapalooza?
Lollapalooza is held in Grant Park, taking over nearly every section of the green space between Monroe Street and Roosevelt Road. The festival's main entrance is located at Ida B. Wells Drive (formerly Congress Parkway) and Michigan Avenue, but it's usually faster to get into the fest through a second entrance located at Monroe Street and Columbus Drive.
What's the best way to get to Lollapalooza?
Grant Park is located just east of the Loop, so the easiest way to get to the festival is by train. If you're heading for the main entrance at Ida B. Wells Drive (formerly Congress Parkway) and Michigan Avenue, take the Blue Line to LaSalle, the Red Line to Harrison or the Brown, Purple, Pink or Orange lines to Harold Washington Library. Going to the Monroe Street and Columbus Drive entrance? Take the Blue or Red Lines to Monroe, or the Brown, Green, Pink, Orange or Purple Lines to Adams/Wabash.
What's the security like at the Lollapalooza gates?
The festival increased its security measures last year, and the new procedures will carry over to this year's event. Attendees are subject to a full-body pat down and magnetometer screening before entering Grant Park, and all bags being carried into the event will be searched. While the number of security lanes at each entrance has been expanded this year, if you want to get into the fest quickly, you should leave your bags at home and take advantage of the express lanes.
What kind of bags can I bring into Lollapalooza?
Any bag larger than 14” x 11” x 5” won't be allowed into the festival, so pack lightly and efficiently. Only small purses, totes, drawstring bags and empty hydration packs with two pockets or less will be admitted, which means that your fancy backpack with eight different compartments will need to stay at home.
What items am I able to bring into Lollapalooza?
Strollers, binoculars, blankets, sheets, towels, cameras without detachable lenses, GoPro cameras, sealed non-aerosol sunscreen, 36-ounce or smaller water bottles and any prescription medication (in a pharmacy-labeled container that states the prescription, dosage and patient name) will be admitted into Lollapalooza.
What items are prohibited at Lollapalooza?
A laundry list of things is prohibited inside Lollapalooza (you can find the full list here), including cigarettes, vaping devices, aerosol containers, selfie sticks, pets (including any alligators you might be harboring), outside food, walkie-talkies, umbrellas, chairs, inflatable furniture and outside food or beverages.
Who is playing at Lollapalooza?
More than 180 acts are on the Lollapalooza lineup this weekend, including headlining sets from Ariana Grande, Tame Impala, J Balvin, The Chainsmokers, The Strokes, Childish Gambino and Twenty One Pilots. We're also excited to catch artists like Janelle Monáe, Kacey Musgraves, Death Cab For Cutie, Mitski, Tierra Whack and Diesel (the DJ alter ego of Shaquille O'Neal). Find all of your favorites on the Lollapalooza schedule.
What else is there to do at Lollapalooza?
While music takes the spotlight at Lolla, it's not the sole focus of the festival. Head to Chow Town to grab dishes from Chicago restaurants like Billy Goat Tavern, Naf Naf, Chubby Wieners, Harold's Chicken, Original Rainbow Cone, The Budlong and more (sadly, you won't be able to eat a lobster corndog at this year's fest). You can also go shopping for T-shirts, hats, posters and other festival and band merch at the Lolla Shop, located to the east of Buckingham Fountain. Red Bull is setting up a two-story gaming outpost just north of Perry's Stage where you can try out games and watch pro-gamer Ninja streaming from the festival on August 2 through 4. Plus, HBO is screening the first episode of its new series The Righteous Gemstones (starring Danny McBride) throughout the weekend, Revlon is setting up a rollerskating rink, Bud Light and Toyota are hosting miniature performances from Lolla artists and a variety of other brands (Pepsi, Bumble, American Eagle, Asics) will have activations (and probably swag) in the park. Figure out where everything is by using the Lollapalooza map.
How much are tickets to Lollapalooza?
Four-day passes (which went for $340) are sold out, but single-day general admission tickets to every day except Saturday are still available for $138, as of this writing. You can still score GA+ tickets for $238 per day or VIP tickets to the festival for $669 per day. If you're really flush, there are also Platinum tickets available, which start at $2,060 per day. You'll find all the current ticket options on Lollapalooza's website and you can pick up tickets at the Lollapalooza box office, which has been relocated to Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue this year.
What's the weather going to be like?
The forecast for the weekend is looking sunny and dry. According to Accuweather, high temperatures will hover between 78 and 83 degrees throughout the four-day festival, which is a welcome departure from the 90-degree temperatures that greeted attendees last summer. You'll still want to prepare yourself for long days in the sun with the usual combination of sunscreen and constant water consumption.