Lollapalooza 101
By Néya Sridhar
We’ve made it. It’s officially the weekend before Lollapalooza here in Chicago. If this is your first time going, Lollapalooza is arguably one of the best music festivals you could attend. With an array of 170 performers throughout the span of 4 days, Lolla is the highlight of over 400,000 people yearly. With that being said, here are some things to know before going.
Hydration
Lollapalooza has Hydration Stations for free with cool, filtered water and cooling stations that are placed all around Grant Park. A lot of people invest in the water back pack that you can purchase on Amazon for less than $30, but an empty water bottle will do just fine. Remember: you are going to be in the hot Chicago sun for a full day. It is essential that you keep yourself hydrated throughout the festival.
Ditch Uber, Take the Train.
Chicago has amazing public transportation. Roads are going to be blocked off with slow traffic. Ubers and Lyfts are also going to cost you a fortune. Take the bus or train if you can. It will save you time and money. Use the app Ventra to track CTA and Metra times.
Prepare for bad reception.
I’m telling you now, your phone is about to break so hard on you at Grant Park. If you get lucky and your phone works, thank your provider. But for the majority of people, reception is really bad at lolla. For this, you should take this precaution with your group:
Designate Meeting Spots: Have a place you will all meet if you get separated, when you want to leave the festival, and for any other reasons your group may feel necessary. A good spot is the Buckingham Fountain in the middle of Grant Park.
Be aware of surroundings and your items
Especially if you plan on moshing at Perry’s stage, keep a check on your personal belongings. The second something drops on the floor, you’re not getting it back. You hear this everywhere, but phones actually do get stolen. Make sure you don’t put your phone in your back pocket, always the front pocket. Speaking of Perry’s…
Drop the aesthetic: Your shoes don’t matter.
I hate to break it to you babe, but a post on your feed is not worth the wrecked feet with those cute shoes. The grounds, especially Perry’s, are super dusty. The walk from one end of the venue to the other is a 0.75 mile walk. You will be walking a half marathon a day. Wear shoes that are not only sturdy enough to handle that, but ones that you won’t mind getting dirty.
I'm sorry, but you can’t see both headliners.
Unfortunately, you and I both are going to have to choose between SZA and Zedd. The reality is, it’s not possible and will not be worth it to try and split time. By the time you start enjoying one headliner, you will not have the time nor want to walk a 0.75 mile walk to the other big stage. With that being said…
Make a plan of who you wanna see. Download the app.
You should have a plan of who you want to see before the day starts. You are going to be running around because sets overlap. Chances are, the first person you want to see won’t be performing until maybe 3pm, giving you the morning to get ready and relax for the long evening ahead! The Lollapalooza app is very organized and user friendly to plan your daily schedule. It will also send you reminders on the artists you have in your schedule, along with what stage they will be at.
Bag Policy
At Lolla, they require small and clear bags if you choose to bring one. All you really need is your phone, portable charger, lip balm, and water bottle. If you are like me, I fit everything into my pockets and never bring a bag.
Lolla Cashless
Your wristband does everything for you. If you sync your credit cards, paypal, or Venmo on there, you don’t need to bring a wallet. It’s a very safe way to spend your money.
Outfit Inspo
Do your thing! This is the time to show what you’ve got. Something to keep in mind is that the weather is supposed to be sunny and 90 degrees all weekend.
Last but not least, have so much fun! This is truly the most anticipated weekend for thousands of people. It’s a very exciting time and a good experience. I hope to see you out in Grant Park!
