Hey, Tigers! It’s Madi and Maya with our last article for The Tiger. We will be talking about the Windy City Smokeout, the ultimate BBQ and country music fest! It’s a 4-day festival that begins on July 10th and ends on July 13th. The Windy City Smokeout is a BBQ and country music festival held outside the United Center in Chicago. It brings together the best BBQ cooks from around the country, offering a wide variety of BBQ styles from Texas brisket to Memphis ribs. Alongside the food, this festival features live country music, creating an amazing experience! For entry, one of the 3 different types of wristbands are required: General admission, VIP admission, or platinum admission. At this festival you can pick and choose the days you would like to go, whether it’s 1 day or all 4 days, as long as your wristband reflects this. Now, let us explain how much the wristbands cost!
Wristbands and Admission
To enter the Windy Cindy Smokeout, you need to purchase wristbands in order to listen to your favorite country artists and enjoy the best BBQ around! With a general admission wristband you have access to live music performances throughout the day, bars and concessions, and in-and-out privileges. The 4-day general admission costs $311.01, which is honestly a good price for all 4-days. With a VIP admission wristband, you get a separate entrance and exit, elevated and shaded viewing areas, access to private bars and private air-conditioned bathrooms, and phone charging stations! The 4-day VIP admission costs $1,205.67, which is pretty crazy, but just wait until you hear the price for the platinum admission wristband! Though a bit pricey, the luxury might be worth it. With the platinum admission wristband, you get deluxe climate controlled upper-deck and shading viewing areas, stage pit viewing access, top shelf drinks, parking access with golf cart service to and from festival grounds, private air-conditioned bathrooms, BBQ service in a private dining area with all-day snacks, an on-site hotel/apartment, and an official Smokeout welcome gift, which is amazing! But the price isn’t; the 4-day platinum wristband costs $2,291.67. The Windy City Smokeout clearly offers a range of wristband options to suit different preferences and budgets, ensuring a memorable experience for all the people attending! Let’s get started on who’s performing!
Day 1: Thursday, July 10th
Starting off strong, for the day 1 headliners we have Bailey Zimmerman and Koe Wetzel who will be taking the spotlight! Sommer Ray, Shane Smith & The Saints, Bayker Blankenship, and Angel White will also be performing. For general admission wristbands on Thursday it costs $70.02, which is the cheapest price of the whole festival! Bailey Zimmerman’s hit “Rock and a Hard Place” was his first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, knowing that might make seeing him perform it live even more special! Koe Wetzel is known for his high-energy performance blending country and rock, making his shows super intense! “February 28,2016”, Koe Wetzel’s most popular song, is about a special moment in his life, which might make him perform this at Windy City. This lineup for day 1 is already looking like a great start to this event!
Day 2: Friday, July 11th
Up next, we have our day 2 artists: Old Dominion and Dylan Gossett and they will bring their popular hits and high energy to the stage! Josh Meloy, Lauren Watkins, and Maggie Antone will also be performing. For general admission wristbands on Friday, it costs $85.54, not too pricey. Old Dominion really stands out with their catchy songs and relatable lyrics, blending country and pop elements. They’re most known for their energetic live shows! The band is known for their song “One Man Band”; it’s their most popular song yet! Dylan Gossett is a rising music artist from Texas, known for his amazing vocals and emotive songwriting, creating deep music for others to listen to! The song “Coal” is his top hit so far. Hope to see you there to see it live!
Day 3: Saturday, July 12th
Following, we have our day 3 artists: Kane Brown and Megan Moroney – the headliners! Charles Wesley Godwin, Austin Snell, and Kashus Culpepper will also be singing, kicking off an incredible lineup of country music. For general admission wristbands on Saturday, it costs $165, 2 times the amount of Friday’s event! Honestly, no complaining, these artists are definitely fan favorites. Kane Brown has delivered numerous hits throughout his career with several songs like “Heaven” and “Thank God” – both are his biggest hits! Megan Moroney has quickly become a standout artist in the country music scene. She is known for her authentic songwriting and voice, connecting with fans through stories of love and heartbreak. Her most known songs are “Tennessee Orange” and “No Caller ID”, and her music continues to evolve! A lot of people must be attending day 3 because the wristband is sold out!
Day 4: Sunday, July 13th
Finally, we have our day 4 artists: Jon Pardi and Riley Green, who are the headliners, followed by Ella Langley, Sam Barber, and Josh Ross. For general admission wristbands on Sunday, it costs $165, the same price as Saturday’s event. Jon Pardi is known for his blend of traditional honky–tonk and modern country. Pardi is expected to deliver the songs “Heartache Medication” and “Dirt on My Boots”. Fans can’t wait to see these songs performed! Riley Green is expected to bring his signature blend of traditional country and Southern rock to Chicago. Known for hits like “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” and “There Was This Girl”, these 2 artists are also fan favorites this year and are already also sold out!
After writing this article, it has only made us more excited to attend and for the event to come faster! We can already imagine the country music, the smell of delicious food, and the sound of guitars echoing throughout the city. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy delicious food, listen to good music, and have a great time. This event is shaping up to be one of Chicago’s can’t miss events this summer, so we hope to see you guys there! It’s a must-attend for anyone looking for the best BBQ and energy that only the city can provide. That’s the end, Tigers. Until next year!
Work Cited:
- Windy City Smokeout: Home Page, https://www.windycitysmokeout.com/. Accessed 14 May 2025.
