Hey Tigers! With summer right around the corner comes everyone’s favorite time of the year, Lollapalooza! This music festival is an event that many people look forward to, especially with this year’s exciting headliners, including Sza, Tyler the Creator, Blink 182, The Killers, Future X, Metro, Boomin, Hozier, Stray Kids, Melanie Martinez, and Skrillex. With this incredible lineup of artists, this year is sure to be an unforgettable experience. In this article, I will be going over everything you need to know to get ready for this remarkable festival!

History of Lollapalooza

Going back to 1991, Lollapalooza was founded by Perry Farrell. Lollapalooza was at first a touring festival that was meant to showcase punk and alternative rock bands, which is quite different from what it is today. Over the years, Lollapalooza began to become a more large-scale and known event. This caused the festival to start attracting a more diverse audience of different musical genres and interested artists. In 2005, it was decided that Grant Park would be the permanent venue to host Lollapalooza for future years to come. To this day, people from all over come to Grant Park to watch Lolla’s different lineups yearly as it has become a festival that celebrates music and the history of music.

Artists to look out for

Since Lollapalooza is such a large event, it’s split up into a 4-day festival, meaning the headliners are also split up. On August 1st, the first day, Hozier and Tyler the Creator will be kicking off the festival. Following them, the next day, will be SZA and the Stray Kids on August 2nd, which will most definitely be a popular day. Then The Killers and Future x Metro Boomin will be starting day 3 on August 3rd. Headlining the festival on the last day, the 4th, will be Blink-182 and Melanie Martinez. Aside from these amazing headliners, there are also over 170 other acts going on throughout the entire festival. Some other people to look out for if attending are Deftones, Kesha, and Tate McRae, who seem to be popular as well!

Need to know basics

When it comes to going to a music festival, especially a 4-day large-scale festival like Lollapalooza, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. For starters the dates of the festival, which this year is from August 1st- August 4th. However, I would also advise grabbing tickets early as they tend to sell out quickly. (Pre-sale is over but general sales are still going on.) They have a variety of options when it comes to ticket sales, ranging from 1-day general admission which is $149 to 4-day general admission, which starts at $409; however, there are more options and prices can vary based depending on what you choose to purchase. (Click here if interested in purchasing tickets.) Next, plan your transportation early on. The festival can and will get very crowded very quickly so it may be best to take the train to avoid traffic on the way there and back. Lastly, I recommend familiarizing yourself with the festival’s schedule and map; you wouldn’t want to miss a performance or be separated from your group, so to stay safe, it would be in your best interest to familiarize yourself with the venue!

How to keep yourself safe at Lollapalooza

Although Lolla is an exciting event to be at, safety is still a top priority, especially when attending an event this big. To keep yourself safe while having a good time, stick with your friends at all times so you’re never alone or lost. If you or one of your friends does unfortunately get separated, have a designated meeting spot in mind beforehand so you can all wait there for everyone to regroup to ensure everyone’s safety.  An issue that has been reoccurring at concerts and festivals is dehydration, which can get so severe at events like this that it can cause those in the crowd to pass out. To prevent this from happening try your best to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day by consistently drinking water. This is also an outdoor festival, which means there is a high chance those attending will get sunburn. Although you may want a tan, make sure you are wearing sunscreen and reapplying. (You can still tan with sunscreen on and it is safer to tan that way!) I would also recommend being mindful of your belongings while you are there as many people in the past have lost valuable items, such as their phones at events such as Lolla. To prevent that from happening make sure you have some sort of secure way of storing your items. Lastly, listen to your body and take breaks when needed. You will be tired, hungry, and overheated while at Lollapalooza and you must allow yourself to take some breaks throughout the day so you can enjoy the majority of the festival safely!

With the 32nd annual Lollapalooza coming up, it is clear that this festival lives up to the hype around it. From all the electrifying performances to interactive activities throughout Grant Park, Lollapalooza is an unforgettable experience for all those who attend. So whether you’re a returning attendee or a first-time attendee, have an amazing time at Lollapalooza, a must-visit event with an incredible atmosphere. Get ready for the unique and unforgettable experience Lollapalooza offers, and, most importantly, stay safe Tigers!

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