Chicago, IL (WLS) As thousands of festivalgoers stream into Grant Park for Lollapalooza, huge crowds are building in Downtown Chicago, and nearby eateries and businesses are prepared to capitalise.
Lollapalooza began on Thursday morning with the opening of the gates.
Fans of Lollapalooza rush the gates as they open.
This weekend, the city’s most prominent summer event will return, bringing with it throngs from all across the nation and the world.
New York was the origin of Y-Myah Tonge.
So far, Chicago is amazing, said Tonge. I adore it. It seems to me to be superior to New York. Sorry, citizens of New York.
She is one of many Billie Eilish supporters who lined up overnight to obtain the best seats available when the gates opened.
What you need to know about the Lollapalooza street closures and public transport in Chicago
Canuck May Gonzalez came up with a strategy.
She replied, “My brother, who is a track athlete, is coming and will help me race for the barricade because I paid him to do it for me.
More than 400,000 concertgoers are anticipated to visit Grant Park for the nine stages featuring performers from around the world.
Axe and the Hatchetmen from Lake Villa will perform at Lollapalooza on Thursday.
Billie Eilish, Diplo, Lanie Wilson, and Carly Rae Jepson are some of the notable headliners.
I believe Lolla to be such a wonderful community. Izzy Segal, a festival-goer, said. Everyone is watchful of one another. I think the location is lovely and the setting is lovely.
At nine stages and outside the arena at nearby businesses, 400,000 spectators are anticipated to congregate.
For us, it’s always a terrific weekend, said Miller’s Pub proprietor Andrew Galios. “I always get excited when Grant Park hosts significant events like that.”
Just a few blocks separate Miller’s Pub on Wabash from the festival. Galios claimed that his best work usually occurs in the following few days.
“Having that many people visit Downtown is definitely great for all the businesses down here, and money is moving through the system, which is good for everyone here, all of our staff,” Galios said.
Sam Toia, president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Restaurant Association, claimed that Lolla weekend is larger than the majority of other energetic summer weekends in the city, including performances by Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran.
Toia declared, “This is five or six times more people coming.” “One of our biggest weekends of the year is Lollapalooza. Many people are placed in hotels as a result, and when individuals are placed in hotels, they must go out to eat.
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Lana del Rey, and Kendrick Lamar will be among the notable performers that fans can watch during the weekend.
Detroit resident Justin Fura is in town to witness a K-Pop band. He is ready with his transparent backpack packed with necessary items like phone chargers.
I’m used to waiting in queue for 5 to 10 hours at a time because I’m a K-Pop lover’, said Fura. Since this is just another weekend for me, I’m used to making sure I have water.
The right level of security will be in place, according to city officials.
Mayor Brandon Johnson stated, “Using all of our resources, officers on bikes, making sure that there are consistent checkpoints so that we’re able to better manage, you know, where people are flowing.” We are anticipating a larger population, so those specific characteristics are in place and scaling up appropriately. The upcoming four days are going to be wonderful.
This year, Lollapalooza has teamed up with an organisation that fights overdoses to inform music lovers about the perils of fentanyl and provide them with Narcan, an opioid reversal drug.
Music lovers are urged to drink plenty of water in the heat by Dr. Steven Aks, an emergency department physician with Cook County Health.
“I believe that having fun is the first thing we would advise to people at Lolla. However, if someone offers you drugs or medications, just say no. There are plenty more methods to have a great time, but keep in mind that the current prospective supply is extremely risky.
Items that are permitted include: -Clear bags that are no bigger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ and made of clear vinyl, plastic, or pvc.
-Baby Carriages
-Binoculars
-Cameras (basic point-and-shoot consumer-grade cameras) without detachable lenses and other accessories; tripods, selfie sticks, monopods, and other attachments are prohibited.
-Empty hydration packs, plastic or aluminium water bottles, and reusable water bottles.
-Sunscreen in non-aerosol containers of 3.4 ounces or less is permitted.
Naloxone/Narcan kit that is factory sealed
-Before entering, all luggage will be inspected.
Small fanny packs and clutch handbags that measure 6″ x 9″ or less are not required to be transparent but are limited to having one pocket.
-Clear and smaller than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ for all other bags greater than 6″ x 9″.
Hydration packs are acceptable; however, they must be empty of all liquid and include no more than two pockets in addition to the one holding the water reservoir. They are not required to be clear.
Items like blankets, sheets, and towels are prohibited.
-Frisbees
-Coolers of all kinds, excluding those for medical purposes
framed duffel bags,
equipment for professional audio and video recording
Drones
-Hammocks
glass bottles
- Illicit and illicit drugs
-Outside food or drink of any type, including alcohol
-Umbrellas
-Pets (apart from guide dogs)
– Selfie sticks
-Any personal motorised vehicle, including skateboards, scooters, bicycles, waggons, and carts
-Any tents, canopies, or other form of shade structure
– flagpoles or totem poles.
-Vendors without licences or authorization are not permitted. There cannot be no unlicensed solicitation or materials, such as leaflets, handbills, stickers, beach balls, gifts, samples, etc.
-Any form of weapon or explosive
-Fireworks
-Large chains or jewellery with spikes
-Bicycles allowed inside the event grounds (free parking is available close to the entrance to the festival)
-Any type of cart, including Red Waggons
-Any kind of chair
-Smoking of any form, including vaping, is prohibited in all Chicago parks.
Prescription Medicine Requirements: -Anyone in need of prescription medication during the event must show our medical staff at each admission gate the pharmacy-labeled bottle with the prescription, dose, and patient name. Customers are only permitted to take as much of the prescribed medication as they need for the given day.
-Unless in an inhaler that has been prescribed, it is illegal to smoke or inhale medications.
-An adequate supply of over-the-counter drugs is allowed each day. At the entry gates, medical staff will check the contents of the bottles.
