Lollapalooza Chicago

Lollapalooza Chicago is where it all began. Perry Farrell's traveling festival found its permanent home in Grant Park in 2005, and it has been the heartbeat of American festival culture ever since. Set against the stunning Chicago skyline on the shores of Lake Michigan, Lolla draws 400,000 fans across four days. Eight stages cover everything from arena-size headliners to intimate DJ sets. The lineup typically spans rock, pop, hip hop, electronic, and alternative — recent years have featured Billie Eilish, Metallica, J. Cole, and Skrillex. Grant Park is in downtown Chicago, which means you are steps from world-class restaurants, bars, and hotels. No camping here — this is a city festival. Take the L train, walk, or Uber. Chicago in late July/early August is hot and humid (30°C+). The lakefront breeze helps but bring sunscreen and stay hydrated. The Buckingham Fountain area is a good meeting point. Pro tip: Lollapalooza aftershows at local venues (Metro, House of Blues) are sometimes better than the main event. Separate tickets required but worth it for intimate sets.