Thousands of music fans are heading to Downtown Chicago’s Grant Park for the four-day Lollapalooza music festival starting July 31.
One of those fans is Brian Meza, who has been attending Lollapalooza for the last 15 years. It’s his “Quincepalooza,” he told the Sun-Times, and he’ll be sporting a special sash and crown to commemorate the milestone.
He also works as an architectural guide.
“I’m a Chicago historian, and one of my favorite parts is describing the golden hour,” Meza said. “If you know that summer magic, during that golden hour, when the sun is setting behind the skyscrapers,” Meza began, “It’s moments like that. … Everyone’s laughing, smiling, jumping, dancing, and then you realize why Chicagoans put up with this winter.”
He works as a DJ in Chicago, aka DJ B-MAZED, and is a part of a collective called Flavors of Albany Funk. He only spins vinyl records, but doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genre.
Meza attends alone, riding in on the Brown Line from his Albany Park home, but as someone always looking to discover new music, he prefers it this way.
“I make a copy of the schedule, and then I have a watch on me. I put my phone away, and I literally go in circles,” Meza said. “I’ll listen to a concert at a stage for 15 to 20 minutes, then slowly walk away to another stage, getting pulled by the sounds.”
Ultimately, Meza said, the festival experience will be enhanced as long as you follow the Golden Rule: Treat others how you’d like to be treated. Stay hydrated, don’t abandon anyone in your group, and practice “PLUR”— peace, love, unity and respect.
Here are some of Meza’s tips and tricks, along with advice from an on-the-ground reporter, to make the most out of your Lollapalooza experience:
Bag policy
Any small, single-pocket clutch purses and fanny packs under 6 inches by 9 inches are allowed in the festival. Other bags must be smaller than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. All bags will be searched before entry.
Hydration packs are allowed inside the festival, but they must be empty.
What to bring
Unless you’ve got a VIP wristband for access to air-conditioned restrooms with sinks, the portable ones are your best bet.
However, it’s safe to assume that the portable bathrooms aren’t going to be the cleanest, especially toward the end of the day. Make sure to store some extra tissue in your bag with a small bottle of hand sanitizer in case the portable fountains run low on water, too.
If you’re traveling with kids, strollers are allowed. The festival also allows basic cameras, binoculars, portable chargers and empty reusable water bottles — with plenty of refill stations across Grant Park.
Don’t forget to protect yourself from the elements, Meza said. Sunscreen is allowed in containers less than 3.4 ounces, and drinking water is of the utmost importance if you want to avoid heatstroke or a hangover.
“When the sun is out, just drink water,” he said.
“I don’t get an adult beverage until the sun is setting,” he added. “That way I can really enjoy it. … That sun will beat you down.”
He also recommends stopping by the Toyota tent to grab a free bandanna. He’s collecting his 15th this year.
And in case of an emergency, the festival will also allow you to bring in factory-sealed Naloxone/Narcan kits.
Items Lollapalooza prohibits
Aerosol containers are not allowed (leave the hairspray at home). Blankets, sheets, towels and chairs are also prohibited. Leave your cooler at home too — along with outside food, beverages and glass containers.
If you’re thinking about bringing your professional cameras and recording equipment, don’t. Selfie sticks will be confiscated, too.
Though Grant Park is the perfect place for an afternoon nap, your hammock should also stay at home, along with bikes (but you can park your bike in the valet just outside of the fest), scooters, Frisbees and skateboards.
Weapons, smoking, illegal and illicit substances and pets are also not allowed on the festival grounds.
Where are the gates to enter Lollapalooza?
There are two gates of entry, which are at:
- Main Entrance: Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive
- North Entrance: Monroe Street and Columbus Drive
How to get to Lollapalooza
Driving: If you’re planning to drive to the festival, avoid the headaches of looking for parking by planning ahead, such as booking a spot online.
Millennium Garages is offering daily and extended stay parking at its Millennium Lakeside, Millennium Park and Grant Park North garages. Book future parking, starting from $25, on its website. Bonus: Enter promo code LOLLA25 at checkout to receive a 10% discount when you book for 24 hours or more.
Also check out the SpotHero app for daily parking. Some garages will have Lollapalooza weekend deals, too. Rates tend to increase as the festival nears. Make sure to check Lollapalooza’s website for street closures.
Biking: Lollapalooza offers a complimentary bike valet just south of the main entrance on Michigan Avenue.
Public transportation: Taking the CTA train is the best option for getting to and from Lollapalooza. For those who want to enjoy the city views like Meza, hop on the Brown Line.
The Green Line also has stops within walking distance of Grant Park. The Blue and Red Line subways are also great nearby alternatives.
If you’re taking the Metra in, you can take these buses once you get off the train: No. 60 Blue Island/26th, No. 124 Navy Pier, No. 126 Jackson, No. 130 Museum Campus or No. 151 Sheridan from Union Station.
If you arrive at Ogilvie Transportation Center, take the No. 20 Madison, No. 56 Milwaukee or No. J14 Jeffery Jump. There will be extra fleets out during Lollapalooza weekend, and many of the routes will have signs in their windows to let passengers know they’re headed to the festival.
Getting home on the CTA usually means it’s packed full of Lollapalooza fans, and there’s no harm in waiting for the congestion to die down a bit.
“I’m not in a rush to go home, because that skyline in the evening, when it’s just lit up … you’re just in a whole different world,” Meza said.
Where to eat near Lollapalooza
There are dozens of options for food at the festival. Find your next meal at Chow Town, grab an ice cream cone at Dessert Island and enjoy vegan eats at Plant Base. (Here’s the lineup at this year’s festival if you want to parse through your options.)
Attendees are allowed to exit and reenter the festival grounds twice each day, which opens up possibilities for those who don’t want to eat festival food or need a quieter space to recharge.
Within walking distance of Lollapalooza, in order from nearest to farthest from the main entrance:
- Miller’s Pub, 134 S. Wabash Ave.: Miller’s is a Chicago institution open since 1935. Here you can satiate your post-Lollapalooza cravings with local craft beer and typical American pub fare at reasonable prices. The pub’s kitchen is open until midnight.
- Osaka Sushi Express, 400 S. Michigan Ave.: Osaka has takeout sushi, with affordable lunch specials that include everything from California and spicy tuna rolls to specialty dragon rolls, eel nigiri and fresh fruit smoothies, all made in-house. You can also sit at the counter and do some people-watching from there.
- Cafecito, 26 E. Congress Parkway: This cafe is perfect for grabbing a pre- or mid-Lolla bite or coffee. Cafecito’s take on the Cubano is good, but don’t snooze on the Chivito and Lechón sandwiches (starting at $12.99). You can also fill your caffeine tank with traditional Cuban coffees like the Cortadito or Café con Leche. Two other locations in the area offer even more options.
- Lou Malnati’s, 805 S. State St.: If you’re looking to try or have a craving for Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza, Lou Malnati’s has a location near the fest. It’s open until midnight on Friday and Saturday. There’s even a Chicago hot dog deep-dish pizza on the menu for a limited time.
- Devil Dawgs on State, 767 S. State St.: Looking for a creative twist on the classics? Find Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beefs, burgers, hand-cut fries and milkshakes at Devil Dawgs on State. It closes at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Beatrix Market, 23 E. Jackson Blvd.: This grab-and-go restaurant features a salad bar, hot bar, sandwiches, snacks, freshly baked pastries and more for your morning or midday refuel. In the past, they’ve given away free items for Lollapalooza attendees with proof of a wristband.
- Exchequer Restaurant & Pub, 226 S. Wabash Ave.: Open since 1982, the building that houses this restaurant allegedly housed a speakeasy that gangsters like Al Capone would frequent. Here you can find thin-crust tavern-style pizza, steak frites, chicken wings, barbecue ribs and more until 10 p.m.
How to stream Lollapalooza 2025
The festival is teaming up with Hulu once again to broadcast performances from various stages and artists throughout the weekend. Details on a schedule or which performances will be livestreamed are not yet available.