Lollapalooza attendees may want to keep a poncho handy Friday afternoon, with forecasters expecting showers to move into downtown Chicago during the festival’s second day.
Rain is expected to reach the downtown Chicago area between 1 and 2 p.m. Friday, with scattered showers developing through the afternoon before becoming more widespread and heavier during the evening and overnight, the National Weather Service said Friday morning.
“Everybody is going to get rain and most likely see rain amounts around and upward of an inch before all is said and done,” said Zachary Yack, a meteorologist with the weather service.
Yack said Downtown is forecast to receive about 1 to 1.5 inches of rain, though localized areas could receive more than 2 inches, depending on where the heaviest rain develops.
The uncertainty, he said, is whether those highest rainfall totals fall over the city’s Downtown area or elsewhere. Yack said it looks like the heaviest, most steady rainfall will be happening after 5 to 6 p.m.
With the anticipated rainfall, ponding and localized flooding cannot be ruled out, particularly in low-lying areas, Yack said.
He added that festival grounds at Lollapalooza will likely become muddy, while lightning is expected to remain a relatively low threat, with about a 15% to 20% chance depending on location.
Here’s what you need to know for Day 2.
How will attendees know if weather changes disrupt the festival?
Attendees are encouraged to check the festival website for updates, follow Lollapalooza on X, Facebook and Instagram, and opt in to push notifications through the Lolla mobile app, Festiverse. Organizers said push notifications will include updates on the festival’s status, including any adjusted set times.
What happens if Lollapalooza is evacuated?
Lollapalooza’s website states that an evacuation does not necessarily mean the festival is canceled.
If Grant Park must be evacuated, attendees are directed to three underground parking garages: Grant Park North Garage at 25 N. Michigan Ave., Grant Park South Garage at 325 S. Michigan Ave. and Millennium Lakeside Garage at 5 S. Columbus Drive.
If attendees are allowed to reenter Grant Park following an evacuation, updated performance schedules will be available in the Lolla app, on the website’s schedule page and on the festival’s social media channels.
Once back inside the park, attendees can also check the video information tower near Buckingham Fountain for updated set times.
What should festivalgoers bring — or leave at home?
Lollapalooza festival organizers encourage attendees to dress for the weather by wearing rain-friendly shoes or boots and ponchos.
Umbrellas and towels are not allowed into the festival grounds, so music fans who don’t have a poncho can purchase one at the Lolla Bodega, according to the website.
Sunscreen is allowed only in non-aerosol containers of 3.4 ounces or less.
Will the weather affect getting to and from Lollapalooza?
The rainfall is expected after the majority of attendees will have arrived, with the festival gates opening at 11 a.m., though getting home could be more tedious.
The Chicago Department of Transportation shared on its social media channels that free Divvy valet parking will be available at the Millennium Park station at Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street through Sunday.
The Chicago Transit Authority and Metra have added service and capacity to existing train routes to serve the thousands of fans commuting to the four-day event, according to a Metra statement.
Through Sunday, Metra is running extra trains on seven of its 11 lines and adding railcars for expanded capacity to accommodate the drastic ridership boost.
CTA customers are encouraged to use the Red and Blue lines, and elevated lines in the Loop, to get to and from the festival.
Yellow Line service will be extended until 1 a.m. each night, and multiple bus routes will connect to Metra trains at Chicago Union Station or Ogilvie Transportation Center with Grant Park.
“CTA is prepared for all anticipated weather conditions, and CTA operations and maintenance personnel are deployed across the system throughout the day and through post-event to monitor conditions and minimize any weather-related impacts should they arise,” a CTA spokesperson said in a statement.
Buses serving those routes will also have signs in their windows indicating they serve Lollapalooza, according to Metra.
Customers should keep an eye out for planned bus reroutes in the area due to festival-related street closures, CTA said.
The transit authority urged customers to visit CTA’s Lollapalooza travel page for festival-specific travel information.
“Over the past two decades, public transportation has been the most affordable and convenient way to travel to Lollapalooza,” said Metra CEO Jim Derwinski in a statement. “Metra and CTA are again working together to make the trip as easy as possible with added service as well as Day and Weekend Passes that make public transit the easiest choice to get to the festival.”
Has this happened before?
Yes, rain has fallen on festivalgoers multiple times, sometimes leading to evacuations.
In 2017, Lollapalooza organizers evacuated Grant Park around 9 p.m. on Day 1 of the music festival due to storms as Lorde and Muse were performing their headlining sets.
The music festival was temporarily suspended in 2012, with thousands of fans evacuated to shelters on a Saturday as the city faced storms with high winds. The festival was closed for about three hours.