Grant Park was flooded with thousands of people this summer who came for four days of live music, food, and activities to Lollapalooza, held from July 30 to Aug. 2. Crowds gathered at each of the various stages, waiting for the performances to start.
For many people, attending Lollapalooza was an opportunity to see many popular artists while also experiencing one of the biggest music festivals of our time with the attendance of almost half a million people, according to NBC 5 Chicago News. The concert featured over 100 artists and two major headliners per day over the span of the event. Between the diverse performances, interactive brand pop ups, and popular local Chicago food vendors, the festival had something special to offer for everyone, junior Caline Harabetian said.
“Everyone was just very nice and no one was really on their phones much,” Harabetian said. “It was just you talking to people, and then when the artist was on, you watch your artist.”
As more people arrived throughout the day, traveling between stages became more difficult as your vision was obstructed by an growing sea of people, especially before popular performances, Harabetian said. Navigating the crowds could be a struggle for many, but for attendees who had VIP access like sophomore Gracie Rebolledo, finding a good place to watch the performances was not difficult.
“I think VIP is worth it if you’re able to afford it,” Rebolledo said. “You can get a good spot in VIP, regardless of the time that you show up.”
Another reason Rebolledo’s VIP tickets were worthwhile that they also offered perks like specialized food areas, allowing those with VIP tickets to completely bypass crowds, she said.
With eight stages running constantly with different performers, it became increasingly hard to see everyone you wanted to, sophomore Mia Transue said.
“For Sienna Spiro, it was really hard to get through and the stage she was performing at was crowded,” Transue said. “For Olivia Dean, we came right when she was closing so while people were leaving, we were coming in and it was crazy. ”
Along the way to different sets, attendees could engage with different artists and music they might not typically listen to, junior Danielle Joo said. Individuals from all over the world came together to see the artists they all enjoy, making crowds lively and memorable, Joo said.
“The overall environment is extremely chaotic and extremely packed,” Joo said. “There’s like a strong sense of excitement throughout the festival.”
