Lollapalooza is a 4-day-long music festival held in Chicago offering the biggest and best in indie, punk, metal, hip hop, and electronica acts. Though it began as a touring festival, today it's a once-a-year happening, with franchise versions held in other countries. If you're a fan of independent rock, hip hop, or dance music, this is a festival that's not to be missed.

Lollapalooza includes dozens of live acts over its long weekend schedule, from barely known up-and-comers to international performers like Ariana Grande and Kanye West. It's come a long way from its independent roots and is amongst the biggest music festivals in the world.

Lollapalooza in Chicago - one of the highlights of 14 Best Music Festivals in the USA (Read all about Chicago here)

photo by swimfinfan (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

Highlights of Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza was founded in 1991, and for its first few years it was a touring festival that travelled all over the world. It originally debuted as a farewell tour for the band Jane's Addiction and ran strong through the 90s, but was cancelled when alt-rock began to decline in popularity, only to be reborn as a once-per-year festival in Chicago starting in 2006, where it has remained ever since.

Lollapalooza has hosted such notable performers as Outkast, Jane's Addiction, the Jim Rose Circus sideshow, Nirvana, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and many others. 

Good to know about Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza is wild and fun, and is notable for its sideshow and non-musical entertainment events as much for the artists who perform. The organisers make every attempt to make the festival as disability-friendly as possible, but the outdoor park venue can sometimes make this tricky. Contact the venue for any disability accommodation you need. 

Whether or not it's kid-friendly is left to parents to decide, but it includes many more adult-themed entertainments and behaviours than a typical concert, though the associated Kidzapalooza spin-off offers a space where children will be quite at home.

photo by swimfinfan (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

Lollapalooza in Chicago

Location: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, USA

Phone: +1 888-512-7469