Chicago Transforms into Lollapaloozaland 2017

Image from Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza. It is as crazy as it sounds. There are over 100,000 people each day that flock to Grant Park in downtown Chicago to experience the infamous music festival. There are eight different stages (even a stage for kids!) with over 170 artists strategically placed throughout the 319 acres that is Grant Park. In addition to all the stages there are over thirty different types of food and drink stands set up along the street. Lolla doesn't have a specific stereotype like other festivals because the music is so diverse along with it being a family friendly environment.

The experience starts for the suburban teens with a walk from the train station after an hour train ride before ten o'clock in the morning; and we all know that is dedication being awake before noon during the summertime. For the lucky ones with apartments or hotels in the city, their mornings start with a walk or an Uber ride to one of the two gates available for entry. The security isn't anything insane, just checking bags and a quick metal and wristband scanner. Then all the festival goers are home free. As you walk down the main street, there are enormous signs, posters, decorations and backdrops for some quirky picture opportunities. All the bright lights and colors make you feel like you're walking through this gated wonderland surrounded by skyscrapers and Lake
Michigan.

Now discussing the most important part, the artists. There were many diverse headliners this past year which brought a lot of different crowds to Lolla. These headliners included: Chance the Rapper, The Killers, Muse, Arcade Fire, The XX, Lorde, Blink-182, DJ Snake, Alt-J, Cage the Elephant, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Foster the people, and those aren't even all of them!

Image from Red bull

In order to make most people happy, Lolla is designed to have the same types of artists from the same genres on the same set of stages. So someone that is into alternative rock will most likely be spending most of their day at Bud light or Pepsi (farthest stages up). Whereas if you are into Rap or EDM music you will be spending a lot of your day at Perry's or Grant Park (bottom stages), of course in exception to a few artists that are dispersed.

All day, every minute of the day, there are artists playing on any of the stages; so it is entirely up to you and your preferences where you want to start! Then by the end of the day the festival winds down to about four to five stages that host the big headliners until 10 pm when the park closes.

The outfits, oh the outfits are my favorite part, behind the music of course! Many fashion forward people plan very far ahead of time what their outfits will look like. Four days equal four entirely different outfits, so people get very creative. They incorporate never before seen accessories along with body pant, glitter, jewels and some crazy creative hairstyles and makeup. Check out Timeout's best Lolla fashion for a few of the coolest found outfits throughout the festival.

I can easily say that Lolla is the best four days of my summer. It is something my friends and I look forward to all year long. Between planning our outfits and organizing our schedules, the preparation for this music festival is unlike any other. A few of my personal favorite performers from this past year were DJ Snake, 21 Savage, Glass Animals and Lil Yachty.

I included a picture of the henna that my friend and I had drawn on our legs as our own creative personal touches.

Festival Tip: Bring a camelback for your own, what seems like, unlimited water supply.