‘Foggy’ however enjoyable Lollapalooza wraps up after 4 days at Grant Park

Despite a lingering haze and poor air high quality from Canadian wildfire smoke, Lollapalooza’s twenty first 12 months in Grant Park went off kind of with out a hitch, at the least in keeping with many followers who braved the circumstances and crowds to listen to a few of pop music’s greatest stars.

As chart toppers began to take the stage on the primary day of the fest, Chicago topped the record for the worst air high quality on the planet for a number of hours, and the air remained unhealthy or average in the course of the pageant that routinely brings lots of of hundreds of followers to Grant Park.

“It was just kind of foggy,” mentioned 22-year-old Kristen Axtman, who attended the pageant Friday and Saturday with pal Naomi Kurzweg of Pittsburgh. “Honestly, I didn’t mind. I just knew it’s bad for your health. But I wasn’t upset, it wasn’t too noticeable. I already had it in my mind that the festival was dusty.”

Both mentioned they had been apprehensive in regards to the air high quality placing a damper on their time on the pageant, however they mentioned the haze didn’t get in the best way of their having enjoyable they usually appreciated the gentle climate, with temperatures within the mid- to higher 70s over the weekend.

“It’s been a blast,” mentioned Rob Gruen, 28, of Covington, Kentucky, who additionally attended in 2023. “The weather was perfect this year. It was pretty dang hot [in 2023] compared to this. My girlfriend has [a heart condition], so the heat is a big factor for her, whether or not she can go out. So the weather just happened to work this year, and she was able to do it.”

Gruen mentioned they didn’t have any bother navigating the poor air high quality: “I just assume whenever I go to a big city like this, it’s probably going to be more pollution than I’m used to.”

His solely criticism was the lengthy strains for artist merchandise.

“It’s crazy to be in a line that long,” Gruen mentioned. “It was like an hour and 45 minutes. It was absurd.”

Axtman and Kurzweg mentioned they loved hopping across the phases to see artists like Marina and Olivia Rodrigo, who introduced out shock visitor Weezer throughout her set.

They each mentioned the vitality of the crowds gave the impression to be higher at performances on the bigger phases, just like the T-Mobile stage.

Last 12 months, Chappell Roan’s debut packed the T-Mobile stage after she switched to it from one other as she exploded onto the airwaves. Fans could possibly be seen from the fencing on the east aspect of the T-Mobile stage all the best way west to Columbus Drive and as far north because the IHG Hotels & Resorts Stage for Chappell Roan’s debut efficiency on the famed fest.

This 12 months it was Doechii‘s time to shine on the most popular stage, drawing a comparable crowd during her classroom stage-set performance after she released several major hits this year.

“Sometimes it doesn’t matter how shut you might be to the artist, nevertheless it issues who the gang is round you,” Kurzweg, 22, mentioned.

Though some nonetheless need to get nearer, and obtained their probability at aftershows.

After their enjoyable on the pageant on Friday, Kurzweg and Axtman attended an official Lollapalooza aftershow on the Salt Shed. They noticed Cage the Elephant — a efficiency that was the spotlight of their weekend, Axtman mentioned.

“I honestly just thought it was special to see all the artists,” Axtman mentioned. “The afterparty still has the energy of Lollapalooza, but it’s just more intimate.”

Gabrielle Boyer-Baker, a social media influencer who has attended the pageant for years, was invited to the pageant by Hollister.

“This year is packed, but the weather is nicer,” mentioned Boyer-Baker, 21, a Lake View East resident. “The lineup is great. It is every single person that has gone on tour.”