Lollapalooza Chicago — also regularly called Lolla — is one of the most popular music festivals in the city. It’s four days of headliners performing chart-topping tunes, both new and a little nostalgic (hello, Metallica). There’s also a huge selection of food available right on the festival grounds, so you never need to leave Lolla except to sleep. Though you’d be remiss not to check out the rest of Chicago. Here’s what Lollapalooza attendees need to know for this year.
Photo: Page Light Studios/Shutterstock and Photo: Ted Alexander Somerville/Shutterstock
Lollapalooza: Everything You Need to Know for the Perfect Festival Weekend
When is Lollapalooza 2022?
This year, the festival runs for four days: Thursday, July 28, through Sunday, July 31. You’ll be able to catch some live music on nine different stages.
Where exactly is Lollapalooza in Chicago?
Lollapalooza will spread out through Grant Park in downtown Chicago, right on the lakefront. The exact address of the park is 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, US, but there are 319 acres to explore.
Does Lollapalooza take place in Chicago every year?
Photo: Stefan Holm/Shutterstock
When Lollapalooza first started in 1991, it was a touring show that went to 20 cities across the United States and Canada. As of 2005, the main festival is now held in Chicago every summer in Grant Park. If you can’t make it to the Windy City, though, you’re not out of luck — Lollapalooza has a festival in six other locations throughout the world:
- Berlin, Germany
- São Paulo, Brazil
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Santiago, Chile
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Paris, France
What is the Lollapalooza 2022 line-up?
About 70 performers will take over Lollapalooza’s stages throughout the weekend. Headliners include Metallica, Lil Baby, Jazmine Sullivan, Billy Strings, and Zhu on Thursday; Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, Glass Animals, Don Toliver, and Rezz on Friday; J. Cole, Kygo, Big Sean, Kaskade, Idles, Turnstile, and Wallows on Saturday; and Green Day, J-Hope, Porno for Pyros, The Kid Laroi, and Charli XCX on Sunday.
Don’t miss all the Aftershows as well, where you can keep the party going with live music at venues around the city like Reggies (2105 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616, US), Thalia Hall (1807 S Allport St, Chicago, IL 60608, US), The Empty Bottle (1035 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, US), and more.
Are tickets to Lollapalooza 2022 still available?
Single-day and four-day general admission, general admission plus, and VIP tickets are still available. All platinum tickets are sold out. Two- and three-day general admission bundles are still available, as are four-day destination experience hotel packages. All cabana tickets are sold out.
How much are tickets to Lollapalooza 2022?
Lollapalooza tickets range based on how many days you want to attend and which level ticket you get. Of the ones that are still available, these are the prices:
- One-Day General Admission: $125
- One-Day GA+: $225
- One-Day VIP: $500
- Two-Day General Admission Ticket Bundle: $220
- Three-Day General Admission Ticket Bundle: $330
- Four-Day General Admission: $350
- Four-Day GA+: $700
- Four-Day VIP: $1,600
- Four-Day Destination Experience Hotel Packages: Starts at $1,549.50 per person
Where to stay in Chicago close to Lollapalooza?
We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Finding a place to stay near Lollapalooza can be a bit difficult if you’re hoping to stay downtown. These spots, though, are all close by (generally about a 30-minute walk) — and have availability for all the festival dates.
- ACME Hotel: ACME regularly makes top-ten lists of the best hotels in the world, stuffed full of hip design and amenities like free morning coffee delivery to your room.
Address: 15 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611, US
Price: From $184/night. - Freehand: A mixture of shared and private rooms full of kitschy glamor and fun design, plus a bar with James-Beard-nominated owners.
Address: 19 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611, US
Price: Private rooms from $159/night, shared rooms from $35/night. - Selina Chicago: This is more than just a hotel — it pairs accommodations with coworking spaces, guided tours, and a membership that allows you to live at the properties around the world.
Address: 100 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611, US
Price: From $61/night. - Chicago Parthenon Hostel: A hostel that offers private and shared rooms within walking distance to most major downtown attractions.
Address: 310 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661, US
Price: From $36/night. - FOUND Chicago: FOUND is part hotel, part hostel, offering private rooms and bunk bed rooms for families and shared rooms for budget travelers.
Address: 613 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654, US
Price: From $50/night. - South Loop Apartment Airbnb: This two-bedroom entire-apartment rental has all the perks you need: wifi, free parking, air conditioning, and easy access to public transportation.
Price: $299/night. - Downtown Centrally Located Apartment Airbnb: A modern one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with views of the Chicago skyline through ample windows.
Price: $213/night.
Is there a bus to Lollapalooza Chicago?
If you’re already in Chicago, you can take public transportation buses to get to Lollapalooza. Lines with routes that stop within walking distance include #J14, #20, #56, #130, and #126. If you’re further out in the suburbs, check out Rally, a bus rideshare community. There are already 18 pick-up locations outside the city.
Where to eat close to Lollapalooza?
You don’t have to leave the festival to get some grub. Lolla has four different Chow Towns along Columbus Drive where you can get food from 44 different restaurants. That’s in addition to the food options sprinkled throughout the grounds. Make sure to try Chicago favorites like Harold’s Chicken, Lou Malnati’s, Billy Goat, and The Original Rainbow Cone.
If you want to get away from the grounds for a bit or have a meal after the shows, plenty of options are a quick walk away — and many of them have Lollapalooza specials. Check these out:
- Burrito Beach for burritos, burrito bowls, and free guac with your Lolla wristband.
Address: 200 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611, US - Beatrix for somewhat healthy American food, and a free cookie with your wristband.
Address: 834 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, US - The Dearborn for decadent brunches.
Address: 145 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602, US - Devil Dawgs for classic Chicago-style hotdogs.
Address: 767 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605, US - Stan’s Donuts for donuts.
Address: 535 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, US - Exchequer Pub for pizza, ribs, and a historic Chicago vibe.
Address: 226 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60604, US - Pie in the Sky for an after-hours dinner on Willis Tower’s 103rd-floor Observation Deck.
Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, US
And don’t forget that all the neighborhoods and their great restaurant options are just a train ride away. Here’s a non-exhaustive list:
- Mother’s Ruin serves food until 1:30 AM.
Address: 2943 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 US - Little Bad Wolf is a gastropub with a great burger.
Address: 1541 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, US - HaiSous fills plates with delicious family-recipe Vietnamese food.
Address: 1800 S Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60608, US - Weiner’s Circle is an iconic late-night local favorite (ask for the chocolate shake, you won’t regret it.)
Address: 2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, US - Tour the Chicago Cultural Center and see the world’s largest Tiffany glass dome.
Address: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, US - Explore a new neighborhood with a free Chicago Greeter tour.
- Take a morning outdoor gym class in Millennium Park — on July 30, you can take tai chi, yoga, pilates, and zumba.
Address: 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, US - Walk along the Lakefront Trail for the best views of Lake Michigan.
- See 1,200 animals at the free Lincoln Park Zoo.
Address: 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, US - Head down to the river and stroll along the Riverwalk.
- Check out the Harold Washington Library Center, one of the largest public libraries in the world.
Address: 400 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605, US - Embrace Pilsen’s hispanic culture at the National Museum of Mexican Art.
Address: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608, US - Join the tourist crush at Navy Pier.
Address: 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, US - Take a self-guided mural tour along 16th Street from the river to Western Avenue.
- Visit the South Side Community Art Center, the oldest Black arts center in the US.
Address: 3831 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653, US - Tour the Graceland Cemetery, which is the burying place of many famous Chicagoans and is a certified arboretum.
Address: 4001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613, US - Kokorokoko specializes in the all-too-fashionable styles from the 1980s and 1990s.
Address: 323 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, US - Buffalo Exchange has a mix of designer and vintage clothing, all personally picked out by the staff.
Address: 1478 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, US - Brown Elephant is the spot for a mass amount of vintage threads, and so is Knee Deep Vintage.
Addresses: 5404 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640, US and 1219 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608, US - Ragstock is a local favorite as well, especially if you love to browse hundreds of t-shirts.
Address: 812 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, US - Ascend River North
Address: 216 W Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60654, US - Nature’s Care
Address: 810 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607, US - Zen Leaf
Address: 222 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661, US - Verilife
Address: 60 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654, US
What are the best free things to do in Chicago during the Lollapalooza weekend?
Photo: Navy Pier. f11photo/Shutterstock
Those Lollapalooza tickets are expensive. So don’t do any more damage to your wallet with touristy activities that cost a bundle. Instead, stick to the free stuff — they’re plentiful around the Grant Park area and throughout the city.
What are the best thrift stores in Chicago to find a Lollapalooza outfit?
If you need a last-minute festival outfit, stop by one of the many excellent thrift stores and vintage boutiques in the city.
Where can I find cannabis in Chicago?
Photo: RISE
Cannabis is available at dispensaries throughout Chicago. The nearest to Grant Park and Lollapalooza are:
If you have a car with you, drive about an hour north of the city to check out RISE Lounge and Smokeasy at 1325 Armour Blvd, in Mundelein, the only cannabis consumption lounge in Chicagoland. Once there, try out the incredibles Windy City chocolate bar (a tribute to Chicago) and RYTHM‘s White Durban flower strain. 