Lollapalooza 2023: Festival resumes in Grant Park for day 2

See full list of allowed, prohibited items at Lolla

Jessica D'Onofrio Image
Friday, August 4, 2023
Lollapalooza day 2 gets underway in Grant Park
Festival-goers are back in Grant Park for Lollapalooza.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- It's day two of Lollapalooza and music fans are back for more.

Dan Ables from Wheaton got there early to be one of the first through the gates.

"I've been coming to Lolla since 2019," Ables said. "My first was for Ariana Grande. ever since then I've been trying to get rail for these headliners and it's always been a really cool experience and I'm here for Kendrick Lamar today."

Lollapalooza fans rush in after gates open

Lollapalooza fans rush through Grant Park after gates opened for the music festival.

Kendrick Lamar is the big headliner Friday night, his loyal fans are hoping to get as close to the stage as possible.

"You know I feel like his lyrics are pretty clever," festival-goer Manuel Rocha said. "He's one of those artists that tries to make a difference and tries to say something."

What you need to know about street closures, public transportation in Chicago for Lollapalooza

The four-day festival drawing out hundreds of thousands of people to the city.

When the gates opened Thursday morning and excited fans sprinted inside.

Meanwhile Thursday night, Mayor Brandon Johnson was on stage introducing Billie Eilish.

"It's the greatest festival in the greatest freaking city in the world, Chicago make some noise for Billie Eilish," Mayor Johnson said.

Other big acts on stages Friday night include Jesse Reyes and Thirty Seconds to Mars.

The annual music festival originally started as a touring event back in 1991, but several years later Grant Park became it's permanent location.

Lake Villa's Ax and the Hatchetmen set to take Lollapalooza stage Thursday

Chris Menard has been coming to Lolla since the beginning. He said he's seen lots of changes over the years.

"It was either one or two days, so I think it was only one day and then it became two days and then three days and then four days, but I have adapted my body to stay here all day and not have to go to the bathroom," Menard said.

Allowed items include:

-Clear bags made up of clear plastic, vinyl, or pvc, and no larger than 12" x 6" x 12".

-Baby Strollers

-Binoculars

-Cameras (basic point and shoot consumer-grade cameras) without detachable lenses and other accessories (monopods, selfie sticks, tripods, GoPro mounts, and other attachments are not allowed)

-Empty reusable water bottles and hydration packs, and plastic or aluminum water bottles

-Sunscreen in non-aerosol containers is allowed in the size of 3.4 ounces or less

-Factory sealed Naloxone/Narcan kit

-All bags will be searched before entry.

-Small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6" x 9" or smaller do not need to be clear, but can have no more than one pocket.

-All other bags larger than 6" x 9" must be smaller than 12" x 6" x 12" and clear.

-Hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear, but must be emptied of all liquid and have no more than two pockets in addition to the one holding the water reservoir.

Prohibited items include

-Blankets, sheets, towels

-Frisbees

-Coolers of any kind, except for medical use

Framed backpacks,

Professional audio recording and video equipment

Drones

-Hammocks

Glass containers

-Illegal and illicit substances

-Outside food or beverage (including alcohol) of any kind

-Umbrellas

-Pets (except service animals)

-Selfie sticks

-Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, wagons, carts or any personal motorized vehicles

-Tents, canopies, or shade structures of any kind

-Totems or flag poles.

-Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors are not allowed. No unauthorized solicitation and materials including handbills, flyers, stickers, beach balls, giveaways, samples, etc.

-Weapons or explosives of any kind

-Fireworks

-Large chains or spiked jewelry

-Bicycles inside festival grounds (free parking is available near festival entrance)

-Carts of any kind (including Red Wagons)

-Chairs of any kind

-All Chicago parks prohibit smoking of any kind, including vaping.

Prescription Medicine Requirements:

-Anyone needing prescription medicine at the festival must present the pharmacy-labeled container which states the prescription, dosage, and patient name to our medical staff at each entrance gate. Patrons are only allowed a sufficient supply of the prescribed medication for that day.

-Medicines needing to be inhaled or smoked are prohibited unless in a prescribed inhaler.

-Over the counter medications are allowed in a sufficient supply for the day. Bottle contents will be verified by medical personnel at the entry gates.