Lollapalooza day 3 opens late with modified schedule due to rain
Lollapalooza day three finally opened late at 3 p.m. Saturday, but with a modified schedule, due to heavy rain in the Chicago area.
The music festival shared the updated schedule with festival attendees.
Many festivalgoers remained eager to see their favorite artists despite the weather.
Festival officials postponed the day's opening because of rain and the risk of flooding at Grant Park. Saturday night's scheduled headliners include Olivia Dean and JENNIE.
Among those waiting were first-time attendee Janila Garrett and her friend, Nevaeh Ray, who said the delay would not dampen their enthusiasm.
"We're ready! We got it here. We're ready!" Ray and Garrett said.
Fans lined up hours before gates were originally scheduled to open at 11 a.m.
"It's a lot of rain, but I really wanna see the artists that I came here for so it's worth it for me as long as I get to see them," said festivalgoer Dayanara Hernandez.
Joe Moran, a McHenry County resident attending with his girlfriend, said arriving early was worth the effort.
"To get in the front of the line or somewhere upfront is worth it," Moran said.
The weather has affected festival operations throughout the weekend. On Friday, attendees came prepared with rain gear while watching performances by the Smashing Pumpkins and Charlie XCX. Zara Larsson's show was delayed, and another performance was canceled. Heavy overnight downpours left several inches of rain in Grant Park, creating muddy conditions in some areas.
"It wasn't that bad. I think for a while they did have some plastic on the ground right at the T-Mobile stage the closer you got, the less muddy was by the stage," said Peyton Reed, a 17-year-old attending the festival for the fourth year.
Reed traveled from Louisville, Kentucky, with her father, J.R. Reed.
"As a dad, you wanna spend especially getting to the age she is now pretty soon. She won't wanna be around so I wanna make the most of this opportunity," J.R. Reed said.
City officials said the Office of Emergency Management and Communications is working closely with police, fire officials, festival producers and other partners to help ensure public safety amid the forecast. Officials are urging attendees and performers to follow any warnings should severe weather move into the area.
For some visitors, the experience remains worth the inconvenience.
"I feel like it's an amazing experience to see the artist performing live, and it's like once in a lifetime," said Ava Salazar, who traveled from Phoenix with her sister.
The delay affected Saturday's lineup, although most artists appeared set to perform. Set times and transitions between performances appeared shorter than originally scheduled.
Officials also said that if severe weather requires an evacuation, emergency shelter sites are available nearby at the Grant Park and Millennium Lakeside garages. City officials encouraged attendees to monitor weather updates throughout the day.
