Lollapalooza-goers come prepared, but rain misses first day of Chicago music festival
CHICAGO (CBS) – A storm threat cast some worry on the first night of Lollapalooza Thursday, but Mother Nature let the show go on without much bark or bite from the skies.
The skies were cloudy over Grant Park Thursday evening, and there was concern that storms might be coming to the area—prompting Lollapalooza to send its fans a warning about "weather in the area," and prompting some to cut out early.
"It looks like it's going to rain. I looked at the forecast a few days ago and I saw rain, and it seems like it just got pushed back and pushed back," said festivalgoer Elyse Brown. "But it's getting gray. It's time to leave."
Rain indeed began moving into the Chicago area just before 10 p.m. But with no thunder or lightning in the area, artists continued to hit the stage through the evening.
"Once I think the lightning and thunder starts, I think they, you know, have an obligation to the people to get them to safety—like they did a couple of years ago when they had to go underground at Grant Park and stuff like that," said Steve Buzil of Sit Close Tickets.
In 2015 and 2017, Lollapalooza saw storms lead to evacuations and infamously muddy conditions. The music stopped as fans ran for cover.
Video boards flashed signs asking fans to evacuate—and where.
It rained on the third day of Lollapalooza last year too. The heavy rain and strong winds had festivalgoers scattering to find ponchos and dry ground.
In late May, the second day of the Sueños Music Festival in Grant Park was concerts were delayed and ultimately cut short due to severe weather. Just weeks ago, rain also delayed the Windy City Smokeout—sending fans to a nearby parking garage.
Buzil said bad weather impacts everyone.
"It's bad for everybody," he said. "It's bad for the artists. It's bad for the people that paid the good money to go see this."
CBS News Chicago talked to some of those who paid good money—to see if they were prepared.
"You just wear old shoes, ponchos—and you just have fun and enjoy it, and embrace it all," said Kindal Carney. "We can't help what God makes, so you just go with it and go on."
Others were more focused on their outfits than anything else—particularly the Chappell Roan fans who were dressed in rosy cowboy attire, a nod to their Midwest princess in her song "Pink Pony Club." But incorporated into the outfits were some tucked-away ponchos and some fans for the humid heat.
"We have ponchos," said Devan Weinstein, a festival attendee from Wilmette. "They are neon green, so it might cancel out the pink a little bit, but like we're prepared to be in the rain."
Avery Hewitt, who traveled from Alberta, Canada, said they didn't know umbrellas weren't allowed inside the festival, so a poncho would have to do.
"You've got to do what you've got to do," Hewitt said. "I don't mind rain. Rain is rain. It's just water."
Some were even excited about the idea of rain.
"I mean, I am down for a rain show. Like, we can play in it!" said Margaret Nicholes, who traveled from Indiana.
