DOWNTOWN — Every day at Lollapalooza begins with a festival tradition: the running of the superfans.
Hours before the festival doors officially open at 11 a.m., many dedicated fans begin to line up at the two main public entrances. Security braces for the growing crowds before opening the gates to let in hundreds of fans who then sprint across Grant Park to secure a coveted barricade spot at their stage of choice.
Many are claiming spots for headliners who won’t take the stage until 8:45 p.m., but festivalgoers don’t seem to mind waiting upwards of nine hours if it means securing front-row status.
On the last day of Lollapalooza Sunday, hundreds waited eagerly along the gate at Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive before launching into a mad sprint to the T-Mobile stage. That proved a little trickier Sunday, with the ground still muddy and wet from yesterday’s torrential downpours as festival crews continued to lay mulch and woodchips.
“It’s so muddy. Don’t slip,” one festivalgoer warned other sprinters as they made their way down a slope leading into the main stage on the southern end of Grant Park.
Most sprinting the half-mile to the T-Mobile stage told Block Club they were dashing to see headliner Tate McRae, the Canadian singer known for her intricate dance breaks and pop hits who will be performing at the T-Mobile stage tonight. Many were sporting McRae’s merch which resembles hockey jerseys, with others opting to represent the Chicago Blackhawks, combining Windy City pride with McRae’s signature sporty-chic look.
Other runners paused mid-sprint to tell Block Club that they were running to Adéla, the Slovak singer known for her hyperpop sound and song “Ain’t In LA”.
Festival goers dash through muddy grace to get a front row spot at the T-Mobile stage. Credit: Anastasia Busby for Block Club Chicago
“I don’t know!” screamed one fan when asked where he was sprinting to — seeming more delighted to take part in the growing tradition of the barricade run rather than securing a good spot.
Others opted for a fast walk rather than a full-on sprint, with one festivalgoer telling Block Club that her boyfriend was the one tasked with running to secure a prime spot at the Bud Light stage — where British indie rock band the XX will be headlining at 8:45 p.m.
The barricade runners were seen everyday of the festival, with others dashing to get a front row spot at headliners like Charli XCX and K-pop stars Cortis.
Barricade position is harder to come by since Lollapalooza in 2023 added VIP viewing sections to grounds near the stage that used to be open to the general public.
