Lollapalooza street closures begin in downtown Chicago ahead of music fest

CHICAGO - Lollapalooza, the biggest annual music festival in Chicago, is just around the corner, which means that street closures are already going into effect as crews prepare the downtown area for thousands of visitors.

Most of the major street closures will go into effect just days before the actual festival, which will be held from Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 3.

Street closures

What we know:

Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive is already closed through Aug. 10.

Jackson Drive from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be closed starting on Tuesday, July 22, through Aug. 9.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 04: A general view of the atmosphere during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 04, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic)

The remaining street closures will begin next week, including:

Balbo Drive, from Michigan to Columbus, July 28 through Aug. 4
Jackson Drive, from Michigan to Columbus, July 28 through August 4
Columbus Drive, from Monroe to Roosevelt, July 28 through August 4
Columbus Drive (Northbound, two center lanes), from 13th Street to Roosevelt, July 28 through August 4
Congress Plaza Dr, from Michigan to Columbus, July 28 through August 4
Monroe Street, from Michigan to DuSable Lake Shore Drive, July 30 through August 4

The tennis and pickleball courts will also close after 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 27 through Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 6 a.m. Until then, visitors must access from 11th Street bridge walking north along the west sidewalk of Columbus Drive.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 4: General atmosphere during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 4, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The courts are not accessible via Balbo from the north as the sidewalks between Balbo and 9th Street yard are closed.

The Grant Bark Park is also closed through Saturday, Aug. 9.

Here is a full list of sidewalk closures during setup:

Michigan, from Jackson to 11th St. Bridge: July 29 – August 3
Balbo (both sides, from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 16 – August 10
Columbus (Northbound side), from Roosevelt to Ida B Wells: July 16 – August 8
Columbus (Southbound side), from 9th St. Yard to S. Ida B. Wells: July 21 – August 9
Jackson (both sides), from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 21 – August 9
DuSable Lake Shore Drive (Northbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 23
Monroe (Eastbound side), from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: July 19th and July 21 – August 9
DuSable Lake Shore Drive (Southbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 26 – August 9
Balbo (both sides), from Michigan to Columbus: July 28 – August 4
Jackson (both sides), from Michigan to Columbus: July 28 – August 4
Congress Plaza Dr, from Michigan to Columbus: July 28 – August 4
Congress Plaza Dr. (Westbound & Eastbound side), from Michigan to Columbus: July 26 – July 27
Columbus (both sides), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 28 – August 5
DuSable Lake Shore Drive (Northbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: August 5