Lollapalooza festival in full swing

Lollapalooza, the Windy City's popular four-day musical festival, kicked off Thursday in downtown Chicago. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pass through Grant Park over the next few days to get their fill of music, food, fun and entertainment.

Fans signaled their excitement on opening day by lining up hours early, eager to see headliner and heavy metal icon Metallica. The rock legends delivered a high-energy performance that included many of their greatest hits, which managed to please dedicated fans and newbies alike. The crowd participated energetically, strumming air guitars and headbanging along to the set as a show of appreciation.

Just like in past years, fashion made big statements on the first day of the event. Festival goers wanted to be seen on the scene, so bright neon colors stood out as the hot hue of the season.Clothing and hair represented a rainbow of colors, and fishnets, mesh tops, and even electrical tape were among the top choices for coverups. Fans sported jerseys representing local or favorite teams and some wore tennis skirts as a comfortable alternative to shorts. A sparkle of choice completed the look, including sequins, glitter and body paint, the brighter the better.

Though masking and covid vaccines were not a requirement this year, the city still emphasized safety and security as top priorities. City officials warned attendees to be cautious, stay vigilant and keep a close eye on personal belongings.

The Lollapalooza Festival runs until July 31 with gates opening daily at 11 a.m. and closing at p.m. Upcoming headliners include Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, J. Cole, Kygo, Greeday and J-Hope, with plenty of other talented artists taking the stages. Tickets are still available at www.lollapalooza.com or stream the festival live on Hulu.