Final preps and security checks on eve of Lollapalooza's 25th anniversary
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Starting Thursday thousands of fans and more than 100 musicians will descend upon Grant Park as Lollapalooza puts on its 25th anniversary music festival.
The four-day festival kicks off at 11 a.m. Thursday.
"It's incredible. It's absolutely incredible. I'm really looking forward to it," says Masha Kuznetsova.
It's a mad dash to get every last detail set up in Grant Park, from the tents to the gift shop and, of course, completing the build of all eight stages where over 170 bands will play.
"We both just recently graduated high school so were think that it would be a great way to go out with a bang," said Cassidy Marotta.
Approximately 100,000 people are expect to attend on each of the music festival's four days. One family came in from France just for the concerts.
"I'm a big fan of Perry Farrell and wanted to see Jane's Addiction in Chicago," said Eric Jeanne.
Cognizant of health and safety issues that have arisen in years past, organizers are now giving concertgoers the ability to add emergency contact info to their wristbands. They're also expanding the list of things not allowed into the park, including selfie sticks.
"We'll have our security checkpoints prior to entering the festival. This year, in addition to bag check, we'll be doing pat checks and random magnetic wanding to make sure nothing is being brought into the park that shouldn't," said Brook Neal, Lollapalooza.
Click here for the full list of items prohibited at Lollapalooza 2016.
"The safety of the folks who come to this event is our number one priority. We want them to be safe, we want them to have fun while they're out there doing it," said Alicia Tate-Nadeau, OEMC director.
Safety is top of mind after worldwide incidents, including an attack in Germany where a bomber turned away from a music festival killed himself and injured 15 others and the truck driver who plowed through a celebration in Nice, France, killing 84 people. Lollapalooza organizers have taken that to heart.
The Lollapalooza security plan is updated every year. Chicago police, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, the FBI and Monterrey Security were all involved and want the public to be too.
"Be aware, see something, say something is what we stress, not only to all of our staff, as well as all our patrons and guests," said Michael Boyle, director of event services for Monterrey Security.
Some attendees are worried, but others are not.
"It makes you a little worried," said Chris Ruffino, who is in from Detroit.
"It's somewhat of a concern but I'm good with it. It's all good. We got plenty of cops out here," said Montrel Smalls, who came in from South Carolina.
All four days of the festival are sold out and organizers strongly caution against purchasing a ticket or wristband from a third-party source.
