'I've Gone to Lollapalooza for Years and I Had a VIP Wristband for the First Time—Here's My Honest Review' Alani VargasAugust 18, 2025 at 5:10 AM 'I've Gone to Lollapalooza for Years and I Had a VIP Wristband for the First Time—Here's My Honest Review' originally appeared on Parade.
- - 'I've Gone to Lollapalooza for Years and I Had a VIP Wristband for the First Time—Here's My Honest Review'
Alani VargasAugust 18, 2025 at 5:10 AM
'I've Gone to Lollapalooza for Years and I Had a VIP Wristband for the First Time—Here's My Honest Review' originally appeared on Parade.
Growing up in Chicago, Lollapalooza was this mystical event that would happen every year, which I could hear from Lake Shore Drive (LSD) or nearby in the city. It was something I wanted to be a part of since I was a child, and once I was old enough and able to buy my own ticket, I went. That was back in 2017, and I've gone every year since, always with GA. But, as with any big event or concert, VIP is this illustrious thing that may or may not be a goal, but it looks like the best way to experience Lollapalooza. The last two years, I had Media passes to cover the festival, and while that gets you into the Platinum entrance and backstage for the Press Lounge (which has perks in itself), it wasn't too much different than GA. But this year I was able to attend the festival with VIP wristbands, thanks to the brand Liquid I.V., which had an activation there as well. I also got access to the Cabanas for a day, courtesy of American Apparel, which makes the blanks for all of the official Lolla merch. And it was quite a different experience than your regular GA Lollapalooza weekend. But the question stands: Is Lollapalooza VIP worth it? Read on to see our review and whether it's something you should splurge on next summer. Plus, we break down some of the great brand activations we went to. This was truly a great year for experiences at Lolla. Related: Olivia Rodrigo Goes Viral for Full-Circle Moment with Rock Legends
How Much Are Lollapalooza VIP Tickets?
The prices for Lollapalooze aren't on their site anymore, but per FestivalViewer, the 2025 prices for one-day passes are below:
1-day GA (general admission) tickets started at $189
1-day VIP tickets started at $585
And if you want a wristband for all four days, which is what we had? The 2025 prices are below:
4-day GA tickets started at $415
4-day VIP tickets started at $1,670
How To Get a Lolla VIP Ticket
Lollapalooza 2025 took place July 31 to Aug. 3. This year, the lineup dropped on March 18, with the actual day-to-day schedule dropping in May. But tickets went on sale starting March 20, with the presale. And that's the best chance you'll have to buy four-day VIP tickets (or any of the tickets, for that matter) at the lowest price from an official seller. According to a promotional email from Lolla, the first hour was the lowest price four-day VIP tickets were going to cost in general. Four-day tickets—GA, GA+ and VIP—sell out first, with single-day tickets taking a little longer to sell out. A lot of people who don't want to go all weekend wait a bit until the day-by-day lineup is announced, which was March 20, 2025 (the same day that presale started). And just generally, certain days sell out faster than others. But if you want your hands on Lolla VIP wristbands (and want the lowest price), you have to be ready for the moment the tickets go on presale. You can sign up for email updates on their website, where they'll share the official ticket links as well. You can find them on Lollapalooza's official website once they start selling them again for 2026. Related: The One City You Should Visit Before It Gets Overrun by Tourists, According to Experts
What Do You Get With a Lollapalooza VIP Wristband?
Courtesy Alani Vargas
So what's the point of VIP anyway? What are the perks, and what's different than GA or general admission tickets? According to Lollapalooza's support website, a 4-day VIP wristband gets you:
Access to on-field viewing areas (different than Platinum Viewing areas). This is at the North and South Main Stages (the Bud Light and T-Mobile stages).
Unlimited access to two VIP Lounges with "shade, relaxed seating and direct access to on-field viewing."
Air-conditioned bathrooms
Private bar for drinks to purchase at both VIP Lounges
"Dedicated food vendors" with food to purchase in both VIP Lounges
Gold cart transportation between the North and South VIP Lounges
New this year for VIP was a "dedicated entrance into the festival." In 2025, they opened up a special festival entrance at Michigan Ave. and Van Buren Street that was for GA+, VIP and Platinum guests only.
Jumbo screen in the North VIP Lounge.
Complimentary festival hair and glitter services.
Lockers, mobile charging units for rent and a special merch store with Lolla gear.
On-site VIP hospitality staff
Access to all GA amenities
In my experience in 2025, the main perks that were accessible and that we used were the golf carts, the viewing area and the private bar and food stations.
Initial Thoughts on Lolla VIP
Courtesy Alani Vargas
Going into it, I knew that there was still one tier above VIP (Platinum), so I knew we didn't get an open bar or free food, but I was really looking forward to the special viewing area and the golf carts. I was surprised by how quick the special VIP entrance was. Because I had a Media pass the last two years, I was able to use the Platinum and Cabana entrance on the 11th St. Bridge, which was sublime; no one was there at all. So I was nervous hearing that this special entrance was for everyone who had GA+. VIP and Platinum. Quite a few people buy GA+ because of their special lounges. However, every day that we went, we were the only people in our lines and passed through the metal detectors and security with ease. We usually came between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., so it's hard to say if it gets worse throughout the day. But considering the regular entrances were packed at those times, per usual, I really don't think this special entrance would get a long line. As you step into the lounges for the first time, it's pretty cool. There are large fans, and everything is decked out nicely. There are stations to rent a portable charger and sit down out of the sun. Plus, there was a decent variety of food offered from a handful of places. One of the best parts of Lolla is trying food from all the restaurants that are vendors, but this is nice and convenient if that's not your thing, or you just need some quick sustenance. As for drinks, there are liquor vendors with their own booths, and then down by the VIP viewing area on the field, there was another bar cart with the basics (beer, seltzers, water and wine). I won't be lying if I said I wasn't a teeny bit bummed we didn't get at least one or two free drinks, but alas.
Courtesy Alani Vargas
We only went to the VIP viewing area at the T-Mobile main stage because of how things worked out, and that is a major perk. We didn't even need to arrive very early for a headliner like Olivia Rodrigo to get spots where you could see. It was crowded, but since there were still fewer people than there would be at the GA barricade, you could find a place to see well. And lastly, perhaps the most disappointing aspect of VIP is the bathrooms. Do not get me wrong; they are a thousand times better than the porta-potties inside the festival for GA. The lines weren't as long, they were obviously immensely cleaner and they had some level of air conditioning or air flow. However, they are still being used by a lot of people, and I found that the maintenance and cleaning of them didn't keep up with that usage. I went into one at the South VIP Lounge on Sunday around 5:30 p.m. or so and it smelled, well, like a porta-potty. Around the same time, another trailer of bathrooms had three of its five toilets clogged.
Courtesy Alani Vargas
Now, I am maybe slightly a little spoiled when it comes to Lolla bathrooms because the Press Lounge bathrooms were so clean and smelled great the past two years. During those same two years, we've also had access to a special invite-only lounge that also had decently clean restrooms. So maybe I was just convinced they'd be the same level of cleanliness, which I know is hard because the VIP toilets have a lot more traffic than those. So they weren't horrible, and again, worlds away from the public portable toilets. Related: These U.S. Destinations Feel Like Europe—And They're Travel Pro Darley Newman's Favorite Dupes
The Best Part About Having VIP at Lollapalooza Is Getting Across the Grounds Faster
Courtesy Alani Vargas
Okay, but by far the best thing about VIP that was festival-changing (for me and my fiancée) was the golf carts. Having gone to Lollapalooza for years, and knowing about it for way longer, you hear about the golf carts. You see them going by down the main street with supplies or sometimes for medical reasons. But you hear about the backstage golf carts that get the artists where they need to be, and how VIP get to use them to go between the main stages. The length between the two main stages (North–Bud Light and South—T-Mobile), is about a mile, which doesn't seem long. But doing that back and forth in the massive crowds all day is a lot. This year, about 115,000 people attended Lolla each day and you can really feel that as you go through the densest parts on South Columbus Drive or by Buckingham Fountain. I usually like to take the path to the east that goes through a few different groves when I walk north to south, to avoid that main street. The crowd also severely impacts how fast you can get from a stage at the north end of the festival to one at the south, especially later in the day. And when you're trying to see multiple artists in a day, that time matters.
Courtesy Alani Vargas
So again, with all that said, the golf carts were amazing for us. The golf carts only go between the Bud Light stage up north and the T-Mobile stage down south, with their route being a straight line on the eastern-most path that's blocked off from the public and right next to Lake Shore Drive. VIP wait in a line that feels almost like you're getting on a ride at Six Flags with how it weaves; Cabana (and Platinum) wristband holders get a special line to skip to the front. Not only was riding in a golf cart that's zooming right next to LSD a lot of fun, but it also helps conserve energy and is the fastest way to get from the North VIP Lounge to the South VIP Lounge. Unless we wanted to go to Buckingham Fountain or an activation, the majority of the performers we wanted to see were at the main stages or somewhere close by them, so it worked out really well for us.
Courtesy Alani Vargas
One of the biggest drawbacks is that there can be long lines at high-traffic times, like right after a big set or in between two really big sets. And if you're not already in the VIP Lounge to get to the transportation entrance (like if you were at a stage nearby like Tito's, Perry's or The Grove), it can be really tough to push through a massive crowd to get to the lounges (because they're all on the eastern side, and there's a massive field full of people between where you enter and that entrance). But overal,l it was a great experience for what we needed.
What Brand Activations Were at Lolla 2025?
While these aren't all of the brand activations at this year's Lollapalooza, these are some of our favorites that we went to.
Liquid I.V.
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
As mentioned above, Liquid I.V. provided us with the VIP tickets this year so we could enjoy their big activation on-site: The Lab: A Flavor-Fueled Experience.The Lab was a round, blue building that was pumping out music and you could feel the bass from outside. That's because it was their Flavor Rave, which brought "a bold, immersive hydration experience to Lollapalooza." Every day, Liquid I.V.'s Lab had different flavors take over, "transforming the space with matching lights, visuals and beats." In order from Thursday through Sunday, they had: Raspberry Lemonade (TrapSoul + R&B), Green Grape (Funktronica + Electro Funk), White Peach (Lo-fi House + Chill House) and All Flavors (Global Bass + EDM).We went on Sunday and danced to some great Reggaeton remixes, which I loved. It was almost like an ice castle inside, with how cold it was and the blue tint the lighting gave everything. You could grab ready-made samples of all the new Liquid I.V. flavors, take a picture to see what your flavor aura was and they even had Liquid I.V. slushies (which were refreshing and yummy).
Tito's Vodka
View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article
Tito's invited us to their invite-only That's Tito's Lounge, which we will forever be eternally grateful for since it's so nice. But for the public, they had a new experience in 2025: The Tito's Chillmaster5000. As their press release about the experience says,"Beat the heat in our fully insulated walk-in 'fridge' featuring Tito's-centric photo moments and a few cool surprises. At the end of the experience, consumers will take a scratch-off ticket from the Tito's brand ambassador standing behind the bodega counter. The ticket offers a chance to win swag, a wristband to the lounge, and other Tito's-themed surprises. Right outside the Tito's Chillmaster5000, you'll find the infamous claw machine, where you can play for another shot at scoring Tito's swag and daily access to That Tito's Lounge."
American Apparel
Courtesy Alani Vargas
We also mentioned up top that American Apparel invited us into their Craft the Culture Cabana this year on the Sunday of the festival, which was an experience like no other. But in addition to the cabana, we went to their activation: the American Apparel Tee Lab.American Apparel is known for its quality blanks, so the Tee Lab was a way to incorporate their shirts to help create exclusive Lolla merch. Not only did they have giveaways all weekend long, but they also had a live screen-printing station. This is where festival goers could personalize some American Apparel pieces with a Chicago-themed graphic that was designed by local Chicago artist, Sent Rock. He was on-site to meet guests too. Also, because you could only get this design at the lab, you essentially made your own limited edition Lollapalooza merch. Not only that, you were able to "cut it up" at a different station at the activation. They had several different options to choose from, like crop, v-neck, keyhole cut and distressing, and this truly made your creation your own. If they have this activation again next year, it's a must-visit.
So Delicious
View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article
This year, the dairy-free brand, So Delicious, invited us into their activation, The Pint of No Return. It was kind of like stepping into a Twilight Zone intro; you stepped into an "elevator" that jolted a bit before opening up into a topsy-turvy (and ice-cold) room where you could taste different flavors of their So Delicious dairy-free ice cream. "The pop-up will transform everything you thought you knew about dairy-free with a multi-sensory adventure featuring So Delicious treats, a walk-in cooler to beat the Chicago heat, an otherworldly photo moment and surprises around every corner," their press release said. "After stepping outside of this activation, you could go back to dairy, but we have a feeling you won't want to."
BACARDÍ Rum
Another fun 21+-only activation was Casa BACARDÍ, which was a two-floor casita east of Buckingham Fountain. From the top floor, which was blocked off for most guests, we got a lovely view of the festival and the fountain, and on the other side, you could see gorgeous Lake Michigan. Downstairs, for all guests, they had specialty BACARDÍ cocktails featuring Caribbean-inspired flavors that were all exclusive to Lolla. There were lounge areas that were perfect for taking photos in and sets from local Chicago DJs, including DJ JTC and DJ BOLO. They even had a silent disco at one point with BACARDÍ-branded headphones and various music channels. While we didn't get to see the silent disco, the vibes of Casa BACARDÍ were hype and so fun. The music was flowing like the cocktails and the decor was fabulous. Even though there was a long line to get in, if this comes back in 2026, I definitely recommend it if you can. Related: 7 Best Baseball Game Outfits, According to a Celebrity Stylist Who's Helped Style Taylor Swift
Final Thoughts on Being VIP at Lollapalooza—Is It Worth It?
Courtesy Alani Vargas
Before we went, I already had the thought that "Platinum is the new VIP," because of the big differences in perks between the two tiers. There's a reason why the phrase "VIP treatment" exists; you're meant to feel like a "very important person." However, Platinum gets prime viewing at all of the stages, not just the main ones. They also get first dibs at golf carts and a private sheltered viewing area at the two main stages. So while VIP was amazing and had its perks, it's unfortunate that there's always something bigger or better. And that top tier is unattainable for many; a one-day Platinum ticket costs $2,080 and a 4-day Platinum ticket costs $4,550. Despite that, though, we had a great Lollapalooza experience, and a lot of that was because we had VIP tickets. Again, as someone who's attended the festival in only a GA capacity since 2017, this was one of the more chill Lollas, and that's thanks to the fact that I didn't have to wrestle through the crowds from end to end as much, because of the golf carts. I also really loved that you can basically bank on a decent view no matter what time you get to one of the main stages before a big set. Even when the VIP viewing area is more crowded, like during Olivia Rodrigo on Night 2, you can find close spots or spots with unobstructed views. As a short gal, I loved this a lot. And if you really like an artist, this basically ensures that you'll get barricade or close to it, and you don't have to wait 12 hours to achieve that. We arrived early for Doechii's set and were in the second row of people, and were so close to the stage. Even though the bathrooms weren't up to par at times, I also know they're still way better than the porta-potties for the most part. There also aren't a lot of opportunities for free things, so I wasn't really saving a ton of money during my days there when it came to drinks and food. So, ultimately, is VIP worth it? If you love the idea of not having to deal with crowds going back and forth between the T-Mobile and Bud Light stages, yes. If you are a major fan of an artist and need close spots and don't want to camp out all day for them, then yes, it's worth it for you too. If you want a bit of a chill Lollapalooza experience without missing out on anything, yes, VIP is probably worth it for you as well. With all that said, even though there weren't as many perks as I had thought or dreamed of as a kid, overall, I would love to only go to Lolla with a VIP wristband in the future because those golf carts truly are a game-changer for me. Up Next:
Related: 'I Just Previewed the New Permanent Halloween Land at Universal Orlando—Here's What Blew Me Away Most'
'I've Gone to Lollapalooza for Years and I Had a VIP Wristband for the First Time—Here's My Honest Review' first appeared on Parade on Aug 17, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: VoXi MAG
Read More >> Full Article on Source: VoXi MAG
#US #ShowBiz #Sports #Politics #Celebs