Lollapalooza Set to Rock Grant Park this Weekend

Updated: Thursday, 04 Aug 2011, 1:25 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 04 Aug 2011, 8:01 AM CDT

FOX Chicago News

Chicago - Thousands of music lovers will head to Chicago’s Grant Park for Lollapalooza this weekend.

The sold-out three-day music festival was getting final touches to its set up and kicks off Thursday night with a charity gala.

Crews have been busy this week, working into the night to get everything ready.

The 20th annual music festival opens to the public Friday. It’s Lolla’s seventh year in Chicago and the biggest event yet.

The sold-out festival is expected to draw about 270,000 people to Grant Park over its three-day run.

"I've been to festivals all around the world, the accommodations are not so good, but in this case, it's laid out so nicely. It's a beautiful city and that skyline is very special." Lollapalooza Founder Perry Farrell said.

This year's headliners include Eminem, the Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse and Cee Lo Green.

Several streets around Grant Park have been shut down for the weekend.

Thursday night, Galapalooza will be a special charity event, and all proceeds will go to Park District programs.

Lollapalooza’s arrival this year has not been without some controversy.

The mayor's office told WBEZ that the city will review why the music festival has been exempt on paying amusement taxes for seven years.

Being tax exempt this year alone is an estimated tax giveaway of more than $1 million.

A report earlier this week revealed Mayor Richard M. Daley's nephew Mark Vanecko helped negotiate the contract, which is renewed annually. Vanecko represente a company called "C3 Presents, which promotes and co-owns Lollapalooza.

The other owner is William Morris Endeavor, the talent agency run by Mayor Rahm Emanuel's brother Ari.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/me ... e-20110804