Another year, another crowded Union Park weekend. Soon, HAIM, the Isley Brothers, Robyn, Mavis Staples, Pusha-T, Soccer Mommy and more will play to fans and sweaty newcomers as Pitchfork Music Festival returns for its 14th year Friday to Sunday.
Organizers expect about 20,000 attendees per day, all eager to hear just over 40 acts span three stages.
Pitchfork devotees can work from muscle memory: like last year, gates will open at noon sharp each day. The first acts begin at the Green Stage daily at 1 p.m.
In 2017, a Pitchfork rep told the Tribune the early entry time allows for a smooth turnover between sets. This is crucial for the Blue Stage, which sits on the south end of the park and is prone to high traffic due to its proximity to food (and beer!), though it offers much the same number of acts as the other stages.
The main gate will again be at Ashland Avenue on the west side of Union Park just south of Lake Street, with a secondary gate at Washington Boulevard and Ogden Avenue to the east.
Those lucky few who nabbed the PLUS tickets will again have expedited entry via a special line at the main gate, red carpet-style. But if you haven’t snagged your tickets yet, the on-site box office near the Ashland Avenue entrance will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. each day of the festival.
Before you grab your fanny pack and head out the door, check out the do’s and don’ts, as we dig into the nitty-gritty so you don’t have to.
When is it?
Friday-Sunday. Festival starts at 1 p.m. each day and gates open at noon.
Cool, where is it?
Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St.
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Red Stage
Food,
drinks,
vendors
Blue Stage
Main
gate
Green Stage
LAKE
RANDOLPH
Plus
entrance
UNION
PARK
Food
and
drinks
ASHLAND
Vendors, books,
crafts, posters
and records
WASHINGTON
OGDEN
2nd
gate
Plus
VIP area
MADISON
94
90
294
Detail
area
Miles
1/4
290
Bike
parking
CARROLL
Ashland
Green Line
LAKE
RANDOLPH
WASHINGTON
Pink Line
MADISON
ASHLAND
DAMEN
RACINE
Union
Park
OGDEN
Blue Line
290
Medical
District
Racine
LAKE
Red Stage
RANDOLPH
Plus
entrance
Blue Stage
Green Stage
Main
gate
UNION
PARK
Food,
drinks,
vendors
Food
and
drinks
ASHLAND
Vendors, books,
crafts, posters
and records
WASHINGTON
OGDEN
2nd
gate
Plus
VIP area
MADISON
94
90
Miles
1/4
294
Detail
area
Bike
parking
290
CARROLL
Ashland
Green Line
LAKE
RANDOLPH
WASHINGTON
Pink Line
MADISON
ASHLAND
DAMEN
RACINE
Union
Park
OGDEN
Blue Line
290
Medical
District
Racine
Red Stage
94
90
Food,
drinks,
vendors
Blue Stage
294
Detail
area
Main
gate
Green Stage
Miles
1/4
290
LAKE
Bike
parking
RANDOLPH
CARROLL
Plus
entrance
Ashland
Green Line
LAKE
RANDOLPH
WASHINGTON
Pink Line
MADISON
UNION
PARK
ASHLAND
DAMEN
RACINE
Union
Park
OGDEN
Food
and
drinks
ASHLAND
Vendors, books,
crafts, posters
and records
Blue Line
290
Medical
District
Racine
WASHINGTON
OGDEN
2nd
gate
Plus
VIP area
MADISON
LAKE
Red Stage
RANDOLPH
Miles
1/4
Plus
entrance
Blue Stage
Bike
parking
CARROLL
Green Stage
Ashland
Green Line
LAKE
Main
gate
RANDOLPH
UNION
PARK
WASHINGTON
Food,
drinks,
vendors
Pink Line
MADISON
Food
and
drinks
ASHLAND
Vendors, books,
crafts, posters
and records
ASHLAND
DAMEN
RACINE
Union
Park
2nd
gate
OGDEN
WASHINGTON
Blue Line
OGDEN
290
Medical
District
Racine
94
90
Plus
VIP area
294
Detail
area
290
MADISON
Wait, how much for a ticket?
Single-day ($85) and three-day passes ($190) were still available through Eventbrite at press time. The three-day “PLUS” pass was also still available for will call pickup at $390 — up $15 from last year’s cost, and due to increase by $10 again Tuesday. Those with cash to spare can look forward to to curated food and cocktails, shaded seating areas, air-conditioned bathrooms, cell phone charging stations and more. Ooh la la.
Who is playing?
The festival holds true to the traditional three stages. This year’s headliners, HAIM, the Isley Brothers and Robyn will play alongside just over 40 bands and artists.
Here are Tribune critic Greg Kot’s picks.
How can I get there?
CTA train: The Chicago Transit Authority will offer extra bus and rail service — including longer trains operating throughout the weekend on the Green line and more frequent service on the Pink line. The closest train stop to Union Park is the Ashland station off the Green and Pink lines.
CTA bus: Extra service is scheduled for the No. 9 Ashland bus route, between Clark/Belle Plaine and Madison/Ashland, from 12:30-11 p.m.
Bike: Bike parking will again be at 325 N. Ashland Ave., north of Union Park. The Divvy bike-sharing program will also offer valet service at Ashland Avenue and Lake Street from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
It’s summer in Chicago. What if there’s a big storm?
The festival has monitoring and communication systems set up in case of severe weather. Officials work with security staff in the event of an evacuation to help festival-goers get to safe locations outside the park. In 2017, a festival rep told the Tribune a plan is in place to make the festival “as durable and safe as possible,” should the weather refuse to cooperate.
What can I bring?
- Two sealed bottles of water
- Nonprofessional digital, film and disposable cameras (i.e. no removable lenses; if you aren’t sure whether you’re packing professional gear, leave it at home!)
- Fanny packs and medium-size backpacks and satchels. (To find specific measurements, visit the Pitchfork site )
- Hats, sunscreen and bug spray (nonaerosol, please)
Binoculars, for folks in the way-back
Wow, what CAN’T I bring?
- Drugs and drug paraphernalia
- Weapons of any kind
- Video recorders, cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks or drones
- Laptops, iPads or tablets
- Tents, flags and totem poles, lounge chairs or hammocks
- Outside food and drink
What’s the sexual harassment policy?
Pitchfork implemented its new zero tolerance policy around harassment in 2017, prohibiting “harassment and discrimination of any kind, including but not limited to: race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, and disability status.”
Is there anything besides music going on?
Glad you asked! For the first time this year, Young Chicago Authors’ Louder than a Bomb will perform poetry in between Blue Stage sets. On Friday, join Julia Holter in conversation with Jen Pelly at the Book Fort. For those interested in a meta experience, Pitchfork Radio will broadcast live all weekend, including interviews with Jeff Tweedy and Jamila Woods. There will be a Kid Zone for worn-out parents and their kids, including puppets and costumes.
What kind of food and vendors are there?
Important question. The Chicago Diner, Churros Factory and Puffs of Doom — to name a few — will be serving all weekend long. Plus, shop goods at the CHIRP Record Fair and Renegade Craft Fair.
Are there any good after-shows?
Beginning with a Thursday night performance by Valee at Thalia Hall, official Pitchfork after-shows also include CHAI at Empty Bottle; Amen Dunes at Sleeping Village; and Black Midi at The Hideout, among others.
Plus, on Tuesday Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich will converse at Pitchfork’s “In Sight Out” series at the Chicago Athletic Organization.
Sources: Pitchfork, CTA, baiduhai reporting
Created by the baiduhai dataviz team. On Twitter @ChiTribGraphics
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