CHICAGO, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of thousands of music lovers from all over the United States gathered in downtown Chicago to celebrate the international music festival Lollapalooza this weekend, which showcases popular rap, electronic, and hip-hop artists like Wiz Khalifa, Lorde, and Chicago native Chance the Rapper.
The event is one of the most famous music festival in the U.S., which was extended to four days allowing more space for rising talent to feature their music alongside big headlining bands and artists.
However, this year's festival was interrupted by heavy downpours which caused a brief evacuation of the festival, leaving tens of thousands of festival goers stranded at downtown Chicago. Some who travel to the festival from the Chicago suburbs described their experience during the weather evacuation.
"During the rain, we started by hiding under trees, but then they evacuated us and everyone had to find shelter wherever they could, so we ran to some nearby buildings," said Matthew, 18, attending his fifth Lollapalooza festival.
Connor, who also came from Chicago suburbs, said the festival is like 'last hurrah' for him. "It's August, so most of our friends are leaving for college within the next few weeks. This is kind of the last hurrah for us so we're trying to soak it all in," Connor said.
Also getting in her "last hurrah" before starting classes at Harvard University was former President Barack Obama's daughter Malia, who attended the festival again with her friends this year. As a Chicago native, she has attended the festival in past years.
Maddie travels with her friends to Chicago from Tulsa, OK, each year for Lollapalooza. Both are frequent attendees of music festivals across the country.
"I've been to other small festivals, but none of them are as lively. Chicago is what keeps me coming back, this city is really nice. There's always something to do, there's so much sight-seeing and shops to go into," Maddie told Xinhua.
With hundreds of thousands of people visiting Chicago, the city suffered traffic congestion and influx of visitors. But the economic benefit is obvious, some estimates put the economic impact of Lollapalooza on Chicago at more than 140 million U.S. dollars, which included significant business boost to local hotels, restaurants and clubs. Lollapalooza also brings more than 3 million dollars in ticket sales each year to Grant Park, where the festival is held. President of Grant Park Conservancy Bob O'Neil said the festival brings temporary mess but leads to permanent improvements to the city.
"Grant Park is dependent on Lollapalooza now," O'Neil said during an interview with local media, "Thousands of trees planted, different gardens renovated, and new gardens created."
The music festival will return next year with an all new lineup to be announced in early 2018. Lollapalooza will continue to tour in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and for the first year ever, France.
