Being from the U.S., I always knew about the Lollapalooza musical festival that happens every year in Chicago. But I didn’t realize there was also a Lollapalooza in Santiago, Chile, a place I’ve lived and traveled in for over a year. So when a Chilean friend invited me to join her at this iconic musical festival, and when I saw that some of my favorite artists would be there, I jumped at the chance to experience Lollapalooza in a foreign country.
What followed was a high-energy, visually spectacular day filled with delicious Chilean food, massive yet polite crowds, and surprisingly smooth logistics that let my friend and me fully live the music festival experience.
Last-Minute Ticket Purchases
I only learned that Lollapalooza was happening in Santiago, Chile, the week of the event, from my friend. It’s safe to say that it was a last-minute idea, and we bought our single-day tickets just a few days beforehand for about 180 USD. In the few days leading up to Sunday, we got excited seeing the reels posted by Lollapalooza Chile’s Instagram account of popular artists’ performances.
We’d already passed the deadline for pre-event bracelet pick-up at the Costanera Center, a huge mall in Santiago, so we didn’t worry about that. We just decided on a time to arrive on Sunday, and we were able to pick up our bracelets right before entering the festival. Although the event started each day of the 3-day festival as early as 10:00 am, we opted to show up closer to the time of our favorite artists, in the early afternoon.
The Layout: Stages, Food Trucks, and Sponsored Spaces
Upon entering the festival grounds, in the sprawling city park called Parque O’Higgins, we went straight to the food and hydration area. Though it was late summer, nearly fall, the strong Santiago sun and the afternoon heat had already made us thirsty. In the food truck area, there were major local Chilean chains like Juan Maestro and Domino. We even saw a McDonald’s, complete with a little McDonald’s postre (dessert) stand.
Armed with a couple of energy drinks, water, and a few empanadas, we began strolling around the grounds near the food trucks. There was a “Budweiser Park” venue near us, and in one grassy field shaded by trees were huge pillows designed for siestas. The other large performance stages, “Cenco Malls” and “Banco de Chile” (named after their sponsors), were spread out around the large permanent dome in Parque O’Higgins. Due to the park’s massive size, it didn’t feel too claustrophobic even though there were thousands of people there.
I was surprised to see several sponsored installations from brands like Maybelline and Paris, where you could wait in line to enter for makeup touch-ups or giveaway items. Even so, my friend and I didn’t have the patience to wait in line. We preferred to go and view a performance instead. And at this point, we only had about half an hour until a popular Venezuelan artist would take the stage.
Headliners: A Diverse Lineup
The beauty of Lollapalooza is the diversity of the music: you can find EDM, rock, hip-hop, pop, and more, all mixed into one music festival, which is right up my alley. The next artist to take the stage at 5:00 pm was Danny Ocean, a Venezuelan whose music ranges from Latino pop to reggaeton and chill electronic vibes. I knew his popular songs and enjoyed hearing some that I hadn’t heard before.
Meanwhile, throughout the performance, individual drink vendors (mostly energy drinks and bottled water) walked through the crowd selling drinks from insulated backpacks. As the sun was still out and beating down on us, we took advantage of the convenience and stayed well-hydrated. During Danny Ocean’s performance, the sun finally dipped down behind the back wall of the giant stage, offering us some shade.
A couple of hours later, the next big headliner, Lewis Capaldi, took the stage. We saw some people literally running to see the beginning of the show, but most of the crowd was relatively calm. Compared to many of the reggaeton, pop, and electronic vibes we’d just heard, Lewis Capaldi’s slow, soulful pop ballads were quite calming. When he said a few simple Spanish words on the stage, the crowd cheered him on, which was so sweet to witness.
Immediately after Lewis Capaldi, at the other main stage, was Skrillex. It was a vibe shift that nearly gave us whiplash. Suddenly, we were dancing to energetic electronic music with crazy beat drops and wildly popular songs that I’d heard so much over the years. It was fascinating to witness this performance in a faraway country from my own and to see firsthand how Chilean fans of this artist were just as loyal and enthusiastic as those from his home country.
And, saving the best for last, Chappell Roan’s performance began at 10:30 pm. Her show was nothing short of glamorous, and she, like the other English-speaking artists, made an effort to say at least a few words in Spanish to the crowd. One of my favorite things was hearing the Chilean crowd chants: one is “Chi, Chi, Chi, le, le, le! Viva Chile!” It was intense enough to give me goosebumps as I heard the chant. And to finish off Chappell Roan’s show, there were fireworks behind the main stage, marking the end of a nonstop day of epic music and intense entertainment.
Safety, Security, and Leaving the Festival
I have to say, I was a bit concerned about how leaving the festival at midnight with thousands of others would go. To my amazement, the security and organization of the crowds exiting Parque O’Higgins felt quite safe and orderly. Barriers and gates funneled the crowds into two giant lines into the metro station entrances at the front of the park. The city purposefully extended the metro hours until 1:00 am that night to allow concert-goers to use it.
After a bit of a wait, I finally made it into a metro car, clearly full of eclectic Chappell Roan fans. The metro intercom announced that there would be limited stops on the next metro line; it would stop about every 3-4 stations. And at every station, I saw several security officers guiding people toward the exits. Santiago can be dangerous at such a late hour in certain neighborhoods, so it was good to see the increased level of security to protect Lollapalooza attendees.
A Crowded Yet Enjoyable Music Experience in Chile
I didn’t quite know what to expect when I showed up at Lollapalooza Chile. But what followed was a fun-filled, energetic festival that blended nostalgia from artists from my own country with signature touches of Chilean culture.
It was such a privilege to attend one of the largest music festivals in South America and see enthusiastic Chilean fans gather to celebrate something that clearly crosses international borders: the love of good music.
