FAQ

The festival takes place at United Center Lot C, located at 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612. The main entrance is at the intersection of Madison & Wood.

GA wristbands provide access to the festival grounds, including live music performances and access to general food vendor areas. Food and beverages are not included with admission and must be purchased separately.

Children 10 and under are free in GA when accompanied by a paying adult. This does not apply to VIP or Platinum—children must have a wristband to enter these areas.

Wednesday, July 8: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM CT

Thursday, July 9: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM CT

Friday, July 10: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM CT

Saturday, July 11: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM CT

Sunday, July 12: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM CT

Festival gates open at 11:30 AM CT on Sunday for those attending the sold-out BBQ Brunch experience. A separate BBQ Brunch wristband is required for entry, in addition to a 4-Day or Sunday wristband. 

Please note: BBQ Brunch guests must arrive to the festival grounds by 12 PM CT. We are unable to guarantee admission to the BBQ Brunch after this time.

Yes! Re-entry is allowed as long as you’re wearing your valid wristband.

During the festival, please visit the Lost & Found tent, located near the festival entrance at Madison & Wood. After the festival, lost items will be stored at Bub City – River North for a limited time—email WCSmokeout@lettuce.com with a description of your item.

Absolutely! Beyond the incredible live music and world-class BBQ, Windy City Smokeout features a curated selection of retail pop-ups along Rodeo Drive, our dedicated shopping row. You’ll find interactive brand experiences and exclusive merchandise from fan-favorite names like Alice & Wonder, Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, Uncommon James, and more. 

Hotel Chicago is the official hotel for Windy City Smokeout. You can reserve your room directly through our booking link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1778786807213&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Wristbands are shipped in late June. Frontgate will provide an email with tracking information (including a link) that will have the most up-to-date information on your order.

Please do not purchase wristbands from other third-party sites or people. They are not authorized sellers, and we cannot guarantee the legitimacy of wristbands. To be safe, you should only purchase through our website or the Ticketmaster Verified Ticket Exchange.

We cannot confirm or access any information for purchases made on third-party sites. We recommend reaching out directly to the website that you purchased from with any questions/issues. 

For wristband issues—including incorrect information, shipping address changes, or upgrades—contact FrontGate Tickets directly at order-support@frontgatetickets.com. Include the event name and city in your subject line, your 8-digit Order ID, last 4 digits of your payment card, phone number associated with the order, and a brief description of the issue. 

For all other questions, please email WCSmokeout@lettuce.com.

You can register your wristband here: Wristband Registration. Please note that you do not need to register your wristband in order to use it. The wristbands come ready to use. You only need to register the band if you would like to link a credit card.

Need help or want to unlink a card? Email support@billfoldpos.com.

Purchasing wristbands online in advance is highly recommended to guarantee entry and potentially secure better pricing. Remaining wristband inventory and festival capacity is very limited, so availability is not guaranteed.

Yes—upgrades are available while supplies last. To request an upgrade, email order-support@frontgatetickets.com with your Order ID and the wristband level you’d like to upgrade to.

Unfortunately, we don’t offer refunds of any kind. If you purchased insurance for your order, please reach out to the insurance provider and they can assist you with your refund.

You can resell your wristbands securely through our official TicketMaster Exchange Verified Resale site, found HERE.

Yes! We can issue a replacement for you at Will Call, located at the festival entrance (corner of Madison and Wood). Please bring your photo ID and order confirmation number to replace your wristband. A fee may apply.

No problem! You can pick up a replacement wristband at Will Call for a replacement fee. Be sure to bring the original wristband and your order confirmation number.

Yes! Someone else can pick up your wristbands as long as they have a photo of your valid ID (like a driver’s license) and your order confirmation email or order number.

Yes! We’re offering an off-site Will Call pick-up on Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7, from 4:00–7:00 PM CT at Bub City – River North. Be sure to bring your order number and a valid photo ID to claim your wristbands.

The Box Office and Will Call tent is located at the intersection of Madison and Wood St, just outside the main entrance to the festival, and open during the below hours:

Wednesday 7/09: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM CT

Thursday 7/09: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM CT

Friday 7/10: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM CT

Saturday 7/11: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM CT

Sunday 7/12: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM CT

ALL bags must be 10” x 6” x 2“ or under, with the exception of breast pumps and medical bags.

Allowed:

• Small clutches
• Blankets
• Medical bags
• Diaper bags
• Totes
• Strollers
• Cameras (basic point-and-shoot consumer-grade cameras) without detachable lenses or accessories
• Sunscreen in non-aerosol containers (3.4 ounces or less)

Prohibited:

• Metal or glass water bottles and camelbacks
• Coolers
• Outside food and drink
• Lawn/folding chairs
• Aerosol containers (including sunscreen)
• Professional cameras/audio/recording equipment
• Drones and remote-controlled devices
• Glass containers
• Weapons, fireworks, explosives
• Illegal substances
• Airhorns
• Umbrellas
• Flag poles
• Laser pointers
• Pets (except service animals)
• Skateboards, scooters, bikes, motorized vehicles
• Tents or shade structures
• Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors or solicitation materials
• Wallet/bike chains over 12” long
• Costumes or masks (excluding medical/safety)
• Clothing or signage with offensive or vulgar language or blocks attendees’ view
• Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate

Yes! Strollers are welcome. Please be mindful of crowd flow and avoid blocking walkways or exits.

Yes — medical bags, like diaper bags, are permitted. All bags are subject to security screening upon entry.

No — but you can pack poncho!

Cameras (basic point-and-shoot consumer-grade cameras) without detachable lenses or accessories are allowed. Professional cameras/audio/recording equipment are prohibited without proper media / photography credentials

Windy City Smokeout is proud to be a fully ADA-accessible event. We’ve partnered with the United Center to ensure that festival grounds, restrooms, entrances, and key areas—including food vendors and viewing zones—are accessible to all guests.

If you have any specific questions or concerns, please visit Guest Services (located directly after the main festival entrance) or contact us in advance at wcsmokeout@lettuce.com. 

Seating, parking, and restrooms to accommodate guests with disabilities will be available. ADA guests may bring one designated companion guest into the ADA section. All guests in the accessible seating area must have a festival wristband. Service animals are permitted. If you have questions regarding specific accommodations, please contact us at wcsmokeout@lettuce.com.

Please check in at the guest services tent located near the main entrance. ADA guests may bring one designated companion guest into the ADA section. Please be prepared to show valid medical documentation. 

The United Center does not provide wheelchairs, but you are welcome to bring your own. 

• Uber & Rideshare:
  The dedicated Uber drop-off is located directly across from the main festival entrance in Lot E, just east of Wood St.

  Shuttle Routes:

  • Magnificent Mile (Drop-off at 222 E Chicago Ave)

  • Ogilvie / State & Lake (Drop-offs at Ogilvie Transportation Center and State & Lake “L” Station)

• Public Transportation:
  The CTA is a great option for getting to the festival. Plan your route at:
  👉 transitchicago.com/planatrip

• Drop-Off by Car:
  The recommended drop-off spot is the NE corner of Madison & Paulina at 11 N. Paulina St.

• Daily Parking:
  Limited parking options in official United Center lots will be available each day of Windy City Smokeout. Parking is available for purchase upon arrival. General parking will be offered in Lots D, R, T, and E.

Yes! Limited parking options in official United Center lots will be available each day of Windy City Smokeout. Parking is available for purchase upon arrival. General parking will be offered in Lots D, R, T, and E.

Use the NE corner of Madison & Paulina (address: 11 N. Paulina St.) for the most efficient drop-off / pick-up location.

Your best way to travel to the Windy City Smokeout using public transportation is the CTA. $5 will get you there and back from anywhere in the city. The nearest train stations include: The Damen Green Line, the Ashland & Lake Green / Pink Line, and the IMD Blue Line. We’ve also got plenty of buses that drop you off right by the United Center including the #9 Ashland, #20 Madison, #50 Damen, and #126 Jackson. When the fest is over, the #19 United Center Express can get you to downtown quickly. Find the best route for you at transitchicago.com/planatrip