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.

Festival hours for Windy City Smokeout 2027 will be announced closer to the event date. Stay tuned — we’ll share full daily schedules as soon as they’re finalized.

Apple users can download the official Windy City Smokeout app via the App Store and Android users can download in Google Play.

Details for the 2027 BBQ Brunch experience will be announced closer to the festival date. Stay tuned — full timing and entry information will be shared once finalized.

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

Since the 2026 festival has ended, all recovered Lost & Found items are now stored at Bub City – River North for a limited time. If you’re looking for an item, please email WCSmokeout@lettuce.com with a description, and our team will be happy to check for you.

Absolutely! Windy City Smokeout 2027 will feature a curated selection of retail pop‑ups and brand activations along Rodeo Drive, our dedicated shopping row on Madison. Full details on participating vendors and experiences will be announced closer to the festival date.

Details on the official hotel partner for Windy City Smokeout 2027 will be announced closer to the festival date. Stay tuned — we’ll share full information once finalized.

We have tables and seating throughout the festival grounds to ensure all of our guests are comfortable. Along with that, we have multiple screens placed throughout the festival grounds so that no matter where you are sitting, you will be able to see our live performances.

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
• Umbrella Strollers (no UPPAbaby or BOB 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! Umbrella strollers are welcome (no UPPAbaby or BOB strollers). Please be mindful of crowd flow and avoid blocking walkways or exits. No wagons are permitted.

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

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. 

Once inside the festival, you can also visit Guest Services for assistance registering your wristband. The Guest Services tent is located directly inside the main festival entrance.

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.

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.

Once inside the festival, you can also visit Guest Services for assistance registering your wristband. The Guest Services tent is located directly inside the main festival entrance.

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.

Box Office and Will Call information for Windy City Smokeout 2027 will be announced closer to the festival date. Full location details and operating hours will be shared once finalized.

Box Office and Will Call information for Windy City Smokeout 2027 will be announced closer to the festival date. Full location details and operating hours will be shared once finalized.

Yes — Windy City Smokeout will offer an off‑site wristband pick‑up option for 2027. Full details, including dates, times, and location, will be announced closer to the festival.

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

• 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 will be available for Windy City Smokeout 2027. Full details on participating lots, availability, and opening times will be announced closer to the festival date.

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

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. You can purchase all parking through the United Center: Directions and Parking. 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.