Highly Recommended--Especially for the Barbecue Food Lovers! Folks I strongly encourage everyone to get tickets for next year's event! Now, full disclosure--I'm not usually a fan of music venues like this: Most people attend for the music, and that's great if that's your thing. But for me--It's all about the food, and this event delivers like no other. The variety, quality, and overall experience is truly second to none! Pro tip: Go on Thursdays. In my opinion, that's when you get the best value. Other days are a bit overpriced for what you get. read more

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Very very crowded. I don't know why they won't expand into additional parking lots around the United Center. Also they used to let you use the United Center bathrooms. Now, there is just one very busy spot outside. They continue to bring top talent read more

Every single person that worked this event did fantastic!! It was absolutely incredible!! The were constantly bringing around drinks and food while we sat and ate. I can't wait to go back for Sunday brunch!! So worth it! read more

Windy City Smokeout - Part of the amazing spread!! - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Thought it would be a fun concert instead I found myself trapped in an overcrowded, chaotic environment. The crowd was so dense that dancing or moving was impossible. The average age seemed to hover around 20, most extremely intoxicated talking not listening to the music. Trying to walk back from the concert area was a nightmare. I was shoved and stepped on multiple times with cowboy boots, and there was no clear path or crowd control. It felt unsafe and poorly managed. Felt like a college party not for adults wanting to listen to good music. They didn't check ID well or bags. Tons of kids had small bottles of alcohol. Avoid if you're an adult. read more

Way to many under age drinking kids. Although I did see them pouring drinks out and checking id's but they just turned around and got another drink. These kids were not even listening to the music just a big hang out and party. read more

This was my first year at the Windy City Smokeout and we really enjoyed it! Yes, it was crowded during the evenings, but we arrived early so we could enjoy the good food, drinks and everything else you can do (photo props, games, music, and much more) That's the key! My favorite plates were: - Texas Brisket and ribs from Salt Lick BBQ - Brisket Burnt end Gumbo (My personal favorite) from Blue Oak BBQ - Bulgogi beef ribs and kimchi from Leroy and Lewis - Tri Tip Sandwich from Slab - Whole hog slider from Sam Jones BBQ Also great margaritas from Casaamigos! Even though it was raining some days, that did not stop the fun! We will definitely be back next year The key here for what I saw is to arrive early, we had time to do almost everything on Saturday afternoon, so when lines got insane by 5pm and food vendors were sold out, we were already all set and just ready to enjoy the concert. However, I agree with one of the previous reviews, the beer was not the coldest! read more

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BBQ and country music how can you beat that!? This concert is a great way to see young up and coming artists and some big names all for a pretty reasonable price. Unfortunately it is very crowded as all concerts are and the food and drink is outrageously priced. But none the less worth going if you're a country fan in Chicago! read more

HAD A BLAST AT @windycitysmokeout with @foode_app . I think I'm a new country music fan Got to meet the founder , and some new foodie friends at the event to talk about how we want the Chicago to continue to build & foster a new foodie community. While having @pappyssmokehouse ribs & @bubcity brisket Bumped into some friends from work and college friends throughout the festival too . You know what that means The best part was being able to try smoked meats from all over the country, including @leroyandlewis from Austin Texas. I was able to use @foode_app to find what was there that day and when tents opened. As you can see, the venue was HUGE. @evanleroybbq the founder took care of me, and wow their beef fat steak tacos with rosemary potatoes + smoked turkey breast & okra were delicious. You know I love some great steak , simple yet flavorful & juicy Overall it was an amazing experience and a fantastically organized festival since it was food focused first, and people weren't on top of each other vs other festivals I've been at. Interesting to see all the alcohol brands have tents too and managed to try this new tequila seltzer for the first time - Lime and Paloma flavors were delicious! My usual drink is tequila lime and soda, so having a tequila seltzer (vs other normal vodka ones) is definitely a huge plus read more

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Windy City had an amazing lineup this year and it introduced me to some of the best BBQ I've ever had! The only con was I felt there were too many tickets sold for the space that the fest had. Besides that one con, great experience! read more

Windy City Smokeout - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What makes a summer weekend more fun than Music, Booze and BBQ? Nothing. It was hot for sure on Sunday but it was a $60.00 well spent for a ticket ($50.00 General Admission - $10.00 tax). There were lots of people for sure, my only complaint is that there is not enough seating. I mean yes you can sit on the curb (like I did) but then you get dirt on your feet and legs. Unfortunately with heat it likes to stick to ya. It felt like half of the city was at the concert which makes a unique atmosphere. The food is unbelievable. There are BBQ pitmasters and food trucks from all over the country. Along with the brewmasters who came in from all over the country. That way you can have a large variety of BBQ/Beer styles and tastes. I also love the way they have the cashless wristband options so you don't have to go through the hassle of grabbing your credit/ debit card out of your wallet all the time. From Bub City to Pearl's Southern Comfort to Big Gay Ice Cream Shop to Three Dots and a Dash. There was food for everyone even if you are not a BBQ person. The food to me was a plus to this country music festival. What makes it the bang for its buck is the fact I got to see three of my favorite artist for $60.00. This includes artist Walker Hayes, Kane Brown and Brothers Osborne. The stage area was pretty darn packed, but I still felt like I had my own little bubble of space. By the end of the festival I made my way back to the entrance and they actually have a large screen by the "Greetings from Smokeout" sign so you can see the show from the picnic tables. There are also a few little photo op setups around the festival area so you can take Instagram-worthy photos to show off to your friends that you went to the WCS. I am already pumped for next year - and to see what the lineup will look like and have another cider listening to some good country music. read more

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Awesome and well organized event. Many options for great food and drink. The great weather didn't hurt either

Amazing performers, good food. They over sell it WAY TOO MUCH!!!!!!! There is no room to breathe and it's got to be a fire hazard. The amount of people ruin the whole thing read more

Major FIRE hazard allowing so many people in this event. But probably another payoff occurred. Just another total SH** SHOW. It has gotten so bad, it's all about greed for the promoters which I believe is Lettuce Entertain You. It's a shame when 2 Michelob beers cost $27.69. Are you JOKING??? Running out of food, long ridiculous lines, no cups at water stations, porta potty's were filthy with no paper and no way to wash hands. Sound systems sucked as well. I've said it before, not sure why anyone, including myself, believe it will be a fun filled time. Always leave very dissatisfied and a lot more broke. Not to mention, UBER charged $43.00 for a 2 mile drive due to concert traffic. Geez, take it out to farmlands like faster horses does in Michigan or something. This is NOT a city event. Just stupid. DONT waste your time or money. read more

Like all other festivals in this city, you'll end up paying an arm and a leg. Between the high entrance fee (I can imagine in part due to some of the bigger name performers they have on stage), looooong lines, arm to arm crowdedness and exorbitant food prices, I was wholly dissatisfied. For what you get for the price, I couldn't ever see myself going back. read more

I was super excited to attend this for the first time this year, but it was a disappointing night. The atmosphere and music were great, but I can't get over a bbq festival running out of bbq. We thought maybe we arrived too late in the evening but heard from others they ran out pretty soon after opening. I also learned from other friends this happens every year. Luckily, there was a stand selling hamburgers and brats all night. It's not a great idea to have so much alcohol available and not enough food. I hope the organizers take this into consideration for the future. read more

The festival in 2019 was way better than the last one I went to. There were way more vendors and so much more room. Sure, a festival in July in Chicago on black top, is going to be hot but you have to expect that. I was really excited about the free water stations, but next year they could use like two more. It was also really nice that the United center was open for restrooms and cooling. They even opened more of the building on the busiest day, which was considerate. (now I do think they sold too many admission bands for Saturday, but that's a live and learn thing) They even brought in more portapotties for Saturday and they were in real good shape throughout the day. I don't know where some of the reviews say they didn't have enough bathrooms. They totally did. They also made it abundantly clear on everything that the fest was cashless. So it's weird that people complained about that as well. Overall, i think they did very well and just need to adjust a couple things for next year. read more

Too many underaged people ... bad attitude, taking up space of those of us who are rightfully OF age and fairly paid our way to be here ... waited 30+ min to have my ID checked and feel like it was for no reason ... frustrating and needless to say the opposite of the character I expected a country music festival to have. Disappointed to say the least. read more

I would like to inform you at how utterly disappointed I am. First, when entering the facility I displayed my Covid test results to the attendant and she immediately looked at it and said "you are good." I immediately responded back and said you don't want to look at my ID? And she replied "no." How in the world would she even know if I was even that person? How would she know that I didn't fake a test? That makes me extremely uncomfortable and wondering if people were even following the rules of getting tests done to begin with. The amount of people present, the amount of little kids and babies present along with myself made me extremely weary of it being Covid-safe. How reassuring can that process actually be? read more

Annual BBQ fest fun! This one is unique bc they have Pappy's (from St Louis) in addition to all the Chicago BBQ faves! DINOSAUR BBQ was a big fave as well as SMOQUE! Its a fun music fest. Entry is about $40 per person per day. That does not include the food. The food is in tickets and they average about 7 tickets per item. read more

Windy City Smokeout - Yummy - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Soooooooo crowded. Impossible to get drinks or food. Borderline unsafe. They clearly oversell the event to the point where it's a really unsatisfactory experience. Not worth it anymore. Won't be back. read more

CITY SLICKER When I say slick I mean wet! The forecast on Saturday, July 12, 2014 called for rain all day. In fact, the City of Chicago cancelled the Taste of Chicago. But Bub City & Lettuce Entertain You weren't going to be scared of a little water plus General Admission Tickets were $35. You definitely do not want to be giving money back. Luckily for everyone the rain stopped at around 1pm and didn't come back until 11pm. Just enough time to get all the BBQ food and Country Music you could enjoy for one night. The Smoke out was a lot of fun with much to do. It was kind of a pay as you go event. Like I said GA tickets were $35 and all it did was get you in to see the bands. You still had to pay desperately for food and drinks. There were special VIP tickets that got you access to an elevated area with great views of the stage. The VIP area also had a bartender and private bathrooms. There were special tickets to meet the Pit Masters and they would talk about the seasoning, BBQ &smoking process. The groups were small and very intimate. Such a great opportunity to learn from the experts such as Lee Ann Whippen from Chicago q. I hope you like BBQ because if you don't then this is the wrong place to hang out. I loved seeing The Salt Lick from Texas. This is a place I always visit when traveling and to have them in my hometown was a real treat. I was very impressed with Lillie's q prep truck. It was so clean and who would not want a mobile kitchen like this. I was lucky enough to experience the whole seasoning process. They were even nice enough to invite me up on the deck to get some great photos of their ribs. Myron Mixon was there and he was selling BBQ food and grills. He also had a huge truck. One of his workers invited my little girl up into the cab to get photos. Then Myron came by and kicked her out so he could put two blondes in the cab and get his photo with them. Hey it's his truck but it was a little rude especially when you step back and realize what his angle was. Those two blondes were young enough to be his daughters. I guess the big rig must be compensating for something. Coors Light had a great covered beer garden. Jack Daniels brought their airstream and were slinging drinks. The Jack Daniels girls were even doing hulu hoop wars. I've never seen that before. Yelp was there signing up new Yelpers and giving out swag. They also had some comfy inflatable couches and a phone charging station. That is the best kind of Juice at an event. Uber and the Chicagoland Speedway had tables too. In case you forgot your western wear there was a giant mobile store that had hats and belt buckles. Giddy Up little cowboy. The musical acts were top notch. I was really impressed with Clayton Anderson who was the opening act for the day. He brought a ton of energy and was really enjoying himself. It's probably the Midwest in him. He ended his show with Born in the USA which was a nice way to amp up the crowd. He also talked to the crowd and gave us great info. I learned that Kevin Fowler can drink and party hard. He was performing later. Clayton also pointed out the USA men's goalie from World Cup action hanging in the Media booth. So that was cool. The smoke out was Friday through Sunday. There were various tickets. If you wanted you could get a three or two day pass instead of just a single day ticket. The tickets also gave you in & out privileges, so if you had to run out for a few you could alway return later. The unique ticket was the Sunday Brunch. I wish I would have gone because the photos posted looked amazing. A giant long table full of people loving fantastic BBQ food. The Windy City Smoke out was only the second annual but it runs like it's been around for years. Thanks to Bub City & Lettuce Entertain You for organizing such a unique event. If you've got a little country in you and we all do, then this is the place to throw your boots on and enjoy the day. read more

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Wow, the worst fest/music venue I have been too. We were supa pumped for some country music and BBQ on a Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, we got muffled music, long wait lines and a full bladder. This place was so overcrowded it almost made me nervous. The flow of the fest...forget about it. There was no flow. To get a drink, we waited for 35 mins for a bud light can...the problem is there are NO beer stands or just beer lines. So some people are getting drinks, etc and it just takes forever. The food...well we tried some pulled pork at a Nashville place. It was good...but I really wanted to go to a few places and check it out. The lines were horrendous and the one place we wanted to go was completely out of ribs at 4p on Saturday. Annoying. The music?!?! What music???? Couldn't hear a thing. It was terrible. And the crowds were so bad that we couldn't get any closer to the stage to even try to hear. Don't waste your time. Go home, order from lillie q's, have it delivered and turn on pandora country...way better than this disaster. read more

This was a horrible event that robbed many people of their money. The place was jam packed and uncomfortable. You could not walk, it was shoulder to shoulder. Ordering food, drink, restroom was all at least 35-45 min lines. We spent the first hour just in lines. It was a safety hazard because people were on top of each other with no room to walk. A strong disappointment and I will never be back. read more

I used to love this festival but it has gotten so big over the years that it isn't fun anymore. The line was down the block on Friday for the people who actually purchased tickets ahead of time. For some reason you would think that if you purchased tickets in advance that would allow you to skip a line.... nope. I cut the line because I would have spent two hours waiting (sorry if I cut you in line, I typically wouldn't). Also, once you get past the line just to get in you get to stand in more lines to get a drink or food. I waited 40 minutes in line for a Shiner Bock.... come on. That's ridiculous! We also had to wait in line for food for 30 minutes. So a majority of the time I was there I waited in lines. I couldn't even understand what songs the country artist were singing because the speakers weren't place properly. I will not be going next year. It's over priced and it's not enjoyable like it once was. read more

If you would like to have a horrible day, you should go to this event. First of all, it is wildly expensive for what you get. Firstly, almost every cocktail is premade and lacking a normal amount of alcohol, let alone $15 of alcohol. Most importantly, The venue is about 50% too narrow for the amount of people. As a result, the crowd is shoulder to shoulder all the way to the way back. This means you need to secure a spot early and if you leave for food/drink or the bathroom, good luck getting back without getting punched in the face by the most overly aggressive crowd I've ever been a part of. All in all, there's no way to enjoy the music because you are packed like sardines with people who have seemingly never been to a concert and are more worried about standing their ground than being slightly brushed as someone walks though. read more

DO NOT buy VIP. Waste of money, there's little value other than in/out privileges. We were turned away from the VIP section that we paid a lot of money for because it was too crowded. Good music, good food but they oversell the event and the lines are insane. That being said, if you love the music and you don't care about food, drink, crowds and 30 minute lines, it's a great festival. read more

The venue was marginal. Ran out of food. Bathrooms were within United Center and no portable bathrooms. Line was ridiculous. Would not go back. read more

They have outgrown the space. Horrible flow as others stated. Waited 1 hr in line to get in. 30 minutes for a beer and then patiently staked out our place to watch the headliner only to be pushed every 2 seconds in the back and beer spilled on my clothing every minute as drunk kids attempt to push there way to the front of the stage 1 minute before concert begins. Just way too many people for that space. I probably would have had 5 beers instead of 1, had i not be required to wait 30 minutes in line. Won't be back unless they limit attendance or move to a larger space. read more

Very disappointed this year.... we love this festival bc it's clean, good food, drinks and room to breath. Friday night was awful! Get more trash cans, put up FREE water stations (tables ran out before 7pm), put out recycling bins and please watch your capacity. We heard someone say they were in line for over an hour and all the sudden they just started letting everyone in. It's too small of a space to not watch capacity. Disappointing for sure... read more

What an awesome event. Come for lunch nice and early to really enjoy the eating optimally. Come later if you're just coming for the bands. This is the best bbq event I've experienced in Chicago. I loved the cashless wristband technology.. So convenient. It's so cool to see these pit masters at work on all their different rigs. I was able to speak to a lot of the pit-masters too. I'll be going back annually. Come early or you will not be able to enjoy. Early is lunch time, NOT 4 pm. We got there at 12:30'pm and it was just perfect! read more

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Sooooo worth the 40 dollar ticket if you are in to see one of your favorite bands and get all the BBQ you want. BEST PART- Most organized festival I've been to in Chicago. I went to see Kacey Musgraves with my husband (she's my favorite) and we were able to get tickets and try out lots of food. A little pricey but thats okay. Second best part- trying beers from local vendors and getting samples too. So worth it. Third best part- you can actually see the artists and bands. Just get to the front of the stage 30-45 minutes early! A wonderful time wearing my 'cowgirl' boots and being surrounded by Chicago country fans. read more

This was the first year I attended this event. We bought the $99 ticket, which included entrance 1-hour early and a special seating area with all you can drink Tito's bloody marys. The event was very well organized and overall, not very crowded. There was plenty of space to walk around and in between the restaurants. There were probably around 25ish restaurants giving out food samples. There was a lot of chicken & sausage, not so much ribs, brisket, or pork. The portions of all the food were ample and you could have filled up very quickly. A few people made the comment that last year's event had better food (more ribs and brisket). Beer and cider were all you could drink without a drink ticket. You did get 5 drink tickets for the Tito's vodka/lemonade and/or the moonshine drinks. The restaurants were serving food from 11:00 - 3:00, but a few closed around 2:00 - I am assuming they ran out of food. They need to have more garbage cans scattered around and add some high-top tables in the food vendor area so you can set stuff down while you eat. The event was overall pretty cool, but not worth $99. I most likely would not attend again, and that was the general feeling of my entire group. read more

2017 was a fairly abysmal year for Windy City Smokeout. After becoming an event that I really looked forward to, I was actually fearful this year that it was going to be another oversold mess. I am happy to report that the venue in 2018 has obviously taken criticism from the previous year to heart and adjusted accordingly. 2018 was a fantastic event indeed. I am really glad the promoters have worked out the kinks, as this event is a blast to attend. Smokeout spans over 3 days, Friday thru Saturday, and hosts a ton of country artists on 2 different stages. The first is obviously the main stage, and the second "Whiskey" stage is towards the back of the venue amongst what I guess you could call the food court of the event. The Whiskey stage turned out to be an absolutely phenomenal way to get a very intimate showing of some of Nashville's up and coming talent. Jimmie Allen, for example, was sensational. The main stage is where you will find most of the headliners. As the evening progresses you get served up with artists who have an increasing amount of hits on the Billboard Country Music charts. Highlights this year for me were Kane Brown, Brett Eldredge, and Ashley Mcbryde. What really makes this event special, however, is the food. They bring in BBQ pits from across the country to serve up their various flavorful wares. Brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, sausage; you name it, you will find it at smokeout. It's the best collection of BBQ you will find in the Chicago area. While overall the BBQ is phenomenal, there is one odd factor that I find curious. Zero BBQ places from Kansas City? How the hell do you make this oversight? Considering they are the city that hosts the American Royale BBQ contest (the largest in the world) and is home to far more winners than anywhere else, this is a strange omission. Maybe next year they should consider cutting out more of the hometown Chicago BBQ places that hardly anybody goes to anyway, and instead consider spending a little bit more for some better out of town talent. People can get the marginal Chicago stuff any day of the week. If you are a craft beer person, smokeout is also going to be right up your alley, as there are dozens of microbrews to choose from of various varieties. The one I tried from Alaska this year was a particular standout, though the name escapes me at present. Just like in years past, smokeout has both GA and VIP admissions to choose from. I did spring for VIP this year, but I am not so sure it was worth the sacrifice. It got me a more rapid entrance to the event itself which was nice. Also there are a couple of raised areas on either side of the stage that are accessible, but the view was not that spectacular. Not worth the dramatic increase in ticket price in my humble opinion. For several acts I ended up abandoning the VIP area and finagling my way toward the stage instead anyway. So yeah, unless something were to change I can't see spending the money on it next year. Overall, this is an event not to be missed if you are into country music and BBQ. Lake Shake is another fun country festival to add to the arsenal in this town, but if I was forced to attend only one or the other Smokeout would be my preference all day. read more

I am so amazed at how well-organized this event was. Real bathrooms, folks! Plenty of ticket-sales booths! Big enough space for everyone to fit without being smooshed! BBQ & country music a-plenty, this fest is pretty much my Mecca. Despite the rain, Friday & Saturday were big successes... props to Windy City for sending out an email about the line-up time change, if I would've missed Randy Rogers I would've been one sad girl. Sunday was much more crowded, but I have to say the line-up wasn't as great for the closing day of the fest. Either way, I ate my face off this weekend & rocked out to some of my favorite bands. Food/beverage tickets are a little pricey... $1/ticket (this is even more expensive than the tickets at Taste), so a water ended up being $3. That's a little crazy to me, but once I realized that, I started bringing in my own water. To the Cranky Pants reviewer who hates this fest, last time I checked we all live in a major city, where there are tons of noises all day every day... sirens, crowds, gunshots, you know, the usual. One weekend a year for a street fest isn't that big of a deal to me (I live next door to TWO streetfests, oh the agony!) so maybe next time y'all should just join in on the fun! read more

Great fest and food with only two issues. Number one, the flow is terrible, especially at the entrance points. As a person who would rather subject himself to a waiting trial in Guantanamo than waste time in lines, they need to not have food and booze ticket booths in that tight area right after the entrance to avoid congestion. Problem number two, all of the non-beer alcoholic beverages were basically sugary slop. Casamigo's margaritas: terrible (which is a shame because Clooney's tequila is actually fantastic on its own or in the right mix). Hurricanes and Mai tais: diabetic coma inducing. Moscow mules: all syrup. Jack Daniels Tea: impossible to get down. Next year, the festival's committee should bring in one of the talents from Logan Square or wherever to run a better cocktail program. Nothing fancy, just drinkable. Issues aside, the bbq is excellent, the music is great and the people watching is awesome. read more

This was such a cool event! I came for the BBQ and ended up really enjoying the music! The food was SO good! This event was way better than Taste of Chicago and the food and drinks were definitely less expensive. Although it costs money to get in, I still thought it was way more worth it than Taste. Also, MYRON MIXON!! His BBQ is bomb.com!! He's also a really nice guy, which is awesome. He alone makes this festival worth it. The Yelp Booth is a cool place to hangout too. Go visit Paul and grab some free stuff! I definitely want to come back next year! read more

Windy City Smokeout - Bub city - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had a great time at this event in 2018. I don't think I would return after attending in 2019. The event was very crowded. Most of the food on Saturday was sold out, we had to wait 20+ minutes for beers/drinks and the bathroom lines were VERY long. Music was OK..we couldn't see the stage with the narrow layout. read more

We were sitting outside while a rainstorm came through and they took us in like a stray dog. Cleaned us up, gave us more alcohol and made it sunny again. 10/10 friendliest staff in Chi! read more

So far awesome time. Happy to be here. All the vendors are extremely nice. Great music. The Blackhawks are here which is my pride and joy. Recommend to bring your family. My son is having a blast. read more

Windy City Smokeout - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

In 2019 I went for one day and had an awesome experience so I bought the four day pass for 2020. Postponed for covid and could live with that, but they simply sold too many tickets for the venue. The crowds Thursday and Sunday were not bad but Friday and Saturday were insane, Saturday being the worst with pushing and shoving and fighting. Loved the music and the food when the BBQ was not sold out. I gave it 4 stars because it was almost perfect, just over sold on Fri/Sat. Even the rain could not stop the good times!!!! read more