Among the blazing heat of the summer, the weather was not the only thing sparking up conversation; Windy City Smokeout blew away festival attendees with flaming hot barbecue, beloved country singers and memorable merch stands outside of the United Center. Young adults sold out Smokeout, claiming the event as their own, and the four-day festival, once again, competed with Wisconsin’s Country Thunder Festival.
Windy City Smokeout is simply the best summer festival in the area. The location, the cuisine, the audience, the music – it speaks for itself. If you were lucky enough to attend Smokeout, I need to say less; however, if you missed the opportunity, let me convince you to attend next year’s.
Smokeout takes place in the parking lot right outside of the United Center in Chicago. Although a more compact area to hold a festival than a park or stadium, Smokeout’s location makes the festival intimate and charming for country music lovers. The lot is decorated head to boots in country ornamentation – haystacks, faux-barns, cowboy hats and boot pop-up stores – it has it all. In my opinion, the compact location makes the festival feel safer as opposed to gargantuan summer festivals like Country Thunder or Lollapalooza. No unbearable mass crowds, no trampling and no herd-like behavior.
If you are in high school or college, Smokeout is the perfect festival for you, as it is catered to young adults and teenagers. Artists popular among these age groups perform and beloved brands appear as pop up stores during the festival. Country aesthetics are met with glitz, glamour and simplicity.
Most memorable is the barbecue. A plethora of local barbecue stands from the area cater to the guests. Each stand features a few one-of-a-kind items and beverages. My personal favorites were the smoky brisket and jalapeño cornbread. The banana pudding was also delicious for those more inclined to the sweeter treat. Dunkin’ Donuts, Aviator Nation and Red Bull were some of the featured vendors – a delight for everyone to enjoy.
One cannot mention Windy City Smokeout without speaking very highly of the music. If you are not a country fan, going to Smokeout will change that. Featured artists included Megan Moroney, Jon Pardi, Kane Brown and Bailey Zimmerman. My favorites were Megan Moroney (her angsty, heartfelt songs brought crowds of women together) and Jon Pardi, whose country classics left the crowd united and joyous.
If you are not going to Smokeout for the music, you can also simply enjoy Smokeout’s offered activities and cuisine while having a memorable time. Over the course of four days, a variety of country bands, singers and lovers will leave you wanting more. Smokeout is truly one of the most unique music festivals in the area – charming, safe and incredibly entertaining.
