ARC Music Festival is quickly approaching and we’re here to help you navigate what’s shaping up to be another legendary festival weekend in the heart of Chicago. 

Things can get pretty chaotic when it comes to planning a city festival, especially in one of the busiest cities in the United States. We’ve put together you 3 things to know ahead of next weekend’s event straight from a Chicago resident with our MP3 PREP: ARC Music Festival 2024. 

1. Don’t skip the afters

Chicago is known to have some of the best music venues around, and ARC took full advantage of hosting this year’s after parties for their ‘ARC After Dark’ show series. 

The festival is taking over eight of the city’s hottest venues to host arguably the most sought after shows of the year. ARC pass holders were able to snatch up tickets to after parties such as Dom Dolla and Gorgon City, Kaskade, Gesaffelstein and more. If you’re able to snag tickets to any of these shows, we highly recommend doing so before it’s too late.

2. Plan your rides accordingly

The closing acts at ARC are set to end at 10 p.m. each night, which means you’ll need to plan your rides to the afters accordingly. 

It’s no secret that Chicago is massive, and this city does not play nice when it comes to traffic patterns. It’s not going to be easy navigation, especially with ARC being held on Labor Day weekend. Luckily, there are several shows to choose from each night so traffic may be dispersed, and luckily ARC shared a map of the city to help you to plan ahead. Keep in mind that there are also trains running throughout the city, so if you can’t find a rideshare this can be used to your advantage. 

Don’t let the bad traffic scare you away from the afters, though. Artists are known for giving some of their most legendary sets to those who stay out late in Chicago. 

3. EXPERIENCE TRUE HOUSE MUSIC CULTURE

Music festivals are one of the greatest experiences on earth, and a large part of that is due to the communities that foster them. While Chicago hosts countless festivals each summer, there is a key factor that sets ARC apart from the rest.

House music has very clearly skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, but there was a time where these soundscapes could only be found in hidden warehouses deep in Chicago. ARC is bringing house music home and their mission is to resurface the culture to the forefront. How are they doing this? By showcasing original Chicago legends right here in the birthplace of it all. 

There’s a reason that ARC’s popularity has grown so rapidly in such a short time. This is the annual event that Chicago has desperately been missing. ARC is more than a music festival, it’s a weekend long celebration of embodying the essence of house music culture.

To purchase tickets, visit arcmusicfestival.frontgatetickets.com.

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