Seven Smart Lollapalooza 2011 Attractions - SoundSpike

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While music is obviously the main draw of this weekend's (8/5-7) Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago, a festival can't thrive forever on music alone -- a fact that hasn't escaped the event's organizers.

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Lollapalooza hasn't stood still over the years, with organizers tweaking the event's layout, getting creative with food and drink options, making the event more kid-friendly, and forwarding efforts to make the festival as "green" as possible.

Here are seven smart moves Lollapalooza organizers have made that help to keep it vital.

7. Lollapalooza on YouTube

At this point, there are generally more folks clamoring to see Lollapalooza than there is capacity at Chicago's Grant Park. Lollapalooza poo-bahs made the wise decision this year to stream the event live at this YouTube link, so even those without a ticket can get a taste. This year's YouTube viewer may be next year's ticket buyer.

6. Autographs

Lollapalooza brings back the f.y.e. Autograph Tent this year, where acts including Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, White Lies, OK Go, Christina Perri, The Mountain Goats, The Pretty Reckless, Royce Da 5'9", Atmosphere, Flogging Molly, Deadmau5, Lissie and Cage the Elephant are scheduled to be onhand to sign your stuff. Check the daily Lollapalooza schedule for more details.

5. Kidzapalooza

Kids 10 and under are admitted to Lollapalooza free of charge, and festival organizers have again created a "Kidzapalooza" area to help keep the little ones entertained. Billed as "a festival within a festival," the Kidzapalooza section is built around a stage that will feature performances by kids' favorites including Ralph's World, The Happiness Club, Brady Rymer, The Q Brothers and Big Bang Boom, among others. Lollapalooza co-founder Perry Farrell and special guests can also be counted on to show up on the stage. In addition to the music, the area includes workshops and activities all day long.

4. Free water

While you're free to purchase water at the event, festival attendees are also permitted to bring an empty refillable container into Grant Park, and fill it with filtered water from one of the CamelBak Filling Stations. Fans can also take up to two factory-sealed bottles of water (up to 1 liter) into the festival.

3. Chow Town

Chicago-based celebrity Chef Graham Elliot returns to the festival this year, curating a selection of some of the area's best cuisine for the event's Chow Town food area. More than 30 vendors will be onhand, offering up food that's well beyond hot dogs and nachos. Among the notable vendors: Haus of Sausage, Crescent Foods (vegetarian fare), Robinson's No. 1 Ribs, Grahamwich (Elliot's sandwich joint) and Juhu Beach by Veerasway (Indian).

2. Expanded DJ stage

While the concert industry generally stagnated throughout the recession, electronic music events continue to show a seemingly boundless appetite for growth. Lollapalooza is paying heed to the trend this year by doubling the size of the stage showcasing electronic music and DJs. Among the acts scheduled to appear on "Perry's Stage" this year are Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, Kid Cudi, The Bloody Beetroots Dead Crew '77, Afrojack, Modeselektor, Skrillix, Perryetty vs. Chris Cox and others.

1. Aftershows

Lollapalooza won't suck the life out of Chicago's other live music venues during its run, thanks to this year's Official Lollapalooza Aftershows. The biggest name on the aftershow list is Foo Fighters, who are set to play Saturday (8/27) at Metro. Others who will perform at local clubs include Cut Copy, The National, Minus the Bear and Health, among others. Details can be found at this link.