Windy City Smokeout, the nation’s premier outdoor country music and BBQ festival, returns to Chicago’s iconic United Center (1901 W. Madison Street) on July 13-16, 2023. The 2022-winner of the Academy of Country Music Awards “Festival of the Year,” the Windy City Smokeout will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an impressive lineup featuring some of country music’s biggest names and up-and-coming talents, along with the best BBQ and craft beer from around the country.
THE BANDS
ACM award-winning promoter and Windy City Smokeout co-founder, Ed Warm, handpicked the weekend’s lineup including GRAMMY award winner Zac Brown Band, much-decorated ACM and CMA award winner Luke Bryan, GRAMMY award winner Darius Rucker, and GRAMMY award nominee Zach Bryan, who will headline the opening night. Each headliner will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. on their respective nights.
The full list of country music acts by day include:
Thursday, July 13: Zach Bryan, Randy Rogers Band, Bailey Zimmerman, American Aquarium, J.R. Carroll
Friday, July 14: Darius Rucker, Chris Lane, Jo Dee Messina, Jackson Dean, Drew Green
Saturday, July 15: Luke Bryan, Dylan Scott, Kameron Marlowe, Megan Moroney, Tanner Adell
Sunday, July 16: Zac Brown Band, Eli Young Band, Larry Fleet, Luke Grimes, Caroline Jones, Lauren Watkins
Specific showtimes, along with the BBQ and beer line-ups, will be announced soon.
THE BONUS EVENTS
Guests can round out the experience with a selection of curated events including the Biggest Happy Hour of the Summer and epic BBQ Brunch on Sunday. The ticketed events do not include admission to the festival; a single day or four-day pass is required for entry.
The Biggest Happy Hours of the Summer
- Thursday, July 13: 2 – 4 p.m.
- Friday, July 14: 2 – 4 p.m.
Kick off festival weekend with The Biggest Happy Hours of the Summer! Each event will feature $6 domestic and $7 craft beers with live music from up-and-coming artists. Access to each happy hour is included with a Thursday, Friday, or 4-day pass. Drinks are a la carte.
BBQ Brunch (sold out)
Sunday, July 16 7: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The epic bottomless BBQ brunch on Sunday, July 16 includes a variety of dishes from the Windy City Smokeout Pitmaster Buffet with a special Bacon Bar. Guests can sip on mimosas or build their own Bloodies with all of the fixins at the Bloody Mary Bar. A Sunday Single Day GA, VIP, or Super VIP Pass, OR a 4-Day GA, VIP, OR Super VIP pass is required in addition to a BBQ Brunch ticket for entrance.
TICKETS + GENERAL INFORMATION
Festival passes are now on sale at www.windycitysmokeout.com. NEW this year is the Platinum Festival Pass. Tickets are currently priced as follows:
- GA Day Pass for Thursday, July 13: sold out
- GA Day Pass for Friday, July 14: $59.95
- GA Day Pass for Saturday, July 15: $64.95
- GA Day Pass for Sunday, July 16: $54.95
- VIP Day Pass for Thursday, July 13: $400
- VIP Day Pass for Friday, July 14: $400
- VIP Day Pass for Saturday, July 15: $400
- VIP Day Pass for Sunday, July 16: $400
- Platinum Pass for Thursday, July 13: $550
- Platinum Pass for Friday, July 14: $700
- Platinum Pass for Saturday, July 15: $700
- Platinum Pass for Sunday, July 16: $700
- GA Four-Day Pass: $225.95
- VIP Four-Day Pass: sold out
- Platinum Four-Day Pass: sold out
*General Admission festival passes do not include food or beverage.
**VIP festival passes include access to an elevated and covered area next to the stage, complimentary mobile charging stations, air-conditioned restrooms, access to private cash bars and an official Windy City Smokeout welcome gift.
***Platinum festival passes include deluxe climate-controlled upper deck, private, and stage-pit viewing areas, complimentary mobile charging stations, VIP parking access with golf cart service to and from festival grounds, air-conditioned restrooms, top shelf beer/wine/cocktails included, curated BBQ service in private dining areas, and $25 BBQ Bucks preloaded onto wristbands.
The hours for Windy City Smokeout are Thursday, July 13: 2pm-10pm; Friday, July 14: 2pm-11pm; Saturday, July 15: 1pm-11pm; Sunday, July 16: 1pm-10pm.
For more information and to purchase festival passes, please visit www.windy city smokeout.com, and be sure to follow all the action on Instagram at @WindyCitySmokeout, Twitter at @WCSmokeout, TikTok at @windycitysmokeout and Facebook.com/windycitysmokeout.
