Lollapalooza 2024 is officially in the books now.

As of Sunday night, the Chicago-based edition of Lolla wrapped with a headlining performance from blink-182, capping four days of festivities in Grant Park, marking the 20th installment in the Windy City.

At first glance, Sunday's lineup might have appeared to be an odd mix. And it certainly was, to be sure. But in all its strangeness, it was also a reflection of what makes Lolla so great, here in this melting pot of Chicago, a Midwest hub at a time when these pockets of America are being pulled in different directions, nudged by repugnant voices to detest that which doesn't fit into a neat, lily-white, straight Christian box. And coincidentally, that's what has long been so wonderful about Lollapalooza—not fitting into a box.

We're told by right-wing culture that "safe spaces" are a sign of weakness (or "wokeness," or whatever they're ridiculing these days), but in a way, Lolla is exactly that for so many.

Lolla Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Early in the afternoon on Sunday, I stopped by Lolla's "Chow Town" line of eateries along Columbus Drive. On what was the hottest day of the four-day weekend festival, I grabbed a slice of pizza from Connie's and searched for some shade. Ultimately, I found a number of tables, one of which was occupied by a couple who seemed to be finishing up their food. I asked if I could share the table and the woman promptly said, "Oh, sure!"

While I enjoyed my slice of pie, I found myself sharing a table with countless others and it quickly made me feel so appreciative of what was happening around me. Friendly conversation with strangers. Loud, colorful personalities and equally vibrant outfits, all coming and going, sitting at the same table. Punk rock makeup, sequined crop tops, rainbow-colored everything, a dad and his daughter discussing Chappell Roan songs, two friends sharing a plate of cheese fries when another duo approached and asked if there was room for them and one of the girls responded, "We'll make room!"

And this is why I love Lollapalooza. Because outside of the big, headliner performances and the extravagant theatrics of it all, it's really a reminder of how we're all just looking for a place to belong. Everyone's doing their best to look the part, but at the end of the day, none of it really matters. And for four days in the heart of Chicago, 100,000 misfits, weirdos, cool kids and everyone in between wanders around Grant Park, looking for their people, looking for their next favorite band, enjoying the same music, the same sun and for at least those four days, it kind of seems as if the outside world pauses.

But the world doesn't pause. And outside of Grant Park is all the madness, chaos, anxiety, turmoil and unease we've become familiar with over the past several years. Further emphasizing the tension of the real world, former President Donald Trump was just steps away from the entrance of Grant Park a day before the festival, when he made a contentious appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists conference, and in two weeks, the Democratic National Convention will be held at the nearby United Center, where Kamala Harris is expected to be officially nominated for President in the middle of a whirlwind election year.

So, even though these times are uncertain and everything is so unpredictable, it makes a safe space like Lollapalooza all the more special. And it's a theme that ran through all of the four days, as artists such as Armani White, Teddy Swims, Medium Build and more encouraged fans to check on each other and look after one another, while not neglecting their own mental health.

Towards the end of Medium Build's own mesmerizing set at the Bacardi stage, he told fans to make the most of the present because it's all we have, noting how tomorrow isn't guaranteed. For his part, the artist also known as Nick Carpenter told the crowd he was appreciative of the now, right then as he was in the middle of his performance surrounded by the love and support of his fans.

Earlier in the afternoon, Tulsa country singer Kaitlin Butts seemingly had the crowd at the BMI stage encapsulated as she navigated through a list of songs which touched on humor, heartache, holding grudges, and revenge. Perhaps one of the most poignant moments of her set was leading into the song "Blood," when she very poetically noted how we tend to forgive family for things we'd almost never forgive friends for, and she said her personal experience has reminded her that it's OK to let people go and remove toxic or unhealthy relationships from your life, even if you're connected by blood. There was something so authentic about her performance, drawing in that Chicago crowd with a flow somewhere between the fierce gravitas of Miranda Lambert and the tongue-in-cheek style of Kacey Musgraves.

Closing out the weekend was blink-182, a symbol of nostalgia, as their breakout hit "All the Small Things" was released nearly 25 years ago, but it also seemed to touch on the moment, with the band's own, well-documented messiness behind the scenes, and their recent reunion, which prompted a world tour, including a stop at Lolla, where millennials were clearly in music heaven thanks to all the throwback, even as pop-punk has been making a dramatic comeback.

At its core, however, punk is for outsiders and non-conformists, the result of pushing back against the rock culture of the 1970's. It was birthed as a place for those who didn't fit the mold. And part of the beauty is how generations of music lovers have made it their own, how punk music—in its various forms—makes people feel seen and heard. And in the middle of complicated times, feeling seen and heard can mean the world to so many. And it's why Lollapalooza remains a mainstay in pop culture, imperfections and all.

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