North Coast Music Festival 2012 Concert / Music Festival / DJ Event Aug 31–Sep 2, 2012

Taking over Chicago's Union Park every year during Labor Day Weekend, the North Coast Music Festival is a very popular end-of-summer music event that features more than 60 bands and DJs playing everything from electronic to hip-hop to indie-rock, and is billed as a way to celebrate “summer's last stand.”

Started in 2010, previous North Coast Music Festival performers have included Pretty Lights, Axwell, Steve Aoki, Thievery Corporation, Fatboy Slim, David Guetta, Atmosphere, Rusko, and many more.

Thousands of people pack the open expanse of the park during the three-day North Coast Music Festival, enjoying the talent-packed lineup and fueling up on food and booze available at several concession stands.

Even when the shows end nightly at 10pm, the party isn’t over, as the North Coast Music Festival also includes notable after-parties at nearby clubs, where you can keep on raging to headline DJs like Doctor P, EOTO, Eliot Lipp, Paul Oakenfold, and Felix da Housecat.

Tickets to the North Coast Music Festival are around $50/day, $120 for a three-day pass, or $350 for a VIP pass. VIP upgrades include reserved viewing areas (including a lounge area lined with hammocks), concession tickets, air-conditioned restrooms, bag check, bottled water, express entry, and more.

Tickets to the after-parties vary and are not covered by the North Coast Music Festival ticket price, so it’s best to check back for an updated calendar on who is playing where after the park festivities come to a close.