Lollapalooza opened for its second day Friday, a cooler day and quieter midday than the rush of the first day. Outside the gates, the topic remained masks and COVID-19, and the question if the return of the massive, outdoor, four-day music festival to Chicago’s lakefront would be a dangerous superspreader.

       Cook County was added Thursday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of areas experiencing “substantial” COVID-19 transmission, bringing with it recommendations for masks indoors. Illinois is now requiring masks at state-run facilities.

       On Lollapalooza’s Chow Town strip of food vendors, Robert Miller, of Chicago, was one of the few concertgoers wearing a mask. “I’m 59, so I’m more susceptible,” he said. He’s also vaccinated, but says that’s a personal choice for everyone. “I feel like vaccines are for most, but not all.”

       A quick tour up and down Michigan Avenue across from the festival in Grant Park, blocks lined with hotels and restaurants, found only two businesses with posted mask requirements Friday. One was the Travelodge on East Harrison Street, but a staffer at the front desk said the sign was simply up from last year and few in the busy lobby were wearing a face covering. The other was Symphony Center, where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs. (All businesses did share one sign on their doorways: No public restrooms.)

       A few more concertgoers inside the gates seemed to be wearing masks than the day before, but they were still much in the minority.

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       Dustin and Angela Hetrick were attending with their three kids and all were wearing masks. They felt “good, slightly nervous,” about being at Lollapalooza, Dustin Hetrick said. “We’ve all got our masks, and we’re staying away from the bigger crowds.” The kids were excited to see Marshmello on the Bud Light Seltzer stage.

       Other end-of-day headliners Friday include Tyler, the Creator on the T-Mobile stage and Omar Apollo on the Grubhub stage.

       Alyssa Porter, 20, traveled from Woodridge with her friend, Jeannie Hansen, 19, on an hourlong, “crowded” train ride for Lollapalooza. They were nervous to attend the music festival, but their nerves were eased by festival rules to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from 72 hours prior.

       “I was kinda scared to come down here because the (cases) have been getting bad,” said Porter. “Lately the rates have been going up, and I think we should be wearing masks at appropriate places.”

       For the most part, though, those at Lollapalooza, artists and fans alike, were celebrating the fact they were at a music festival at all. Thursday night headliner Miley Cyrus said during her set “she would be nothing” without her fans, right after sharing the stage with surprise guest Billy Idol and singing “White Wedding.”

       Friday afternoon, a group of friends from the Chicago suburbs were surprised that attending the festival “hasn’t been that weird, actually,” following last year’s cancellation, and said it seemed like everyone just “doesn’t really care” for once. “It’s just nice seeing everyone being themselves again,” said Nya Ranel, 20.

       This story is updating.

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