Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who has been outspoken about her decision to keep Lollapalooza as scheduled despite the uptick in cases of COVID-19 and numerous variants spreading around the country, made a not-so-surprise appearance on the festival’s opening day. Wearing a Black Pumas T-shirt, she introduced the group’s midday set at the T-Mobile Stage and hailed the Pumas as one of the greatest rock bands of today. She also took a moment to comment on the giant elephant roaming around the park. Pointing out that people were at “the largest music festival anywhere on the globe this year” in the midst of a world pandemic, she also applauded those who have chosen to get the COVID-19 vaccinations that have allowed events like Lollapalooza to proceed.