parking tips for lynskynyrd at the forge (joliet il 01/31)

hey everyone, figured i'd share some parking tips for the lynskynyrd show on 01/31. parking in downtown joliet when there's a big show at the forge can honestly get a little crazy, especially when everyone is trying to leave after the encore, so hopefully this helps someone out.

first, if you want the absolute easiest in-and-out experience and you're willing to pay a little, check out an app called Prked. it's for renting driveways and private spots right next to the forge. honestly, it can be way cheaper than a sketchy paid lot, you get a reserved spot, and the huge benefit is you get to skip the line of people all trying to squeeze into the same garage. short walk to the venue guaranteed.

now for the free options, because the 01/31 show is on a saturday and that is a massive win for downtown joliet parking. the good news is that on saturday, all the main city parking decks and street parking are totally free. the venue officially points you to a few free spots that are your best bet for space:

* the scott street parking deck (150 north scott street)
* the ottawa street parking deck (136 north ottawa street)
* the catholic charities parking lot (203 n ottawa street)

i've also heard some folks have good luck with the harrah's garage (110 n ottawa st), which is another free option nearby.

you really want to get downtown at least an hour before the 7:00 pm showtime to snag a good spot in one of the decks or lots, or you'll be circling for ages. street parking is free on saturday, but spots fill up super fast, and you should be prepared to circle around a bit closer to the start of the show as cass street can get pretty backed up with cars and people.

if you don't mind spending for convenience, the forge sometimes has valet service available for events, so keep an eye out for that if you want to pull right up to the door. otherwise, rideshare is always an option, and they usually use the venue address (22 w cass street) for designated pickup/dropoff.

just a quick heads up - if you plan on leaving your car overnight, remember that joliet has street cleaning restrictions from 3:00 am to 5:00 am on designated streets like cass street. the rules say the restrictions will not apply on weekends, but always double-check the signs before you lock up for the night.

hope this helps, have fun at the show!