Music lovers across the country look forward to the summer months because it’s the best time to see their favorite artists live in concert. With the pleasant weather, there are a bunch of great outdoor music festivals where you can spend days catching shows from big names like Childish Gambino, Ariana Grande, and The Weeknd.
To ensure that you don’t miss out this festival season, start planning your summer calendar now. Here is everything you need to know about the top music festivals of the summer. There are too many amazing summer festivals to list them all, but these ones definitely stand out due to their stellar lineups and incredible locations.
Splash House stands out from the other festivals due to its incredible water features. At this California music festival, the concerts are actually held in Palm Springs resorts, so you can sleep in comfort right at the venue. Splash House will be taking place June 7 through June 9, and it will have a second weekend August 9 through August 11. The jam-packed EDM lineup has great acts like AC Slater, Jax Jones, Medasin, and Shiba San.
This punk music festival is held in Mosswood Park in Oakland, California on July 6 and July 7. Hosted by John Waters, Burger Boogaloo is planning a big lineup for their 10th anniversary. The lineup is topped by Jesus & Mary Chain, Scientists, and Dead Boys, with a great undercard that includes Phantom Surfers and Nikki Corvette.
Music lovers from all over the nation will descend on this Tennessee farm on June 13 through 16 for Bonnaroo. In addition to a lineup packed with artists like Post Malone, Odesza, Phish, the Avett Brothers, and Solange, Bonnaroo also has parties, comedy acts, art shows, and other live entertainment scattered throughout the campgrounds at all hours.
Lollapalooza is one of the biggest festivals happening this summer, and it is scheduled for August 1 through August 4 in the spacious Grant Park of Chicago. It has an eclectic lineup that includes some of the biggest names in music right now. Highlights of Lollapalooza for this year include The Strokes, Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, Flume, and Ariana Grande.
Outside Lands is a favorite due to its international lineup and beautiful art installations. This year, Outside Lands will be at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco between August 9 and August 12. Guests at Outside Lands can expect to catch some great acts like Florence + the Machine, Future, The Weeknd, Beck, and Portugal.the Man.
Burning Man is a bit unusual for festivals because the focus is not a curated set of music acts. Instead, Burning Man is all about thousands of people building a temporary city in the Black Rock Desert between August 25 and September 2. The festival is meant to be a cash-free event where you share with your neighbors. Participants create a lot of beautiful art, plays, and music that you can appreciate as you explore the town.
With summer right around the corner, now is the time to get ready for all the great music festivals coming up. Of course, it’s always more fun when you have friends along, so you will probably want to go with a group. If you are going to travel as a group, it is a good idea to charter a bus or shuttle that is big enough to hold everyone. This is an easy way to get the group together and make it to the festival without any inconvenience.
Of course, the most basic must-haves at any festival are sunscreen, comfortable shoes, your ticket, and a little cash. There are plenty of delicious food trucks at most festivals, but it can also be a good idea to load up some coolers with drinks and food if you want to save money while you’re there. For those going to a camping festival, it is especially important to be prepared. Tents tend to trap a lot of heat, so it is a good idea to have a tent that provides both shade and breeze. You may also want to consider some fun add-ons like blow up furniture, outdoor rugs, and tapestries to make your campsite look even cooler.
Ultimately, the hardest part of going to a summer festival is picking out which one you want to go to! Once you take the time to plan ahead and arrange your travel, shelter, food, and clothes, you can focus on having a blast at your next festival.
Whether you’re attending California’s local festivals or traveling cross-country, Pegasus Transit takes the stress out of traveling so you can enjoy the thrill of festival season. Reach out to us today to learn more about your group transportation options.