Music festivals are one of the highlights of the summer, and there are a lot of great ones to go see. Many of these have received a lot of national media attention over the years, and for good reason. Festivals like Coachella, Austin City Limits, and Bonnaroo have received a lot of attention simply because they attract big-name musicians from all over the world year after year. It’s only natural that people want to attend this high profile event—they are a ton of fun, after all.
If you’re thinking of going to see a music festival, there are a lot of things to keep in mind, and you probably have a lot of questions about them, especially if you’ve never been to a festival before. If this is you, we’ve got you covered. Here, we will go over some of the most important topics to keep in mind as you’re getting ready to head out to a festival, along with answers to some of the bigger questions that you probably have.
And if you’re already a seasoned festival pro, we have some material for you, as well. There are always ways to improve your experience and tips and tricks to make sure that you have the best time possible.
Ready to have the time of your life this summer? Keep reading for more.
Big Acts
Some of the biggest names in music like to head out to music festivals in the summer. Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Beyonce, Weezer, Eminem, Halsey, and Travis Scott have all graced various music festivals in the last few months simply because they are a lot of fun and a good way to reach out to a lot of fans all at once. It’s also a good way for these groups to connect with new fans since not everyone who goes to a festival is there just to see the one-act play.
Although there are often huge names at concerts, you’re also likely to discover bands and musicians that you’ve never heard of before. Festivals are notorious for this, and for many music fans, seeing the next big name in music before anyone else is part of the excitement of seeing a festival live and in person.
Types of Tickets
Generally speaking, there are only a few different types of tickets available for festivals. While you will find all sorts of different seating options for more traditional concerts, festivals limit your choices down to a few types. General admission is the most common type of ticket, but you will find VIP access, and backstage access, and these other amenities will be available at some festivals, too.
The big thing to keep in mind is that a lot of festivals range over several days. You can sometimes buy a single-day pass, but if you do, you need to make sure that it’s for the day that you want to see. This is an easy thing to overlook but doing so can make an otherwise awesome experience into a letdown.
Staying Overnight
Many multi-day festivals have overnight camping available. This often comes with a separate price—but not always. This can make buying the appropriate tickets for a festival a bit of a challenge. The best way to approach this is to research the festivals that you’re thinking about attending individually. That way you can know exactly what to expect, what overnight camping rules are in place, and what you need to do to make sure that you’re going to have fun and not be hassled while you’re staying overnight. A lot of festivals have strict camping rules when it comes to fire, alcohol, and food. Making sure that you’re following the rules is a good way to increase the amount of fun that you can have. There’s no point in bringing unwanted attention or any sort of inconvenience to yourself and your party.
With that said, being prepared for the weather and any other conditions that you’ll need to be aware of is also really important. You want to be dressed in a weather-appropriate manner and have the right gear to stay safe and comfortable. Also, be cognizant of where the restrooms are, along with things like power sources, water, and food vendors.
Getting Tickets
A lot of the big-name festivals will sell out almost immediately. This makes getting access to them pretty tough, but not impossible. Check out the major third-party ticket sites to see what’s available if you find getting tickets to be tougher than expected. You might even find great deals on things like VIP access and backstage passes. You have a lot of options in this department. Sites like SeatRetriever.com and StubHub.com will provide very good pricing for sure. You may want to read this SeatGeek review if you are new to purchasing tickets. You may be surprised by what you find in all three places.
A quick word to the wise: make sure that you have all of the special circumstances taken into account. A lot of the third-party ticket sites do sell parking passes and other types of tickets, which can make getting into the festival a lot more streamlined for you.
When it comes to lesser-known festivals, tickets may still go fast, but you will have a much easier chance of getting the tickets that you want. The good news about these festivals is because they are not quite as popular, you are likely going to pay a lot less, even for VIP or overnight tickets. This can make it so that these smaller festivals are even more enjoyable than the big ones. Again, it all depends on where you’re located and what kind of music you are into. Taking these smaller shows into account can be a smart option either way.