Ultra Music Festival has passed and Coachella is here now. If you’re still looking for music festivals to attend this summer or if you’re planning ahead for next summer, we got you covered with all the deets. Some tickets are on sale now and others are releasing soon—but there’s way more to planning for a festival than just getting the tickets. If you’re stuck on what kind of festival to attend, how to maximize your time, how to get there or where to stay for music festivals, we’re here to help.
Here’s the 4-1-1 on some of our favorite music festivals.
One-Day Festivals
If it’s your first festival or you don’t think you can handle a three-day festival just yet, we have some great one-day festivals for you. Make a long weekend out of the festival and explore a new city.
Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, PA
Roots Picnic is a one-day music festival on Saturday June 1st. It’s a day filled with hip-hop and R&B artists. Plus, in addition to music they also have a podcast stage. Ticket prices are really reasonable too, ranging from $69.50 to $89.50.
Since its only one day, take the rest of the weekend to explore Philadelphia. Trying a Philly Cheesesteak is a must. Grab a classic at Geno’s Steaks. At night, visit a rooftop bar or a dive bar. If you’re looking to brush up on some U.S. history, visit the Liberty Bell or walk around the beautiful Rittenhouse square.
http://rootspicnic.com/philly/
Mo Pop in Detroit, MI
Mo Pop is a two-day festival in Detroit, Michigan July 27th and 28th. You can also get one-day passes for $75 dollars each, which makes for a perfect weekend.
Detroit is a great city to visit for a weekend. Besides the festival, you can hit up the Mo Town Museum or Henry Ford Museum. The Greek quarter also has some amazing food. Ann Arbor is only a little ways outside of the city and is a great town to check out. If you get the chance, visit “The Big House” the University of Michigan’s famous football stadium and Zingermans Deli.
https://mopopfestival.com/
Fortress Festival in Fort Worth, TX
Fortress Festival is fast approaching, taking place on April 27th and 28th. This festival is only in its 3rd year but it’s not an opportunity you want to pass up. One-day tickets are still available on the festival website for $79. Plus, Fort Worth is only 35 minutes from Dallas—making it the perfect destination for a long weekend. Explore what both Fort Worth and Dallas has to offer. Both have their own charm and are definitely worth exploring!
https://www.fortressfestival.com/
Three-Day Festivals
If you’re a music festival veteran or think you’re ready to take on a three-day festival, we have a few to add to your list.
Woodstock 50 in Watkins Glen, NY
It has been a long 50 years since the original Woodstock so it’s no surprise that Woodstock 50 is returning with an unbelievable lineup from August 16th – 18th. This is one music festival you DO NOT want to miss. Mark your calendars because tickets go on sale on April 22nd.
The festival is located in the finger lakes region of Watkins Glen, NY. Getting there from out-of-state by car is difficult, so a flight is probably your best bet. We have flights to Syracuse and Rochester from major cities such as Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Orlando all currently under $300 roundtrip for that weekend, so act fast!
https://www.woodstock.com/
Rolling Loud in Miami, FL
Rolling Loud is happening May 10 – 12th in Miami. Unfortunately, it’s currently sold out and only waitlisted tickets are available. However, it definitely is worth adding to your music festival bucket list. Rolling Loud is the largest hip-hop festival in the world which is why it sells out so quickly. If you’re a die hard hip-hop fan looking for a quick trip after the school year ends and before your summer job begins, add Rolling Loud to your bucket list for next year!
http://www.rollingloud.com/
Firefly in Dover, DE
Firefly is the largest music and camping festival on the East Coast located in Dover, Delaware June 20th – 23rd. If you are looking to make a week-long trip to the East Coast this year, incorporating Firefly into the week would make for a dope trip!
Think about flying into either New York, New Jersey, or Philadelphia. Then you have the option of hitting both of those cities in the beginning of the week or relaxing at the Jersey Shore or Delaware beaches before the festival.
https://fireflyfestival.com/lineup/
Four-Day Festivals
If you are attending a four-day festival, you may as well spend the week in the city exploring either before or after the festival. These two festivals not only have great lineups but are also in great cities.
Lolapalooza in Chicago, IL
If you are upset about missing the Coachella line-up then Lolapalooza might be for you. This four-day festival August 1st – 4th in Chicago has a lot of the same artists as Coachella. It’s just a little closer to the East Coast.
If you want to spend a little time in Chicago go to Millennium Park to take a picture in front of the giant bean. August heat getting to you? Spend some time on Lake Michigan.
Find flights to Lolapalooza here.
https://www.lollapalooza.com/
Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
Bonnaroo is the largest outdoor festival on a 650-acre farm in Manchester Tennessee June 13th-16th. While many people camp, if you’re flying out for this you might want to consider a Nashville Shuttle Package. Instead of renting a car, purchase a package that includes shuttles to and from Nashville to Manchester each day.
While there is no shortage of amazing food at the festival, if you happen to stay in Nashville make sure you capitalize on all the food and bar offerings. Grab a doughnut from Donut and Dog for the road or visit one of the Biscuit Love locations for a true southern meal. If you’re still on that festival high and want to sing your own songs, visit one of the many karaoke/dive bars on Broadway Street.
https://www.bonnaroo.com/
We hope this helped you find a festival perfect for you. If you are hyped up to go but your friends aren’t fully convinced, let us help you. We’ve got a few reasons why you need to start going to some music festivals.
