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Are you constantly looking for new items to add to your bucket list? You’ve gone sky diving, explored the streets of Italy and tasted the best pizza in Chicago. However, there’s one key bucket list item you’ve overlooked: music festivals!
According to Billboard, 14.7 million millennials go to at least one U.S. music festival in their lives. There’s nothing quite like packing up your favorite outfits, driving to the middle of nowhere and listening to your favorite artists for days.
Sound like something you might be into? Here’s our list of the top 10 music festivals you should add to your bucket list right now.
Most of us know about the infamous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Each year, celebrities and fashionistas alike gather in Indio, California for three dust-filled days of music. If you’re feeling adventurous, buy a camping pass and set up your weekend home on the festival grounds. You’ll be able to wander back to your camp at night, take a shower and pass out. If you’re still up to party after the day is over, the festival offers a silent disco with bluetooth headphones for you night owls. There’s something for everyone at Coachella!
Ever since 1986, huge masses of people have swarmed to Black Rock Valley, Nevada, for the legendary week-long event known as Burning Man. A self-sufficient world, the premises of Burning Man are ruled by a society based on gifting, decommodification and a “leave no trace” requirement. Though not necessarily a music festival, there are surprise visits from DJs each year. In the past, there have been sets by Tycho and deadmau5, among many other independent artists. Though Burning Man is more focused on art and culture, it’s definitely an event that you should experience at least once in your life.
From humble beginnings, Fuck Yeah Fest has become a full-fledged Los Angeles mecca for great tunes and even greater style. Bands span from local LA punk bands to synth DJs to modern psychedelic rockers. (And don’t forget all your favorite lo-fi bands.) The two-day event is a perfect way to end your summer and explore the city before heading back to the grind.
Show up in New York for the Governors Ball and get ready to get down. Though much smaller than other iconic festivals like Coachella, the Governors Ball is in no way inferior. The lineups each year are as good, if not better, than the big dogs. Make the event a trip and sightsee around New York for the week! (That way you can check two things off your bucket list.)
Austin, Texas, is known for its bustling music and food scene, and Austin City Limits is no different. Food vendors and artists are interwoven around the stages, making a super fun three-day event full of good eats, warm weather and bumpin’ music of all genres.
If you want an all-out non-stop music experience, then Bonnaroo is the place for you. Located in Tennessee, the music sets at Bonnaroo go from noon to 4 a.m. (or later). This festival is perfect for those of you who want to throw on a feather boa, release your inhibitions and forget about that whole “you need sleep to survive” thing. After spending four days roughing it, you’ll be ready to hang up your bohemian garb and take a well needed 48-hour nap.
Electric Daisy Carnival, otherwise known as EDC, is the modern raver’s dreamland. With headliners from some (well, basically all) of the most popular names in the industry, people from all over the world travel for this insane experience. What makes it so insane, you ask? We’re talking light shows that will make you question whether you’re in real life, costumes that you couldn’t even imagine, fireworks, carnival rides and glitter. According to Magnetic Mag, it’s also the biggest festival in the world with 150,000 attendees per day. (It’s twice the size of Coachella! What?) With huge neon art installments lighting up the fair all night, you’ll be hard pressed to return to reality after the three-day visit to EDM heaven.
For a more laid-back festival full of craft beer, gourmet food and amazing artists, head to San Francisco’s Outsidelands Music Festival. The headliners, which never cease to amaze, are paired with side shows and live artists creating installments. The polo grounds are decked out in art and food as far as the eye can see. Have a sweet tooth? Head to Choco-lands and immerse yourself in sugar-filled bliss. Tired of lame novice beers at festivals? Beerlands has got you covered. If you do end up going to Outsidelands, don’t forget a jacket! The festival grounds can get chilly at night and you won’t want your shivering body to distract you from the great sets!
This lakefront Wisconsin music festival is sure to please anyone who needs an 11-day vacay from life. Pair those 11 days with 11 different stages and you’ve got a music lover’s dream. You and 800,000 other people can get down to your favorite artists while watching fireworks and chowing down on Milwaukee’s finest grub.
A mixture of EDM artists, alternative rock and hip hop, Lollapalooza has helped springboard some of your favorite artists into the spotlight. Every year, a super organized team sets up the Chicago-based festival and sets up for its 160,000 visitors. If you live in a foreign country, you can get in on the action too! They’ve expanded the festival to include events in Chile, Germany, Argentina and Brazil in the past.
If you’ve smoothed out your bucket list and have been furiously writing throughout the course of this article, then good! We’re happy to have led you down a path to some amazing experiences.
