Planning out festival season always get’s a little stressful. When I first started, I was very monetarily aware of what I was spending, and in the beginning, I crossed my fingers that I wasn’t wasting money on a bad experience. One of the biggest things I used to struggle with was “Which festivals do I go to? If I don’t go to this one, this year, I’m going to have to wait an ENTIRE year and IDK if I can do that.”

So, this post is going to give you all EVERYTHING you need to know when you start planning out festival season next year! I’m comparing and contrasting two very beautiful, but very different, festivals for you all: Bonnaroo VS Electric Forest.

* PSA: Bolded text within the sections is to highlight the DIFFERENCES between the festivals. *

Tickets & What’s Included

Obviously- this undoubtedly THE most important part of either of these festivals. Both have their own unique options when it comes to tickets and what’s included in the said ticket. So make sure you know what you’re getting with your purchase.

The other factor to take into consideration is the PRICE of the events. Bonnaroo tickets can be snagged for a cheaper price the earlier that attendees buy, however, Electric Forest tickets are a set price, starting around $350 (GA) before fees, and go upwards with different tiers, etc.

My suggestion: If you’re unsure which festival you want to attend, I would encourage you to purchase tickets to Electric Forest before Bonnaroo. EF sold out in about 30 minutes this year, and people were selling tickets later on for a much more elevated ticket price ($450+). Bonnaroo is always a safe bet as this festival does not USUALLY sell out. In 2019, they did about 2 weeks before the festival, but attendees should more or less have an idea of if they’re going to be attending or not by this point.

The Camping Experience

This is where things start to get a little complicated with both of these festivals. Since Bonnaroo and Electric Forest have both been around for a while, they’ve had plenty of time to get a groovy list of options for festival-goers camping experiences. This is the one part of EACH of these festivals that people are constantly confused about- so make sure you PAY ATTENTION when you’re purchasing for next year.

Bonnaroo

• Entry level camping is considered GA. This means that you’re placed in one of the 10 (or 11) pods within the grounds.
• There are separate camping sections for VIP, Platinum, RV, ADA, Tent Only, Groop, and Community camping. All of these options allow you different perks. (More camping descriptions over here)
• There is no shaded camping within Bonnaroo. The Farm is completely flat and the only trees/forested areas are The Grove & Where In The Woods, however, there is NO camping in these areas.
• Bonnaroo offers Community camping. This is essentially where large groups of people can camp together with like minded/interested people. There are groups such Soberoo, SheRoo, ReddiRoo, etc. It’s a GREAT way to meet other people who share similar interests or ideas!

Electric Forest

• Entry level camping is considered GA. This means that you’re placed in one of the 15 ‘camps’ within the grounds.
• There are separate camping sections for Good Life, Maple Woods, RV and Tent Only. All of these options allow you different perks.
• One notable camping option for EF is Maple Woods Camping. This camping option allows attendees to actually camp within a forest. That means shade, and lots of it people!
• Good Life (VIP) is also located WITHIN the Forest. That means no lines to get in, shade all day every day, and easy access to the venue whenever! Not to mention that Good Life has their own village full of exclusive food vendors, drinks, and even secret DJ surprise sets. Talk about getting your monies worth!

Between these two festivals, I would say that Electric Forest definitely has Bonnaroo beat when it comes to camping options. When it comes to festing in the summer, camping in the shade is pretty much unbeatable. However, one thing that makes Bonnaroo stand out from EF is their Community camping. This goes hand in hand with the overall encouragement of ‘community’ and ‘togetherness’ that Bonnaroo promotes, and is known for.

The Music

Obviously, if you’re going to be dropping a couple hundred on a festival, you want to listen to music you love. Bonnaroo and Electric Forest boast a very different lineup to each other.

The Venue & Experience

I left this one for last because I think it’s personally the make or break factor when it comes to attending a festival or not. Bonnaroo and Electric Forest offer very different things for attendees.

Bonnaroo

• The Farm is about 120+ acres of literally farm. There are plazas spread throughout the grounds. Each plaza is home to different EXPERIENCES that attendees can go too. This means comedy acts, movie showings, glitter/glam stations, etc.
• There are several art installations set up throughout The Grove and within the Plaza barns for attendees can look at and sometimes interact with. However, within the music venue there are not as many ‘art installations’.
• The vibes of the Farm are very communal. People really do make it a point to talk to strangers, to radiate positivity and just overall be there for one another- strangers or not.
• There are several different clothing/accessory/etc. vendors, as well as tons of amazing food vendors to go along with it.

Electric Forest

• The Forest is also relatively large in terms of space. Unlike Bonnaroo, there are not Plazas or hubs of activity within the campgrounds. The RV grounds are home to several personally curated events throughout the weekend though, and is home to the late night/surprise sets.
• Within the venue is where all the art installations and interactive activity are located. Everything within the Forest venue is completely interactive and fully immersive.
• The curators of Electric Forest also provide TONS of activities for the attendees to do while in the venue. There are scavenger hunts, surprise parties, as well as games, villages, and experiences with actors to keep everyone entertained and engaged.
• Within the Forest venue there are limited numbers of food vendors. For me, this wasn’t an issue because I prefer to cook my own food at festivals and save my money for merch.

So, there it is everyone! These festivals are hands down two of my favorite festivals. These are BY NO MEANS the only things that differentiate these two festivals, but they are the big factors. I’m a huge lover of these festivals, and each of them holds a special place in my heart, however, they both offer their own positives and negatives. I encourage you to go to each at some point in your life!

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Actually Getting My Media Pass & Getting in Line

The first one I ran into? Actually getting the freaking pass. Media credentials are picked up in a different location than Will Call. This year Media/Artists/Guests weren’t able to pick up their passes until 6 pm on Wednesday. I was surprised, to say the least, not to mention there were several ‘hiccups’ along the way.

The Issues

1. The campgrounds almost always open early (even though they’re not supposed to open until 8pm on Wednesday). This year was no different. Doors opened around 3pm ET. This meant that there were 3 hours of people already getting in line before I could even get my media pass. 
2. When attempting to pick up my media pass, I was actually told by the Sheriffs guarding the entrance that there was no media check-in (even though I was showing them the email from Bonnaroo directly). Eventually, I had to turn around in traffic and sneak past the Sheriffs because they refused to let me through (where’s the communication at Bonnaroo and TDOT?)
3. When I tried to get into the campgrounds, I was sent to not one, but TWO totally different entrances. I was searched twice and then was told after almost an hour of waiting and being pointed in different directions, that I couldn’t come in through any entrances we had been waiting at. I. WAS. SHOOK. 
4. Once we finally made it to someone who knew what was going on, they informed me that I would be able to camp in Guest Camping, however, anyone else that was in my car with me would need to stay back at the entrance and weren’t allowed to enter since I was the only one with media credentials.. Which meant.. where were my guests supposed to sleep? 

The Lack of Communication

What made this so disappointing was the overall lack of communication. Not only between Bonnaroo and TDOT, but also between Bonnaroo and those who were given media credentials. It would have been nice to have the Sheriffs ‘in the know’ about where specific check-ins were taking place. As well, it would have been nice to be able to get my ticket at a reasonable hour to still have time to get in line, without having to wait for everyone and their mother to get in line before me.

During Check-In

The actual media check-in was also another experience. The line moved quickly, I would say there were at least 20-30 other members of media there with us. After watching the lines for a little bit, I started to hear the same response from the Bonnaroo team when they were asked questions “Well.. This is actually a learning process for us because we don’t really know what we’re doing…”. I could understand if this was the first year allowing media/press/photography on site, however, this was not their first rodeo.

To top it off, I started to also notice that everyone carrying a photography bag, were running into issues. Several, if not most, of the photography team, had turned in paperwork to get their bags tagged to get into Centeroo, however, Bonnaroo wasn’t able to actually find that paperwork? So most people had to carry their cameras willy-nilly. SMH Bonnaroo. SMH.

Inside The Venue

Once we finally made it into the venue, things went much smoother. The volunteers at the tollbooths were able to easily direct my car over to Groop Camping. The search was light (especially considering I had already been checked twice at other entrances previous).

There was a media/press tent within the venue that was where they held all of the press conferences and what not that was accessible to me. They had free waters, food, and even free wifi and air conditioning. I didn’t spend a ton of time in the media tent though- I rather found myself trying to push into the press areas at the fronts of the stages. Typically security was pretty lax, however, that was dependent upon the artists. Some had stricter requirements to get into the photo pits.

How It Could Have Been Better

Every year, Bonnaroo is the one festival that I look forward to over any other. Not only do I enjoy coming home, but I enjoy seeing the beautiful installations and works of art that the Bonnaroo team creates. Even with an additional influx of 20,000 people, the festival this year more or less went off without a hitch.

There was only ONE death announced (WOW, so awesome), and yes, we had some issues when it came to traffic. Of course, traffic is always an issue. However, I feel that with communication on the interweb being as easy as it is, posting something on Reddit, Instagram, Twitter or even email, would have been nice. They could have let the festival attendees know which exits they can take, where those exits are going to route them, and what the wait times are looking like in certain lines (I.E. 6 hours for interstate shoulder line, 5 hours for exit 127 line, etc.)

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Now that the Bonnaroo 2019 Lineup Drop has happened, the rumors of conflicts and late night sets have been flying! Get an idea of the shows that you can’t miss, and ones that you should consider checking out too.

Headliners

After reading several rumors that the Bonnaroo 2019 lineup would be returning to it’s more ‘authentic’ roots, they’ve really done it. They’ve brought back the diversity that the festival is so known for. Just talking to fellow Bonnaroovians, and even some people who haven’t attended yet, everyone is excited about what the Farm is going to be offering this year!

Phish

This group is a Farm favorite. For 2019 they’re taking up some prime real estate on the Bonnaroo lineu. Phish is a classic American Rock group that is exceptionally well known for their following and music. I wouldn’t consider myself a fan, I know some of their songs and you’re definitely going to want to catch at least one of their sets on the Farm.

Childish Gambino

Not only is this artist more or less going to be a crowd favorite but it’s also been rumored (from various different dependable sources) that this show is set to be one of the last few that Glover performs for a while! I’m not confirming, nor deny this, I am highly recommending that you catch at least some of his set! (Currently taking bets that he’s shirtless with white pants- anyone want in on the action?

Zhu & Odesza

These are two artists that I’m so stoked to see. Initially, Zhu was supposed to play in my hometown, but sadly the show was cancelled. (*Sigh) He was a mystery artists until mid-2014 when he started sharing a little more about himself, but still focused his interviews on the music and production.

Seeing Odesza on the Farm is going to be something great. My rave fam are strong supports of them, and sad to say that I missed the one time they were able to come to my hometown. But good things happen for a reason right! Make sure you don’t miss their amazing drumline and visuals. Their show is one you don’t want to miss. The group has also recently released their Zyra Odesza VIP Remix- so make sure to check it out if you’re on the fence about catching this set. I promise it’ll change your mind!

Griz

There have been tons of (if not most of them) rumors about the conflicts between Griz and Phish on Friday- however let me just say a few things to keep in mind:

• Phish has three individual sets throughout the entire fest- if you don’t catch Friday (Although Friday is rumored to be the best of the Phish sets for the weekend) make sure you try and catch another set Sunday!
• Griz also has two sets during Bonnaroo- however one is a regular set, and one is a Super Jam Set. The Super Jam set is said to be a compilation of tons of oldies that we can all scream and shout to!

I personally will be likely at both Griz sets, but will definitely be at the Super Jam Set! Griz rocks the Sax throughout his sets, and if you’ve never had the chance to be enveloped by his beautiful ‘future funk’ and electro-soul tunes catching one of his sets will be a must.

Roo Clue’s

Roo Clue’s are the lineup hints that Bonnaroo thinks of and displays over all their social media platforms. Take a stab at guessing some of them too while you’re at it! If you don’t follow ‘Roo socially then you should absolutely consider following either r/Bonnaroo (reddit threat) or their Instagram (if anything at the end of the year) so you can get updates about the festival!

Thoughts & Rumors

When the 2019 lineup dropped there were definitely a few ‘oh’ moments. There had been rumors that Bonnaroo was going to go back to their ‘older’ roots, however, to be honest, I didn’t even know what that meant. After looking at previous lineups, and talking to fellow long-time ‘Roo-ers, the 2019 lineup is pretty spot on. Although there were some disappointments that Tame Impala and GroupLove, this years lineup is a blissful four days of diversity with various genres for any and all music lovers.

Whipped Cream

No one understands HOW excited I am about this gal being at Bonnaroo this year! I randomly lucked into seeing her set at an impromptu Zeds Dead concert I decided to go to with my boyfriend the day after Bassnectar NYE. ANyway, the show was phenomenal. Whipped Cream can be described as a spunky chick with a heavy beat. I would group her into the genre of sounding more like Rezz. She threw up some amazing remixes of some personal favorites (Excision, Rezz, oldies from the 90’s) and it was beyond refreshing. This is an artist that you’ll want to catch at Bonnaroo. I promise.

Post Malone

I’ve never had the opportunity to see Malone live but have heard great things about the vibes that he puts out. I’m very excited about this guy, but there are others in the ‘Roo community that may not be quite so stoked; Claiming that he’s too ‘mainstream’ to be on the Farm. I disagree with this as Bonnaroo has seen HUGE mainstream names throughout the history of the festival. As someone who’s not personally interested in the hip-hop scene, I’m excited for the opportunity to enjoy something different at the Farm.

Griz + Gramatik = Grizmatik?

I’ve never had the opportunity to see Griz live, however I’m a fan of his songs and am so excited about getting to see him! However, I have see Gramatik lives and oh my god. I am so excited to get to see him again on the Farm! It’s not confirmed, however many people are anticipating a late night Kalliope set from these two. Lets just say that you wouldn’t get any complaints from me if that were to be the case

Overall, the Bonnaroo 2019 lineup drop is full of amazing artists. If the ones I mentioned here didn’t spark your interest, other feature artists will be Brandi Carlile and Kacey Musgraves. Make sure to keep more up-to-date with Bonnaroo by checking out the Rave Hackers Bonnaroo Survival Guide! Or subscribe to stay in the loop with new Bonnaroo info, exciting news and exclusive rave hacks.

The post Bonnaroo 2019 Lineup Drop appeared first on Rave Hackers.

Camping Passes

In order to have your own campsite within the festival grounds, you have to have a camping pass. Whether you’re GA, VIP or in an RV, there’s a pass that you need to secure your spot on the farm. Below is a break down of those options, including cost and difference between certain options. VIP & GA have their own designated accommodations- Make sure you have the proper one for your ticket! Get the best camping/site gear over here.

Car Camping

Car camping is one of the most popular options when it comes to Bonnaroo! You can purchase GA, VIP or Platinum car camping passes. This holds a space for you and your car to sleep. These tickets are required one PER CAR. So, save some $$ and split the car pass with your group! These particular passes are required ONLY if you do not plan on purchasing a specialty camping pass such as Le Bon, Glamping, Groop or Community camping.

Tip: You MUST stay in line with the cars you want to camp with THE ENTIRE TIME as you WILL NOT be able to save spaces for ‘late arrivers’

Glamping/ Tent Rentals

For 2020 Bonnaroo is taking big steps with their camping options. Not only are they still offering the usual pre-setup tent packages, but you’re able to rent different tent setups which are so cool. There are actually tons of different options this year and they all look and offer something a little different than the next.

Grab & Go Souvenir Tents

This is a popular option for those festival attendees that are flying to the festival. The Grab and Go tents are 2-person custom Bonnaroo tents that also get you 2 air mattresses and 2 sleeping bags. You can use these tents in tent-only camping or at your own car campsite (you’ll still need a car camping pass though!).

Price: $280.00 + fees

Darkroom Souvenir Package

This package is only available to GA/GA+ ticket holders. Another high point about this package is that you do not need an additional car camping pass. Purchasing this ticket option gives you a tent, souvenir gear, AND a car camping spot.

The darkroom dome tents sleep 2 and are set up upon arrival to the campsite. You also get 2 air mattresses, 2 sleeping bags, 1 lantern, and 1 lock, all of which you get to take home with you too (or donate at the end of the festival)!

Price: $395.00 + fees

Large Darkroom Tents (w/ AC!)

Worry not for those of you in VIP! You can still have a dank darkroom tent too. These options are great for 2 or 4 people. Depending on your choice, you either get it set up with 2 beds and a lounge area, or set up with for beds. This option is open for GA members too! Purchasing this ticket option gives you a tent, souvenir gear, AND a car camping spot. So no additional camping pass required.

Outside of just a tent, campers will also get either 4 cots or 2 queen beds, electric cooling unit, nightstand with power outlet, set of bedding (sheet and pillow) per person, 1 lamp, and lock. All of which you can take home with you too!

Price: $1395 + fees AND a $300.00 damage deposit

Luxury Tent

This is an option only available for VIP ticket holders. This nifty option offers a boujie way to enjoy your Bonnaroo experience. With a canvas bell tent, coolers, chairs and more. This option puts the luuuuuxx in luxurious.

You get a lot of bang for your buck on this one. 1 Canvas Bell Tent, queen or 2 twin mattresses, personal cooling unit, 2 souvenir blankets, bedside table, 1 table with 2 chairs, lamp, power strip, 1 ice voucher per day, collapsible cooler, and combo lock.

Price: $1,895 + fees + $300.00 damage deposit

Super-Luxury Tent

This option is available to Platinum members only and is obviously the top of the line when it comes to glamping at Bonnaroo. You essentially get all of the same perks of the Luxury tents (above) except everything is bigger. You get some more comfy chairs, as well as an even bigger tent (20x13ft)!

Price: $2,295.00 + fees + $300.00 damage deposit

RV Camping

RV passes essentially work the same way as GA passes do, however, you cannot camp in some ‘specialty’ spaces with an RV. Other than that, you’re given a bigger space to set your gear and car up in! You’re able to put up additional tents, canopies, etc. outside of your RV as long as you’re within that 20′ x 50′ space.

General Admissions

You get a 20×50 spot to use as you see fit! This is designated for the GA ticket holders.

PRICE: $230 (Tier I)-$250 (Tier II) (ticket) + $21.40 (fees) = $250.00

Additions

• 30 AMP RV Plug-In: $712.14 + $37.86 (fees) = $750.00
• 50 AMP RV Plug-In: $755.65 + $39.35 (fees) = $795.00

RV Rentals

A new addition to 2020, RV rentals are here! Recommended for up to 4 people, Bonnaroo is offering a ‘unique’ camping RV experience. Attendees can ‘rent’ an RV instead of purchasing camping tickets. This essentially is the same as a pre-setup tent, except it’s an RV! There are also several different options depending on how boujie you wanna get with it.

Prices & Size:

Keystone Hideout: $4,950 + taxes + fees + $500 damage deposit

Aspen Trail Pullout: $5,950 + taxes + fees + $500 damage deposit

Groop & Community Camping

These are both groovy options. Each offers it’s own perks though! Both options allow you to camp with your friends, or get to know new friends!

Alternatives to Camping

If you’re not interested in staying on the farm overnight, fear not! There are other options you can explore. There are hotels around the area, as well, Bonnaroo offers shuttle packs that will take you on a day excursion of Nashville during the day, and to the Farm at night.

Day Car Parking Pass

For those of you who are just looking for somewhere to park your car, this is the best option! This is for those of you who want to tent-only camp, or who are camping with friends but need more car space to get to Tennessee. Day parking starts at 8:00 am on Thursday.

Price: $40.00 (pass) + $3.75 (fees) = $43.75

Shuttles

Now that you’re a pro in all that is Bonnaroo camping, make sure you’re ready to make the trip! Head over to the Bonnaroo Survival Guide or click below to get details about planning your trip to The Farm!

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Master’s guide to traveling to bonnaroo

BELOW I’M PROVIDING ALL THE TIPS, TRICKS, AND TOOLS THAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY (AND STRESS FREE) PLAN YOUR TRAVEL TO BONNAROO!

DRIVING

This is one of the the most popular options for Bonnaroovians. Most people will drive in, either in their cars, RVs, uHauls, etc. There are tons of perks to camping on The Farm, primarily that there’s good vibes 24/4 and music that whole time to boot. However, there are certain things to know when it comes to camping at Bonnaroo.

CAR TRAVEL DO’S

• Designate a place about 30 minutes-1 hour away to stop, re-arrange your car and goods to ensure a quick and easy car check (coolers accessible, glass thrown out, etc.). This is also a good time to meet up with your group. See below
• Ensure that everyone that wants to camp together get in line TOGETHER and stays TOGETHER. If you come to an intersection or break in traffic, make sure that WHATEVER car is leading the group, tells the officer/person controlling flow that you have “X” number of cars to they don’t cut you off!
• Be prepared to wait it out. Unless you’re going to camp out at the entrances, you’ll likely have at least some wait. For 2020 our Bonnaroo-Gods have added a second entrance so ‘hopefully’ this year it won’t be so long!
• The campgrounds fill from front to back, so the earlier you arrive the closer to the entrance you will be. No more guessing and praying that you don’t get stuck in one of the far pods. (RIP though because it will happen eventually!)
• Once you make it to the turn styles (aka: the gates to the festival) be prepared for security checks. Worry not, we’ve planned for this! Be PLUR, you’re being checked by one of your fellow festival-goers!
• Make sure you pack snacks and accessible toilet paper for the wait in the car. Depending on how long you’re in the car… you’ll thank me.

CAR TRAVEL DOn’tS

• PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, DO NOT CUT PEOPLE OFF IN LINE! When you see the line, please drive to the back. We’re all waiting in line- don’t cut others off, pretty please.
• Avoid taking back roads unless being directed there by Bonnaroo security. There are a lot of random roads that lead to… well… no where.
• Do not expect to be able to ‘save’ camping spaces once you’re inside the grounds- the Bonna-crews are on their shit when it comes to filling the grounds. This ain’t their first rodeo and they’ll close any gaps that arise.
• Don’t freak out about security at the gates. Every year bomb dogs, and drug dogs, are on-site walking through the lines. They do randomly pull people for full car checks, however, these are very few and far between! More about all of this here.

GETTING YOUR GROOP TOGETHER

Outside of just organizing yourself, most people tend to run in groups. This means that you have several cars that are trying to coordinate together. The good news? It’s easier than you think! With some key tools/applicatons, as well as a little fore-thought planning to organize your group will be easier than EVER!

ORGANIZING YOUR GROUP

• When it comes to getting everyone ‘together’ I recommend utilizing GroupMe. Outside of several other great reasons, this application allows you to add as many people as needed and create moderators/admins. You can add, like, 150+ people to one Group. You can even get a share-able link!
• If you’re camping in GA, you’ll need to meet up with your group before getting in line! No saving spots- yanno!
• For those of your taking multiple cars, designate one person that will be responsible for communicating updates on TOA to the group/any set-backs/delays, etc. All these people should be in an independent group chat to prevent miscommunciations/etc.
• For those of you Groop Camping you’re able to show up whenever which is great. but make sure you plan out HOW you want to organize the campsite (cars around the outside tents in the middle, cars on one end tents on the other, etc.) so you have a plan as people arrived staggered
• Groop camping, unlike GA, has assigned spots for each Groop so make sure you know which number you are so you can tell the Roo Ground Teams for assistance.

SHUTTLES

This is a GREAT option when it comes to traveling between Nashville and the Farm. These are perfect for either getting a ride to and from the Airport (BNA), or commuting from Nashville every day of the festival. When it comes to travel to Bonnaroo, the creators of the festival have pulled out every stop they can to make it easy and dependable to get to and from the festival. You’ll see when you get there that they have this system down to a science. Continue learning about Bonnaroo below!

(click for more information)

Airport shuttles

These will pick you up and drop you off from the Nashville Airport (BNA)

Shuttles & Tickets

Essentially these will bring you to the farm and back from Nashville every day of the festival (GA & VIP options available). More in-depth about this option here.

Ride Share

Every year Bonnaroo offers buses from different cities throughout the Southeast and Midwest! Not only do they have buses, but they also set up a carpooling service! So dope, I know. We’re still waiting to hear about how it’s going to be for 2019 so subscribe so you’ll know when they give us those deets!

(airport shuttle schedule from previous years)

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If you’ve ever attended a music festival then you know that car checks and security are just the way things go. We appreciate that festivals take the time and effort to not only bring in people to keep us all safe, but that they also offer it as an opportunity for people to volunteer in exchange for a ticket!

At Bonnaroo everyone goes through the same turn-style ‘esk‘ car checks. During this period, you’ll see not only fellow volunteer Bonnaroovians, but you’ll also see bomb dogs and cops walking around. There are random police car checks, and unfortunately, you can’t predict when/if it will happen.

Getting In & Staying Together

The lines to get into Bonnaroo will be long and there will be some waiting. Typically the closer to the actual Farm exit that you get, the less of a wait though! Pick going through the back roads at your own risk! Sometimes you’ll get close, most times you’ll wind up in the very back. If you’re GA camping, you NEED to be in line with the people that you’re camping with. If you come at different times, or get separated too far apart then you will not be able to camp together. The attendants at Bonnaroo are on their game and will usually shut down any chance at saving a spot for someone coming late.

Turn Styles & Car Checks

Once you’re in the front of the line, you’ll see the turn-styles. These are where you’ll have your car searched, as well as get a map of the festival grounds along with bags for trash and recycling. 

PLEASE USE THESE. SAVE THE EARTH.

At this point, there are going to be several different things that the volunteers or security members will be looking for. My biggest, and best, suggestion is to be friendly, chat them up and ask them which shows they’re excited about! Chances are they’re fellow Bonnaroovians too!

Prohibited Items

Check out the official list of allowed and prohibited items here (See ‘Getting to the Fest, #4)

Security & Med Safety on the Grounds

After attending several different festival, it’s a safe bet to say that the Security and Medical staff are amazing. Obviously, with any festival there are going to be people partaking in recreational drugs, however there are also families, sober members, etc. all over the festival grounds. Security does an amazing job of allowing festival goers to do them, without having to get too involved in everyones business. The Medical Tents are amazing. If you, or someone you know or see is struggling, take care of them! The medical stations and staff throughout the festival are don’t ask, don’t tell. You can go in there having a bad trip, having alcohol poisoning or just needing sunscreen. They got you.

Keeping campers and fellow festers safe is the number one priority when it comes to Staff and Safety on the grounds. If you, or someone you know/see, needs someone, don’t leave. Be that someone who takes them to the medical tents. It truly could be the difference between saving a life sometimes. Dehydration, drugs, and alcohol are all factors when it comes to festivals in general. Don’t be shy to ask someone if they’re okay. Chances are- they’ll appreciate it.

Learn more about what to expect at Bonnaroo!

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Bonnaroo is a once (a year) experience that is constantly expanding, growing, and changing constantly. It was the very first festival that I ever attended and it was actually what inspired me to start this blog! When it comes to Bonnaroo there are tons of different things that you should know. Luckily, their website provides some REALLY great starting information (check out their  FAQ and experience guide here). For those tips that you just need to try to believe- you’ll find all of those right here!

If you’re reading this then you’ve either already bought your Bonnaroo tickets, OR, you’re considering buying them. Worry not- we’ve all been in your position. The great news is that this page can give you a little insight into the festival, but I promise going to Bonnaroo will be so good for your vibrations!

Great Stage Park, Manchester, TN

When: September 2-5, 2021

Genres: Diverse (EDM, Country, Folk, Bluegrass, Mainstream, Rap, etc.)

WHAT TO EXPECT

Bonnaroo is exceptionally diverse. Not only in the type of people who flock to it, but also in it’s lineup, it’s campgrounds. Everything. It’s what makes this place home to so many people from so many different walks of life. Something you’ll notice that is the same with everyone is that they all radiate positivity. Radiate Positivity is the ‘theme’ of Bonnaroo. During this 4-5 day repreive from the real world, people fully embody and uphold this mantra.

Outside of great people, there’s great activities and music too. From year to year the lineups boast huge name artsists from tons of different genres, ranging from EDM, Country, Rap, Pop, and so much more. With 6 stages just INSIDE the main venue, and another handful outside of the main venue, there’s music 24/7.

As if it there wasn’t enough to inside Centeroo, there’s tons to do in the plazas! You’ll notice on the maps that there are between 10 and 11 plazas (11 is typically only opened during sold out events!)- each plaza representing a different experience. Not mention, most of these plazas have stages where artists will perform surprise/secret sets!

GETTING IN LINE

The campgrounds open on Wednesday evening/Thursday morning and close at noon on Monday. People typically start lining up around noon on Wednesday! You will see the line before you start to see the signs for Bonnaroo (usually along the side of the road). The line will be long but it’ll be worth it! PLEASE DO NOT CUT FELLOW BONNAROOVIANS. We know- it’s long. But we all wait- do the PLUR thing.

SECURITY & CAR CHECKS

Like any good event, there’s obviously going to be a security checkpoint before you get into the offical grounds. These checks occur at two points- both of which are the home to several turnstyles. At that point, the teams are going to check your car looking for prohibited items. They do have police and bombsquad dogs on the premisis and they DO perform checks at random! There are several ways to breeze through these checks though- so worry not!

ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!

Outside of Bonnaroo being a music festival, there is so much adventure to be had on The Farm. Honestly, there’s so much to see that there’s a good chance you’re not going to be able to see it all. The best part though? There’s something for everyone. 

THE CAMPGROUNDS

Bonnaroo is housed on a 700 acre farm, Great Stage Park. This festival, outside of the main venue (Centeroo) has 10-11 Plazas sprinkled throughout the grounds (see picture to the left!). Within each plaza is music, food, experiences, and unique shopping. The campgrounds have two entrances, as well, they fill in from front to back. So the sooner you arrive and get through security, the ‘closer’ to the entrances you’ll be! There is definitely an art when it comes to Bonnaroo camping- the timing, the gear, everything. I talk more about specifics over in my camping section!

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